There are plenty of cafés in the city, but only a few serve something truly unforgettable. The original Egg Coffee in Saigon isn’t just about caffeine—it’s about history in a cup. At Tonkin Coffee, the bold taste of robusta meets a silky layer of whipped egg cream, creating a drink that feels both comforting and exciting. It’s where curious travelers and coffee-loving locals come together to enjoy a recipe that has stood the test of time.
The Cultural Journey of Vietnamese Coffee
Coffee in Vietnam is not just a drink—it is a daily ritual, a small but steady heartbeat of the culture. Walk down almost any street in the morning, and you’ll see rows of small plastic stools, steam rising from hot cups, and conversations flowing as easily as the coffee itself. From the smallest roadside vendors to elegant cafés tucked into busy neighborhoods, coffee has become a way of life.
But it didn’t start this way. Coffee was introduced during the French colonial era, and at first it was enjoyed in a more European style. Over time, Vietnamese people made it their own. The land in the Central Highlands proved to be perfect for growing robusta beans, which thrived in the volcanic soil and tropical climate. Farmers quickly adopted robusta as the country’s main crop, giving Vietnam the distinct coffee identity it carries today.
As the drink became more popular, Vietnamese creativity transformed coffee into something truly unique. Sweetened condensed milk was added to balance the bitterness, creating the beloved cà phê sữa đá—iced milk coffee that is now iconic around the world. Later, in Hanoi during the 1940s, when milk was scarce, a resourceful bartender whisked egg yolks with sugar and folded it into hot coffee. What began as improvisation became a national treasure: egg coffee. Creamy, rich, and unlike anything else, it symbolized the Vietnamese ability to adapt and create beauty even from limited resources.
Today, egg coffee is more than a beverage—it is a symbol of heritage and pride. And in Saigon, one place has made it their mission to preserve this legacy: Tonkin Coffee.
Original Egg Coffee at Tonkin Coffee
For Tonkin Coffee, egg coffee is not just another item on the menu. It is the heart of their story, the drink that represents everything they stand for.
When you order an egg coffee here, you’re getting more than just a cup—you’re tasting history. The recipe remains faithful to its roots: a bold shot of robusta coffee as the base, topped with a thick, velvety layer of whipped egg yolk, sugar, and milk. The balance is crucial. Too strong and the coffee overwhelms; too sweet and the foam dominates. At Tonkin, every cup is crafted to achieve that perfect harmony.
But the experience goes far beyond the taste. Step inside the café, and you’ll feel a sense of warmth and intimacy. The design draws from Indochine heritage with touches of folk décor—bamboo details, soft golden lighting, and cultural accents that make you feel connected to something older and deeper. It’s not just a place to drink coffee; it’s a place where you feel part of a story.
Visitors often describe their time here as more than a simple café stop. Many travelers come in search of the famous egg coffee Saigon is known for, but what they take away is the memory of an atmosphere where culture and comfort meet. Locals keep coming back because it feels both familiar and special, a reminder that timeless flavors still have a place in today’s busy city life.
How Tonkin Chooses Its Coffee
Of course, a drink is only as good as the beans that go into it. At Tonkin Coffee, quality begins long before the coffee is brewed.
The beans are sourced from Vietnam’s Central Highlands, the country’s coffee-growing heartland. This region has the perfect balance of fertile soil, altitude, and climate to produce robusta beans with depth and strength. By working closely with farms in this area, Tonkin ensures that their coffee is not only authentic but also consistently excellent.
Instead of chasing mass production, the focus is on careful selection. Coffee cherries are picked at their ripest, processed with attention to detail, and roasted to bring out the natural richness of robusta. The result is a bean that carries the character of the land, ready to be brewed into the bold base of Tonkin’s signature egg coffee.
This quiet commitment to sourcing makes a difference. You may not see it when you sit down at the café, but you taste it in every sip: smooth, balanced, and unmistakably true to Vietnam’s heritage.
It’s the kind of attention to detail that has helped Tonkin earn a reputation for serving the best egg coffee in District 1, Ho Chi Minh city, where tradition and flavor meet in every cup.
Why Tonkin Uses Robusta Instead of Arabica
Arabica is often seen as the star of specialty coffee. With its fruity notes and gentle acidity, it’s the bean people choose for brews like pour-overs and flat whites. But when it comes to egg coffee, Tonkin Coffee believes robusta is the better match.
A Flavor That Truly Fits
Robusta offers a bold, slightly bitter profile that pairs beautifully with the sweetness of egg cream. The two don’t compete—they complement each other.
Without robusta’s strength, the egg foam would overpower the drink, leaving it unbalanced. With robusta, the flavors meet in the middle, creating harmony in every sip.
The Extra Kick You Can Feel
Part of what makes Vietnamese coffee unique is its strength. Robusta naturally contains nearly twice the caffeine of Arabica, giving it that distinctive energy boost. Egg coffee, in particular, is meant to be both indulgent and invigorating—a drink that comforts you but also wakes you up. Robusta delivers on that promise.
Keeping It Real and Authentic
Perhaps most importantly, using robusta preserves the authenticity of the recipe. When egg coffee was first created in Hanoi, it was made with robusta beans. Choosing to continue this tradition means that what you taste at Tonkin today is the same kind of flavor that people enjoyed decades ago. It’s a direct link to the origins of the drink, honoring both history and culture.
Experience at Tonkin Coffee
Visiting Tonkin Coffee is more than sitting down for a drink—it’s stepping into an experience.
While egg coffee is their signature, the menu offers much more. You can enjoy other Vietnamese classics, specialty brews, teas, and even freshly baked croissants and pastries. This mix of drinks and food makes Tonkin not only a coffee destination but also a cozy spot for breakfast, a light lunch, or an afternoon treat.
The atmosphere is what ties everything together. It’s modern enough to feel comfortable, yet rooted in tradition with its Indochine-inspired design. There’s a sense of calm, as if time moves just a little slower inside. For locals, it’s a space that feels both familiar and refreshing. For travelers, it’s an introduction to the café culture of Vietnam that feels authentic, not staged.
Every detail at Tonkin is designed to make you feel welcome. Whether you’re sipping alone, chatting with friends, or pausing in the middle of a busy day, it feels like a place that invites you to stay a little longer.
Visit Tonkin Coffee to taste the original egg coffee in Saigon, crafted with robusta beans from Vietnam’s Central Highlands and served in a cozy cultural space.
Contact us:
Tonkin Coffee
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.