Coffee and tea, in small Saigon streets. I love the stop at Cheo Leo Cafe, billed as the oldest coffee shop in Saigon, because it turns a simple drink break into a real taste-and-smell lesson. I also like that you brew your own phin-coffee, so Vietnamese coffee culture becomes something you do, not just something you watch.

The only thing to plan around is time and weather: this experience runs about 5 hours and depends on good weather, so rain can affect the flow. Also, the schedule moves steadily between stops, so I’d check the plan ahead of time so you know what to expect when you arrive.

Key highlights at a glance

• Cheo Leo Cafe, the oldest coffee shop in Saigon: a strong start with the kind of atmosphere coffee places in Vietnam do best
• Hands-on phin coffee brewing: you make coffee using a phin filter and then taste different styles
• Vietnamese tea tasting in a shared circle: small sips, aroma focus, and conversation built into the experience
• Vegetarian lunch for sharing: a meal that keeps the day relaxed and social
• Private pacing with pickup and bottled water: your group moves together with private transportation

Entering Cheo Leo Cafe, the oldest coffee shop in Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City has plenty of coffee spots, but this tour starts where coffee culture is treated like everyday ritual. Your first stop is Cheo Leo Cafe, described as the oldest coffee shop in Saigon. The big value here isn’t some long-winded lecture. It’s the setting: narrow lanes, local movement, and that mix of coffee scents that hits before you even get your cup.

This is also where you begin tasting like a local. You try coffees such as phin coffee and cà phê sữa đá. If you’ve only had Vietnamese coffee once before, you’ll likely notice how the flavors land. It’s often a blend of bitter coffee body with a creamy, sweet finish, and that balance is the whole point. You’re not just sampling; you’re getting your palate oriented to what Vietnamese coffee feels like.

One practical note: the tour is designed for an easy, foot-friendly pace through small alleys. That means comfy shoes matter more than you might expect. If you’re wearing dress shoes or anything stiff, you’ll notice the walk.

Brew your own phin-coffee, then taste it for real

A phin filter is the heart of Vietnamese coffee, and this experience keeps the focus on using one. After Cheo Leo Cafe, you head to another stop centered on making Vietnamese coffee with a phin filter and then tasting different types.

What I like about this part is that it closes the gap between theory and taste. A lot of tours show you pictures or hand you a cup. This one asks you to participate in the process, even if your role is simple. Once you’ve made something yourself, the coffee stops being a random drink and starts becoming a reference point. You can actually compare what changes between styles because you’ve handled the basic method.

Then you move into tasting. You’ll sample different coffee types, which is where you can start building your own preferences. Do you like the stronger, more bitter-forward profile? Or do you prefer the softer, creamier cup? The point isn’t to pick one winner. It’s to learn what Vietnamese coffee is offering and how each variation feels.

If you usually think coffee is just coffee, this is the moment where your mindset tends to shift. The tour doesn’t ask you to become a barista. It asks you to pay attention. That’s a low-effort way to get a high pay-off in cultural understanding.

Vietnamese tea tasting: aroma, small sips, and calm conversation

After coffee, the tour shifts to Vietnamese tea. Tea might sound like the quieter sibling, but it’s treated like a serious drink here. At this stop, you gather, take a few sips, and focus on aroma and taste so the flavors connect with your senses.

The practical value is simple: tea tasting trains you to slow down. Coffee often pushes you forward—strong, fast, and bold. Tea does the opposite. You notice smell first, then taste, then aftertaste. It’s a useful skill if you’re also trying to eat and drink thoughtfully across Vietnam instead of just rushing to the next photo spot.

You’ll also get a more conversational vibe. The description highlights simple, profound conversation during the sharing circle. That matters because it changes the feel of the experience. You’re not only there to consume. You’re there to talk, ask questions, and let the day feel human.

One consideration: tea won’t satisfy everyone if your day is strictly coffee-forward. Still, even if you’re a coffee person, this stop helps you understand the role of tea in everyday Vietnamese life—two powerful drinks moving side by side.

Meal for sharing: vegetarian dishes that keep the day grounded

Midday, you sit down for lunch for sharing with flavorful Vietnamese vegetarian dishes. This is one of those stops that makes the tour feel complete. Without food, coffee-and-tea days can start to feel like you’re juggling sips. With lunch, it turns into a real rhythm: drink, taste, pause, eat, talk, then continue.

Sharing meals in Vietnam are usually less about perfect portion control and more about sitting together. Here, the tour keeps that social element. You’re meant to enjoy the food with the group rather than speed through it.

Since the dishes are vegetarian, it’s a good match for anyone who wants a lighter lunch or just doesn’t eat meat during travel. The data doesn’t list exact dishes, so you should go in open-minded. The value is the experience of eating Vietnamese food in a shared setting, not memorizing a menu.

Tip for your comfort: pace yourself with the coffee and tea. If you’ve got a caffeine sensitivity, the combination of coffee stops plus tea can stack up. The lunch helps reset your body and your taste buds.

Price and what $97 covers in Ho Chi Minh City

At $97 for an approximately 5-hour private experience, you’re paying for more than drinks. Here’s what’s clearly included:

• Tea and/or coffee during the stops
• Private transportation
• Lunch with flavorful Vietnamese vegetarian dishes
• Bottled water for the trip
• A promised surprise after the trip (details aren’t specified, but it’s part of the package)

That private transportation piece matters in Ho Chi Minh City. Between traffic, small alley routes, and stop-to-stop timing, having everything arranged saves energy. Instead of figuring out transit and timing yourself, you can focus on tasting and asking questions.

Is $97 a bargain? It can feel fair when you factor in that you’re not just buying cups. You’re buying a guided, scheduled, private pacing built around tastings and a shared meal.

Also, you get pickup offered and a mobile ticket, which tends to reduce the mental load. You’re not chasing paperwork. You’re ready to go.

How the 5-hour flow works: stops, timing, and a private group pace

This experience is built as a chain of short, meaningful stops. You spend about 1 hour at the coffee shop, then 1 hour focused on making and tasting coffee. Tea is another 1 hour, followed by an hour for the shared vegetarian lunch.

That structure is part of why the tour feels focused. You’re not dragged through five places where you barely get a taste. Each part is designed to “do something”: taste at the coffee shop, brew with a phin filter, sip and smell during tea tasting, then eat and relax together.

Because it’s private, it’s only your group. That typically means you can ask questions without competing with a large crowd. It can also mean the guide adjusts pace to match your group’s comfort—especially helpful if you’re slower, or if you want a little more explanation during tasting.

Two things I’d watch:

1. This experience requires good weather. If the day turns wet, the schedule can change.
2. The pace is steady. If you’re hoping for long wandering time between stops, you may feel a bit time-pressed.

Who should book this coffee-and-tea experience

This fits best if you want more than a coffee stop. You’ll enjoy it if you like hands-on learning, tasting-focused travel, and small moments that connect food and daily life.

I especially think it’s a strong match for:

• People who want to learn how Vietnamese coffee culture feels, not just how it tastes
• Anyone who likes structured tastings paired with conversation
• Visitors who prefer vegetarian-friendly food during travel
• Small groups who want private pacing and less hassle

If you’re purely chasing famous landmarks and don’t care about coffee or tea, this may feel too food-and-drink centered. But if coffee and tea are your travel language, this tour makes a lot of sense.

Also, it’s run by WEAW EXPERIENCE TRAVEL COMPANY LIMITED, and the experience is positioned as a local, values-forward vibe with themes like #no-plastic and a calmer #spiritual feel. Even if those tags are more about the tour mood than hard rules, they line up with what the day actually does: slow down, smell, sip, taste, and share.

My decision guide: should you book?

Book it if you want:

• A hands-on phin-coffee experience
• A serious tasting session that includes both coffee and Vietnamese tea
• A shared vegetarian lunch that anchors the day
• Private pacing with pickup and a smooth mobile-ticket setup

Don’t book it if:

• You’re hoping for lots of free time to roam on your own
• You only want one drink stop and nothing else
• Your schedule can’t flex if weather isn’t cooperating

One more small nudge: when you’re planning your day, check the plan details ahead of time. I like that because it makes the first stop feel less like an arrival surprise and more like you’re walking into the next part of a clear sequence.

The numbers also look good: it’s rated 5/5 with 10 reviews and a 100% recommendation rate. That doesn’t automatically make it perfect, but it does suggest the day is landing well for people who come for coffee and tea culture.

FAQ

Where does this tea and coffee experience take place?

It takes place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with stops including Cheo Leo Cafe in Saigon.

How long is the experience?

The duration is about 5 hours.

How much does it cost?

The price is $97.

Is the tour private and do I get pickup?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity with pickup offered, and it uses private transportation.

What ticket do I need?

You’ll have a mobile ticket. You also receive confirmation at the time of booking.

Is lunch included, and is it vegetarian?

Yes. Lunch is included, and it’s described as flavorful Vietnamese vegetarian dishes meant for sharing.

Are coffee and tea included?

Yes. The tour includes coffee and/or tea during the tastings.

What happens if the weather is poor?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. It offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

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