A month ago I identified the LaDo Café way out in the Tân Phú District of HCMC as the most beautiful café in Vietnam, and I still stick by that opinion. However, my co-workers recently introduced me to the original LaDo Cafe in the Bình Thạnh District of Saigon, and it is a close second.
This cafe is located close to District 1 downtown Saigon, so it should be fairly easy for expats and tourists to visit. Located at 97/5 Lê Quang Định in Ward 14, it is at the end of hẻm 97, which is only about 50 meters long. Motorbike parking is provided along the hẻm.
There is a wonderful old Chinese style courtyard house at the end of the hẻm and it since it is not clear where the cafe is, many people mistakenly walk in.
Better to turn right and head into the cafe.
Down the entry lane, turn left for the entry stairs.
As is typical for these large coffee houses, there are many different levels of seating and a diversity of environments to choose from.
My coworkers and I enjoyed three hours of conversation on a rooftop terrace.
The two LaDo Cafés are examples of very well integrated modernist architecture, landscape design, and interior design. The landscape compositions are very thoughtfully done, such as at this infinity pool.
The owner is the architect, and his office seems to be upstairs at this cafe. He is definitely a master of modernist architecture. The structural frame is crisply white and well-proportioned, and the windows are beautifully set back in the frame.
