Local Interest
Coffee San Vuon Family ,
35 Hoang Hoa Tham , Vung Tau
If you ’ re after a nice quiet place to think about life , chill out or read a book , this is the place for you . I ’ m sure you have walked or driven past this coffee shop more than once . A 15 metre walk down the side of the main house then opens out to an area approximately 60 metres square with lavish tropical gardens , mature mango trees , tamarind , coconuts , sake ( bread fruit ), mulberry , banana and star fruit trees to name a few
growing and bearing fruit . We opted to sit outside underneath the canopy of trees with a cool breeze and watch the squirrels running between the trees , should the weather be not so kind , there is an undercover section in the house . I ordered a cà phê sữa da ( iced sweet milk coffee ) and my friend had a nước ép quả mơ ( apricot juice ) with the total bill coming to 38,000vnd . We talked to the owner for some length , making a friend for life , she opened the coffee shop some 10 years ago . I will be visiting again as the owner is has insisted that she will teach me how to cook a traditional Vietnamese dish for us to share and learn more about Vietnamese culture . The trade off was , my friend Thuy teach her English . Don ’ t expect an upmarket coffee shop or you will be disappointed , this is a true Vietnamese coffee shop where you just go with the flow . Well worth a visit and an oasis in the middle of the city , set back from the road so you don ’ t have to listen to the traffic noise .
Text and images by Colleen Winterburn
“ Bia Tuoi ” Fresh Draft Beer
Bia Tuoi is a draft beer venue popular in Vietnam amongst the locals and ex-pats alike , and a great place to experience the local beer .
Located at 4 Le Loi Street , Vung Tau , opposite front beach . Its is a family ran business that opened their doors to the public 16 years ago . A handle of draft beer will cost you 5,000vnd ( 25 cents ). They also have on offer , snacks , seafood , lunch and dinner . You can order some cha gaô heo ( pork spring rolls ) for 60,000vnd ($ 3 ) comprising of a plate of approx . 10 spring rolls with all the condiments . The menu is written in Vietnamese , English and Russian so you will not have a problem ordering food . Squid , prawn , fish , cockle , eel , frog , ostrich , goat , chicken , beef and pork are all on the menu , the great choice of dishes worries some people as it is quite extensive however , fear not as their turnover is very high everything is fresh . They even have CCTV in the kitchen for public viewing , so you can view your food being prepared and cooked . The Bia Tuoi is open from 10am to 11pm . Drop in and mingle with the locals . Sit back with the locals and enjoy the atmosphere .
4 Le Loi Street , Vung Tau . Phone : 064.3510236
14 The MAG Vung Tau