Nha Trang Cafes: Sea Views, Rooftops, Retro Rooms and Capybaras

In Vietnam, going for coffee means sitting down, often for an hour or more. Nha Trang has the whole range, from plastic stools on the pavement to a sky deck 43 floors above Tran Phu (Trần Phú), the beachfront road. The beach faces east, so the sand is at its best in the morning, while sunset is a job for the rooftops.

The cafes at a glance #

Opening hours come from each venue's own website or its Google Maps listing, checked on October 10, 2026. Small cafes often change hours over holidays and in the rainy season, so check again before you go.

Beachfront on Tran Phu: best in the morning #

Several places in the Tran Phu beach park open straight onto the sand and serve coffee next to cocktails, beer and juices. If you are staying on central Tran Phu, they are just across the road.

Photo: cloud.shepherd (Brian Miner)

Sunset: head up, and look toward the mountains #

From higher up you see both sides: the ring of hills, the Cai River (sông Cái) and the lights coming on along Tran Phu. Both places below open at 5 p.m., an easy stop before dinner or the night market.

Coffee the way locals start the day #

Nha Trang drinks its coffee early, and a lot of it is served from a few plastic stools in front of someone's house.

Around To Hien Thanh (Tô Hiến Thành) and Hong Bang (Hồng Bàng), jokingly called the "Korean quarter" (khu phố Hàn), AN Cafe is calm and CCCP Coffee has pavement tables for watching the street. Pair one with a bowl of fish noodle soup for breakfast.

If strong coffee is not for you, try Sua Tuoi Ba Bay (Sữa Tươi Bà Bảy) at 7 Pham Hong Thai (Phạm Hồng Thái), open from early morning until 8 p.m. The short menu covers fresh milk with coffee, fresh milk with mandarin, soy milk and pennywort juice, from about VND10,000 in 2024.

Retro cafes in the old streets #

Over the past decade, retro cafes have spread across the city. These cafes recreate older interiors with tiled roofs, vintage furniture and household objects.

Two more in the same spirit: Dam Cafe (Đầm cà phê) at 17 Xuong Huan, in a house almost 100 years old, and Cong Caphe (Cộng Cà Phê) at 23 Nguyen Chanh.

For working, lingering or bringing the kids #

If you need to open a laptop, pick a cafe in town, away from loud music and sea wind, and ask about wifi and sockets before choosing a table.

The social-media favorites: trains and a few more #

Two more places to look up are DAN Coffee & Dessert at 14 Ngo Gia Tu (Ngô Gia Tự) and Mien Coffee (Miên Coffee) at 8B Dien Bien Phu (Điện Biên Phủ). Check their current hours and menus before visiting.

Capybara cafes: what to know before you go #

At least two cafes in town keep capybaras, the large South American rodents, alongside other animals.

Choose a place with a separate rest area for the animals; if an animal is avoiding people or the contact area is crowded, watch from a distance.

How to order Vietnamese coffee #

Vietnamese coffee drips through a phin, a small metal filter on top of the glass. It comes out strong and dark, so the classic way to drink it is with condensed milk and ice.

Photo: in search for a new country of residence (Flickr)

Order ca phe sua da (cà phê sữa đá) for iced coffee with condensed milk, or den da (đen đá) for black iced coffee. For hot versions, ask for ca phe sua nong (cà phê sữa nóng) or den nong (đen nóng). Bac xiu (bạc xỉu) is mostly milk with a little coffee, a gentle start, and ca phe muoi (cà phê muối) is salt coffee from Hue (Huế).

For black coffee, ask for it duong (ít đường) for less sugar. For coffee with condensed milk, ask for it sua (ít sữa) for less condensed milk.

Prices, payment and timing #

Prices vary by cafe and drink. The figures in this guide, from about VND10,000 at Ba Bay and VND30,000-70,000 at Yen Garden, date from 2024 and 2023; check the current menu before you budget. Street-side coffee usually costs less, and beachfront and rooftop venues more, since you are paying for the seat. At bars, check whether the menu adds a service charge.

Keep small dong notes for street cafes and motorbike parking. To avoid crowds, reach a rooftop as it opens and visit the photo-friendly cafes on a weekday. For sights nearby, see what to do downtown.

Where to sit on a rainy day #

Roughly September to December is Nha Trang's rainy season. In light rain, an indoor cafe such as Gac 99's, Cong Caphe or Chon can work if the route is safe; for a wet day, see these rainy-day ideas. Postpone the visit if heavy rain or flooding is forecast, and follow local advice.

Nha Trang cafe FAQ #