Traveling in Ho Chi Minh City during Tết is a unique experience. The streets grow calmer, the city moves at a gentler rhythm, and familiar routines pause to make room for celebration. During those quiet mornings or slow afternoons, many visitors and locals search for egg coffee shops open Tet Ho Chi Minh City, wondering where they can still enjoy this iconic drink during the holiday.
The answer is reassuring. In central areas like District 1, several cafés remain open throughout the Lunar New Year, and among them, Tonkin Coffee stands out as a dependable place to enjoy authentic Vietnamese egg coffee, even during Tết.
Are egg coffee shops open during Tết in Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes, many egg coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh City do stay open during Tết, especially those located in tourist-friendly districts. However, opening hours often change, and some smaller cafés may close entirely to allow staff to spend time with family.
Tết is not just a holiday; it is a cultural reset. Businesses slow down, schedules become flexible, and the city breathes differently. This is why choosing where to go for coffee during Tết matters more than usual.
For many visitors, the real challenge during the holiday is not just finding a café, but knowing where to drink egg coffee that stays open, maintains quality, and feels welcoming throughout Tết.
Why some cafés close during Tết
Many traditional cafés are family-run. For these owners, Tết is the one time of year when closing the shop is not only acceptable but expected. Others operate with reduced staff, which can lead to unpredictable hours or limited menus.
For travelers unfamiliar with the city, this can be frustrating. Walking from café to café only to find closed doors is not how most people want to spend their holiday mornings.
Where you’re most likely to find cafés open
Central districts offer the highest chance of success. Areas around Ben Thanh Market, major streets, and well-known coffee brands tend to stay open during Tết to serve tourists and locals who remain in the city. This is where consistency becomes valuable, and why established cafés like Tonkin Coffee are often chosen during the holiday period.
Which egg coffee shops are worth visiting during Tết?
If you’re searching for egg coffee during Tết, availability alone is not enough. Location, reliability, and opening hours matter just as much, especially during the Lunar New Year. In Ho Chi Minh City, Tonkin Coffee stands out for remaining accessible during Tết while maintaining consistent service across its locations.
Below are the Tonkin Coffee branches most convenient for visitors during the holiday.
Tonkin Specialty Coffee – Central District 1
- Address: 91 Lý Tự Trọng Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Opening hours during Tết: Approximately 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
As the flagship location, Tonkin Specialty Coffee is well-suited for those looking to sit longer, work lightly, or escape the heat during the holiday. Its central location makes it convenient for tourists exploring nearby attractions.
Tonkin Egg Coffee – Near Huynh Hoa Banh Mi
- Address: 1 Lê Thị Riêng Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Nearby landmark: Huynh Hoa Banh Mi
- Opening hours during Tết: Approximately 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (may vary on the first day of Tết)
This location is especially popular with visitors staying in District 1. Being close to Huynh Hoa Banh Mi, it’s an easy stop for breakfast or a mid-morning coffee break during Tết.
Tonkin Garden Cafe – A quieter Tết experience
- Address: 135/50 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Opening hours during Tết: Approximately 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
For those who prefer a calmer atmosphere during Tết, Tonkin Garden Cafe offers a more relaxed, green setting away from busy streets. It’s an ideal place to slow down and enjoy coffee at a gentler pace during the holiday.
What makes Tonkin Coffee’s egg coffee special?
To many people, egg coffee looks deceptively simple. Coffee at the bottom, a pale golden cream on top. Because of that simplicity, it’s easy to assume that one cup of egg coffee is much like another. At Tonkin Coffee, this assumption is gently challenged.
The team at Tonkin Coffee believes that a truly good egg coffee is never the result of a single ingredient done well. It is the outcome of care, balance, and intention, applied consistently, from the egg foam you taste first to the espresso you finish last.
The egg cream: Soft, light, and thoughtfully balanced
Most conversations about egg coffee begin and end with the egg. And Tonkin Coffee agrees to a point.
A good egg cream must be soft and airy, not stiff or overly thick. It should be lightly sweet, never cloying, and it must be completely free of the raw, eggy smell that often defines poorly made versions of this drink. Achieving this balance is harder than it looks.
Tonkin Coffee works exclusively with fresh eggs, knowing full well that fresh ingredients come with natural variations. Unlike industrial ingredients designed for uniformity, eggs change with season, temperature, and handling. Instead of masking those changes, Tonkin responds to them.
Each batch of egg cream is prepared with close attention to texture and aroma. Whisking time, temperature control, and resting moments are carefully adjusted so the final foam feels smooth and gentle on the palate. The goal is not to impress with richness, but to invite comfort.
This careful handling is why Tonkin’s egg cream feels clean and light, even though it is undeniably indulgent.
Why the coffee beneath the egg matters just as much
While many people believe egg coffee succeeds or fails entirely because of the egg, Tonkin Coffee takes a wider view.
Beneath the foam sits a small amount of espresso, about 15ml in a single cup. It may seem minor compared to the generous egg layer above it, but this espresso carries weight far beyond its volume.
That shot represents a longer journey: evolving farming methods, more mindful harvesting, and the lives of farmers who have spent decades working with coffee plants. For Tonkin, coffee is not just a base for egg cream. It is a voice.
If the coffee is weak, flat, or bitter, the egg cream becomes a distraction rather than a complement. When the espresso is properly extracted, structured, bold, and balanced, it anchors the sweetness of the egg and gives the drink depth.
This deeper attention to sourcing and extraction is why Tonkin Coffee is often associated with conversations about best vietnamese coffee, not through loud claims, but through the quiet consistency of what ends up in the cup.
From farm to foam: A complete cup
Tonkin’s approach to egg coffee is not about reinventing tradition. It’s about honoring it fully.
Rather than relying on shortcuts or standardized flavors, Tonkin Coffee treats every cup as a small, complete story. The egg cream reflects careful hands and fresh ingredients. The espresso reflects years of change in how coffee is grown, harvested, and valued.
When these two elements meet, the result is an egg coffee that feels intentional rather than accidental. Rich, but not heavy. Sweet, but not overwhelming. Familiar, yet quietly distinctive.
For guests who enjoy the story behind their drink, this philosophy often shapes how they think about coffee beyond the café itself, influencing what they later consider the best coffee to buy when looking for something meaningful, not just convenient.
Why egg coffee at Tonkin feels right during Tết
Tết is a season of reflection. It’s a time when people slow down, pay attention, and value things that are often rushed the rest of the year. Tonkin Coffee’s egg coffee fits naturally into this rhythm.
There is no urgency in how it is made or served. The drink invites you to pause, to notice the warmth of the cup, the softness of the foam, and the contrast between sweetness and strength.
In a city that usually moves fast, especially one as energetic as Ho Chi Minh City, that pause can feel surprisingly meaningful.
Egg coffee at Tonkin Coffee is not designed to impress at first sip. It’s designed to unfold gently, just like Tết itself.
Visit Tonkin Coffee Today!
Tonkin Specialty Coffee
- Add: 91 Ly Tu Trong St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- Hotline: 086 799 0125
Tonkin Garden Cafe
- Add: 135/50 Tran Hung Dao St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- Hotline: 087 992 4691
Tonkin Egg Coffee
- Add: 1 Le Thi Rieng, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- Hotline: 0815 841 909
Nestled in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Tonkin Specialty Coffee is one of the best coffee shops to experience authentic Vietnamese flavors. From the iconic egg coffee and refreshing coconut coffee to bold Vietnamese coffee and the unique salt coffee, every sip is a journey into tradition. For non-coffee lovers, our Vietnamese matcha offers a gentle alternative. Pair your drink with a freshly baked banh mi or a buttery croissant, and savor the true taste of Vietnam in a setting inspired by folk culture and Indochine charm.