There's a Trung Nguyen in almost every corner in Ho Chi Minh City. Some branches are coffeeshops while others are just stores where you can buy beans and coffee accessories like the one on the photo, which is used for "drip" coffee.
The branch we went to was in Bui Vien in District 1. Actually, it was serendipity that led us to have coffee at Trung Nguyen. We just had lunch at nearby Royal Saigon and then my friend wanted to buy some paintings. So after our lunch, we went to Ms. Sang's Art Shop and had some paintings commissioned but was told to come back after an hour since the paint is still a bit wet. We agreed to wait at Trung Nguyen which is just a few steps away from the art shop.
I love the brown and green interiors because it gives the place a homey and comfy vibe. Aside from coffee, there's also some pastries which I forgot to take pictures.
What I love here is the round window that makes me think I'm inside a hobbit's house, maybe Bilbo. Sorry, Tolkien fan here. ;)
There are a lot of shelves filled with books and candles. Really, really nice place to take pictures. The books are sadly "fake" though. *sigh*
My friend and I both ordered the Ca Phe Sua Da because it was a super hot afternoon. We already had iced coffee near Ben Thanh Market and we really fell in-love with the cold milky coffee.
Our Ca Phe Sua Da (Iced Milk Coffee), VND 85,000. Coffee is expensive! Hahaha, just kidding. The VND 85k is roughly $3.66 usd. This iced coffee is a bit expensive than the ones sold on the street but the taste of freshly grind coffee was quite memorable and delicious.
We were served "drip" coffee and sweet milk (condensed milk), then mix the coffee and milk and pour on the mug which was full of ice. The coffee was rich in taste and aromatic. I love that it pairs well with the sweet milk and is perfect for the hot weather. It was really a cool experience to drink Trung Nguyen's Ca Phe Sua Da especially with our newfound Vietnamese friend.
Thanking Ms. Sang who introduced us to our very first taste of Trung Nguyen coffee. Cam on ban!
