Ca Phe Do Phu

A glimpse into the Vietnam war

Besides their famous grilled pork chop, Ca Phe Do Phu gives you a cool dining experience where you can level up your meal with a fried egg and tasty shreds of pork skin. Even though I really wanted the whole package, since they didn’t have the stuffing, I went for the pork skin and fried egg combo.

But hey, you should take advantage of Ca Phe Do Phu’s excellent broken rice and coffee. When you walk into the café, you might think it’s a coffee joint with a funky vintage style. But guess what? Everything on display here has a cool history.

Back in the day, this place was like a safe haven for a supporter of the Viet Cong. This normal-looking house played a huge role during the Vietnam War. Underneath the floor is this secret bunker you can get to through a sneaky trap door – something you’d miss if you didn’t know about it.

So, this spot used to be a secret meeting place for Viet Cong folks. Hidden rooms, like the one with the trap door, had all kinds of secrets – weapons, gear, and even a hiding place for soldiers and officers running from the Americans. Open up that trap door, and you’ll find a stash of weapons and uniforms in the bunker. I got to check out all this history with a guided tour, but you can also explore independently.

If you’re into the Vietnam War or just looking for something super interesting, you’ve got to swing by Ca Phe Do Phu. No doubt, it’s one of the most awesome café-restaurants in Saigon.

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Address: 72 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Operating Hours: Daily from 7 AM to 10 PM 

Must-Try: Com Tam suon nuong (grilled pork chop broken rice) 

Price: 45,000 for Com Tam