Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (besides being islands belonging to Vietnam) are hands down my favorite streets to drive on in this traffic-plagued City of Zoom. Long and twisting, with few intersections and full of great cafes and restaurants, they also feature really excellent views and slightly less traffic noise than the other major streets thanks to the relative lack of cross roads.

Check out these three favorites and let me know what you think!

Lão Hạc Quán

Hours: 7am-11pm everyday

Address: 299B Đ. Hoàng Sa, Phường Tân Định, Quận 1

https://maps.app.goo.gl/TvUttwEZJrjC5vZH8?g_st=ic

A charming, shabby-chic cafe with a truly dangerous step down into the ground floor - be extra careful when it’s rainy! The coffee is great, and the views of the canal are perfect for chilling and thinking on the balcony. There’s no AC but the interior remains cool and inviting. Order on the ground floor and make your way to the top for the best seating.

Thính Cafe

Hours: 6:30am-9pm everyday

Address: 281 Đ. Hoàng Sa, Phường Tân Định, Quận 1

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bnZYPBmV6jxtKVt16?g_st=ic

This is a modern-style cafe with a crisp, modern design - particularly the first floor, which has an open-air view of the biggest bend in the canal. Drinks are fantastic and the ever-present motorbikes seem a world away (well, maybe 5 meters, but these are relatively calm roads). This looks out over one of the most interesting bends in the canal and is great for both chilling and people-watching.

Cay Cot Dien - Café Books

Hours: M-F: 6:30am-9pm, Sat/Sun: 7am-9pm

Address: 627 Đ. Hoàng Sa, Phường 14, Quận 3

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4sE15qs21r3mw3dW8?g_st=ic

This is another shabby-chic spot that’s perfect for rainy days. The decor is very low-key and it’s a wonderful spot for watching people go about their days. No balcony seating, but there’s a dimly-lit inside that stays cool even in hot weather, and there’s a bit of sidewalk seating, too.

There are a plethora of great cafes and restaurants all along both sides of this canal, and these streets are wonderful destinations for walking, running, biking, and generally enjoying life in this hectic city. In the absence of enough recreational space in this over-stuffed metropolis, these streets are about as good as it gets.

Any other great Hoang Sa cafes I’ve missed?

-Ben