Ho Chi Minh City's Hidden Gems: Discover Thinker&Dreamer
Ready to uncover Ho Chi Minh City's best-kept secrets? Join us as we explore Thinker&Dreamer, a charming cafe that’s a delightful find amidst the city's bustling streets.
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Ready to uncover Ho Chi Minh City's best-kept secrets? Join us as we explore Thinker&Dreamer, a charming cafe that’s a delightful find amidst the city's bustling streets.
My latest series,
Hidden Gems!
This time, I'm taking you on a journey to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
As always,
some spots might not be *so* hidden after all,
and some are quite famous.
Just a little heads-up that a few (or one or two!) places are included in that category...
Let's start!
Thinker&Dreamer
Actually, I originally planned to feature the second spot first,
but as I started writing, I realized I liked this one even more,
so we're starting here!
But,
the second one is a *truly* hidden gem, one I discovered myself!!!
I'm really confident about that one,
This place, though, I'm a little worried it might already be known.
And why?
Its accessibility is just *too* good.
Rather than just being accessible,
there are so many other tourist spots nearby,
it's the kind of place you might easily spot while just walking past.
So, it's located on a main thoroughfare where many tourists pass through.
(The place I'll introduce later is one I truly stumbled upon while aimlessly wandering, so it's not easy for tourists to just happen upon it!)
Doesn't it just make you want to go...?
Since it's on the second floor, the first step is finding the entrance.
When searching for a second-floor entrance in Vietnam,
you can't just look directly underneath the building.
The entrance is right here!!
I tried my best to get the perfect angle to capture the entrance.
Just head up the stairs like this, and you'll find it!
You'll be greeted by that neon sign
that we glimpsed from afar earlier.
For directions like these, I think a video is always better
than static photos for a real feel.
Once you've successfully navigated your way in,
Ta-da!
you'll discover this incredibly atmospheric bar.
Oh, I'm definitely a craft beer enthusiast,
but when I'm drawn in by such an irresistible vibe,
I always find myself ordering cocktails like these...
The tables are designed to reflect like mirrors,
which is really unique.
First things first, let's order!
The menu itself clearly shows a lot of thought and effort.
A diary-style menu!
It asks you about your current mood or "problem,"
then recommends a perfect cocktail to match!
It's set up just like that, haha!
It's a truly thoughtful and atmospheric menu, but
I just asked the bartender for a recommendation instead, lol!
The menu item they recommended? Cheers Darlin' !!!
It had a refreshing taste and was absolutely delicious.
What I loved most was that the alcohol scent or taste wasn't
too strong, which is often a deal-breaker for me in cocktails.
So, this was even better!
As I was slowly sipping on it,
they even gave me a fortune cookie! Haha.
Crack!
This day will never come back again.
So please cherish and live up to it.
Exactly! Let's cherish and enjoy this day, this moment, that will never come again.
That area is a screen,
so the display keeps changing.
While the images aren't deeply meaningful...
it wasn't bad just sitting alone, sipping my cocktail,
and gazing idly at it.
Even the restroom I visited in between
had such a cool vibe.
I've always thought that
even just one well-placed neon sign
can totally set an amazing atmosphere.
I was planning to have a beer later, so I didn't want to get too tipsy.
I was just about to leave after one drink, but then
I noticed there was a live performance happening?!
(I was just about to ask for the bill to leave,
but then the performer came in and started setting up.
I asked if there was a live show, and they said yes,
so I immediately cancelled the bill and said, "Later!"
and sat back down!)
There was no way I was going to miss this!
So, I ordered another drink and settled back in.
This time, it was the 'Long Lost Memory'.
(Recommended again!)
This one was delicious too. So good, good!
First of all, the marshmallow was incredibly tasty and put me in such a good mood, haha.
Everything here is delicious, isn't it??
Definitely worth recommending, haha!
Enjoying my marshmallow and sipping while waiting for the live performance...
They're taking a bit long to set up...
When is it going to start?
Still waiting.
I felt a little bit too close to the front, which was slightly awkward,
but now I couldn't move, haha.
Earlier, there weren't many customers (just two other groups besides me).
But it seems like people knew the live performance schedule,
because as soon as it was time, the place suddenly filled up!
Oh, there was one more person! Haha.
The two of them took turns singing.
The male singer mostly performed old pop songs,
while the female singer leaned towards slightly more trendy pop
(though not *super* trendy, haha!).
It was so wonderful...
I absolutely love sipping on a drink
and watching a live old pop performance like this.
I first realized this during a trip to the Philippines,
where I loved just drinking beer on the beach
and listening to live old pop music.
I think the Philippines perfectly captures that vibe.
In Bali, it was more like part one was a bit of old pop, and part two was dance pop,
but that genuine, old-school feel you get only in the Philippines
is something I haven't quite found anywhere else...
📍 95B Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000 Vietnam
95B Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000 Vietnam
Location: 95B Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000 Vietnam
Opening Hours: 6:00 AM ~ 9:00 PM
That's what Google Maps says, but!!
I'm not entirely sure about the opening time,
but the closing time is definitely not that, haha.
I was there past 10:30 PM...
And I think I briefly saw it operating as a cafe during the day!
(Most importantly) Live Music Time: 9:30 PM ~ 10:30 PM
The day I went was a Thursday, so
it probably isn't just on weekends.
(Self-satisfied)
Hidden Series: Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Travel Edition,
Having finished introducing the first hidden gem,
let's keep that vibe going and move on to the second one~!
The Goose Tavern
You probably wouldn't know about this place.
I stumbled upon it by chance while walking around.
It had this kind of vibe, haha.
At first, I thought it wasn't open for business.
Or maybe it was still under construction, haha.
Even when I went up to the front, I couldn't see inside......
I was looking around hesitantly in front,
when a Vietnamese person standing nearby gestured for me to go in, haha.
I asked if it was really open,
and I'm not sure if they understood,
but they kept smiling and telling me to go in, haha haha.
So, I went in.
Wow....
I absolutely love the atmosphere??
And there were no customers!!!!
(It was 7 PM at this time, haha haha haha
Honestly, I didn't intend to come to a pub this early.)
Feeling relaxed, I took one more shot of the opposite direction.
The atmosphere is wonderful.
This place definitely hasn't hit the mainstream yet.
A shot of the bar too.
I could have gone alone and sat at the bar,
but I thought it might feel a bit awkward, so
I just sat at the table on the left, haha haha haha.
It was 7 PM. I was the first customer.
There are no tables in the central area,
only by the window and on the opposite side.
5 tables for 3 people,
2 large multi-person tables.
3 seats at the bar.
The atmosphere really seems great.
Even though it's not completely dark yet, it's exuding such an aura.
It'll probably be even more atmospheric once the sun sets and it gets completely dark.
Time to order!
I just picked a few pages from the menu to photograph.
My first drink.
I don't remember what I ordered,
but given my preference,
I probably ordered something that tasted like a Weizen or a Witbier
for my first drink, haha.
But looking at the color, maybe I ordered something a bit juicy?
I like craft beer, but not this much.
I keep finding myself walking into places with good vibes,
so somehow, I'm just wandering around, drinking a ton of beer by myself... haha.
I didn't realize it,
but each table actually has a different interior design!
And since I was still the only customer there,
the lights for each individual table hadn't been turned on yet.
It would definitely be even more atmospheric if all of them were lit!!
Only the light at the table I first sat at
and the candle on my new table were lit.
This is my second drink, which I ordered extra,
and honestly... I really need to learn how to take photos! ㅠ
I'm just so bad at it...
For my second drink, I thought it might be nice to try a different style,
so I asked for a recommendation,
but this one just isn't my style.
Not just a little bit, but really not my cup of tea.
I should've just chosen one of the Belgian beers myself....... ㅠ
On top of that, it's unnecessarily high in alcohol content,
and if I drink all of this, I'll only have one drink left in my usual limit. ㅠ
This place doesn't have any Google reviews, just one 5.0-star rating.
(As of writing this post, it has 6 ratings, still a perfect 5.0)
It seems like a hidden gem that's not very well known yet.
But the atmosphere is absolutely amazing!
Well, that's it for this place.
I originally planned to have another drink a bit later,
but I ended up drinking too early!
📍 46/1 Phạm Hồng Thái, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
46/1 Phạm Hồng Thái, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hours: 6:00 PM ~ 1:00 AM
Phone: +84 386 616 216
Location: 46/1 Phạm Hồng Thái, Bến Thành Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Hidden Gems Series: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Travelogue
End of the second spot.
The last one is a more well-known and famous place.
Heart of Darkness Craft Brewery
The final pub.
Honestly, I didn't go with huge expectations,
but it turned out to be surprisingly delicious and great, so I decided to include it here too!
Intense black & red.
It feels so contrasting with the shop next door, lolol!
Entering.
The outdoor seating was already completely full,
so I went inside to see if there might be a spot.
Since I went alone on a Friday night...
I couldn't get a table and ended up sitting at the bar.
There were about three two-person tables visible to my left,
and when I walked in, there were two parties, both sitting alone.
So I thought, "Ah, maybe I should've sat there instead of at the bar?"
(One table was empty)
And as I was thinking that,
it turned out they had arrived early and were just waiting for their companions, haha.
Their friends eventually arrived and joined them, haha.
I took a moment to admire the vibrant menu board and taps directly in front of me,
and since I was hungry,
I decided to order first.
I ordered a Pale Ale and an Americano Classico Burger!
First, I grabbed a glass of beer,
and took a look around some more.
The beer was delicious.
And there were so many varieties.
The air conditioner directly above my seat was blowing right on me, so I was wondering if there was somewhere else to move.
I was looking around, glancing at the AC unit, when a Western foreigner, who seemed to be the owner, came over and adjusted the AC vents so the air wouldn't blow directly at me... How kind!
I was starving and eagerly waiting,
and finally, it arrived!
It seems I'm increasingly drawn to rich, flavorful handmade burgers and pizzas, haha!
Both the beer and the burger were absolutely delicious.
A 'height shot' to show off its impressive thickness!
Next time, though, I'll definitely order my patty well-done.
I ordered it medium-well, just like I do for steak...
(I'm totally a medium-well steak person, haha!)
but it still had a slight rare feel to it, which wasn't quite my preference. 😥
Oh, and a quick tip: the fries that come out initially
don't come with ketchup automatically.
You need to ask for it if you want some.
I was sitting right at the bar, in front of the taps, and I noticed something fascinating:
when they pour beer, almost no foam forms even if they don't tilt the glass.
I wonder if they have a special pressure adjustment for that?
It's quite amazing how little foam there is, even when poured vertically, haha!
Time for another beer!
This time, I decided to go for something a bit sweeter.
But wait, I just said almost no foam forms,
and then the very next photo shows a glass full of foam... haha!
What I meant was,
when they first poured it without tilting the glass,
hardly any foam appeared.
I'm guessing they deliberately made the foam at the end for this one.
Usually, there are about two beer sizes offered,
but here, they have three!
I really wanted to try several different kinds by ordering the smallest size,
but that wasn't an option at the moment,
so I went with the medium.
And guess what?
The price wasn't as expensive as I thought!
(The one I ordered this time was 60,000 VND, roughly ~$2)
It seems like a great idea to try several small ones next time!
As I was paying and about to leave,
one of the part-time servers accidentally spilled a beer.
All eyes were on them...
But then, someone who seemed like the manager came over and said,
"Are you okay?"
taking care of the server first...
What a genuinely good person, hehe!
Here's the location and store information:
📍 31D Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000 Vietnam
31D Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000 Vietnam
Opening Hours: 12:00 PM ~ 12:00 AM
Phone: +84 90 301 75 96
Address: 31D Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000 Vietnam
And just like that,
the 'Hidden Gems' series on my Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam trip comes to an end!
I really enjoy writing and posting for this 'Hidden Gems' series,
it's a lot of fun,
The only problem is...
the posts get incredibly long! 😥
And the time...
It takes so long to put together just one post.
So, I've been thinking, should I break these down into individual posts?
When I consider it,
it just brings up more dilemmas...
If I did that, I'd have to focus more on each individual place
and give it a really in-depth review.
Rather than that, I feel that compiling them like this
is better for readers, as they can
browse through and choose the spots that pique their interest,
making it easier to plan their visit.
That's my current thinking, but
it's something I'll need to keep mulling over
as I continue my blogging journey.
And with that, I'll wrap up my Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam travel installment.
Next up, I plan to list out some hot and happening cafes
that are definitely worth visiting!
Thinker&Dreamer is located on the second floor, and the entrance might not be obvious from directly below. Follow the stairs up, as shown in the article's attached photo, and you'll find a stylish bar with neon signs.
Thinker&Dreamer's menu is designed like a diary, asking about your "problem of the day" and recommending suitable cocktails based on your answer. You can also directly ask the bartender for recommendations.
According to the article, live performances at Thinker&Dreamer take place from 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM. The male performer primarily sings old pop songs, while the female performer mainly sings trendy pop.
From its exterior, The Goose Tavern might appear to be closed or under renovation. However, if you linger nearby, a Vietnamese local might wave you in, so feel free to go inside.
The patty for the Americano Classico Burger might be served medium-well, so it's best to request well-done in advance if that's your preference. Also, ketchup isn't initially served with the fries, so you'll need to ask for it if you want some.
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