Vietnamese coffee has a trick up its sleeve. This 90-minute workshop in Hồ Chí Minh City teaches you how to brew with a phin and build three classic-plus versions you can actually copy at home.

I like that it’s hands-on from start to finish: you do the brewing, add the ingredients for each drink, and then taste what you made. I also like the teaching style—clear guidance that can come from instructors such as Quan, Noah, Julie, or Kieu, plus a lesson that includes history and coffee origin background, not just recipes.

One thing to consider: it’s not recommended for vegan travelers and it’s not recommended for travelers with lactose intolerance, since these coffee styles commonly include dairy-based ingredients.

Key takeaways

• Three drinks, three techniques: Bạc Xỉu, Cà Phê Muối, and Phin Con Panna
• Small groups (max 18), so you’re not stuck watching from the back
• Take-home materials: recipes and a completion certificate
• All food and drink included: coffee/tea/snacks during the workshop
• You learn the phin method, which is the heart of Vietnamese brewing

Why Vietnamese coffee needs more than a menu order

In Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnamese coffee is everywhere. But the moment you try to make it at home, you realize it’s not just strong coffee with a cute style. The real difference is technique, grind, brewing pace, and how the drink is built.

This workshop matters because it teaches the method behind drinks you’ll see on street stalls and in cafés. You get to use the same style of brewer (the phin) and understand what changes the flavor, from the first pour to the final mix-in.

Also, the class treats Vietnamese coffee as culture, not trivia. Expect a mix of hands-on brewing and short lessons about where coffee comes from and how coffee quality works.

Price check: what $23.35 really buys you

$23.35 isn’t a huge splurge for a 1.5-hour class in Quận 1—especially when it includes more than a single tasting. You get coffee and tea as part of the session, plus snacks, so you’re essentially turning it into a guided coffee break with training.

The value point for me is that you leave with the process, not just a couple sips. The class provides recipes you can use again later, and people also note that equipment and ingredients used in the workshop are high quality. If you’re the type who likes to recreate what you eat, this is one of the better “learn something real” deals in the city.

If you’re hoping for a long tour with multiple stops around town, this one won’t replace that. It’s focused on the workshop experience, which is exactly why it can stay cost-friendly.

Finding Lacàph Coffee Experiences Space (and not stressing about it)

The meeting point is Lacàph Coffee Experiences Space, upstairs at 220 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City. The location is near public transportation, but it can still be easy to miss because it’s inside a multi-floor building.

I’d plan to arrive a few minutes early so you can locate the workshop floor calmly. The good news: once you find it, the space is modern and set up for the class, so you quickly switch from walking around Saigon to standing over your phin.

Mobile ticket users should have that ready, since the workshop uses a mobile ticket system.

The 90-minute flow: phin practice to three finished drinks

The workshop runs about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the pace is designed so you’re not waiting forever for a turn. With a maximum group size of 18, you can usually get help when you need it, especially if you’re new to brewing.

Even if you’ve watched Vietnamese coffee being made, the learning curve is real. The instructor typically walks you through what to do, then you get hands-on with the steps and ingredients for each drink.

By the end, you don’t just drink three cups. You also leave with a certificate of completion and the recipes so you know how to repeat what you did. That combination—training plus take-home instructions—is what turns this from a fun afternoon into a skill.

Bạc Xỉu: learning the classic white-coffee style

Bạc Xỉu is the familiar gateway drink for many people. In this workshop, it’s treated as a proper Vietnamese preparation, not a sweetened afterthought.

What you’ll practice here is the foundation: how to brew using the phin, how to manage the timing, and how the coffee transforms as it drips and concentrates. You’ll also build the drink according to the workshop’s recipe rather than guessing at ratios.

This part is a good fit if you already like sweet, creamy coffee. You’ll come away knowing what makes it taste the way it does, and that’s the difference between ordering it in a café and pulling off the style at home.

Cà Phê Muối: the salt coffee moment that feels wrong

Cà Phê Muối sounds like a dare the first time you hear it. But the point of the class is that it’s not random—salt is used intentionally to affect the drink’s balance.

In the workshop, you’ll brew the base in the phin and then add the salt component using the class’s instructions. The hands-on part matters because you’re learning how the salt is meant to interact with the coffee flavor, not just that salt exists as an ingredient.

This is also where I’d expect your taste buds to wake up. Even if you’re skeptical, it’s the kind of drink that makes you understand Vietnamese coffee as a controlled craft, not a single flavor profile.

Phin Con Panna: the yogurt-honey experiment

The third drink is the “future of Vietnamese coffee” twist: Phin Con Panna. It mixes yogurt with Lacàph Raw Coffee Blossom Honey, which gives the drink a different texture and sweetness profile than the other two.

You’ll practice the phin brewing method again, then assemble the final drink based on the recipe you’re taught. This is a great section if you like trying modern flavors while still using the Vietnamese brewing foundation.

If you’re the type who enjoys food science (or just likes surprising tastes), this is the one to pay attention to. The workshop frames it as an innovation built on Vietnamese coffee roots, so you’re learning both tradition and what people are experimenting with now.

What you get along the way: tea, snacks, recipes, and a certificate

This class isn’t just “make coffee, drink coffee, leave.” You also get tea and snacks included with the tour. That makes it easy to schedule without needing another meal plan.

You also get take-home value:

• Recipes you can follow later
• A completion certificate
• High-quality phin and ingredients used during the workshop

In practical terms, the recipes are the big deal. Without them, coffee classes are mostly memories. With them, you can recreate the drinks, including the structure of each recipe.

Who should book this workshop (and who should skip it)

This is ideal if you:

• Love Vietnamese coffee and want to make it at home
• Want a small, hands-on experience (max 18)
• Prefer a focused activity over a multi-stop city tour
• Like learning how ingredients and technique change flavor

It’s also a solid choice if you travel solo. The workshop format is social enough to chat with other people, but structured enough that you’re not left to wander.

Skip it if you need vegan options or you have lactose intolerance. The class specifically isn’t recommended for vegan travelers and it’s not recommended for travelers with lactose intolerance.

Also, if you’re someone who needs a lot of outdoor sightseeing or big panoramic views, this won’t be that kind of tour. The “view” here is the coffee process and the taste test.

Should you book this Vietnamese coffee class in Hồ Chí Minh City?

Yes—if your idea of a great trip includes learning a real local skill and bringing it home. This workshop is good value because the price covers the drinks and snacks, plus you leave with recipes and a certificate, not just a photo.

Book it when you want something fun and structured for 1.5 hours in Quận 1. If you’re lactose intolerant or you need vegan choices, pick a different coffee experience that matches your diet.

If you’re curious about Bạc Xỉu, interested in learning why salt coffee works, and ready for the yogurt-and-honey Phin Con Panna twist, this class gives you the full range in one sitting.

FAQ

How long is the Vietnamese coffee workshop in Hồ Chí Minh City?

It lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.

What does the workshop cost, and is anything included?

The price is $23.35 per person, and the tour includes coffee, tea, and snacks.

Where is the meeting point?

You meet at Lacàph Coffee Experiences Space, upstairs, 220 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam.

What drinks will I make during the class?

You’ll learn to make Bạc Xỉu (white coffee style), Cà Phê Muối (salt coffee), and Phin Con Panna, which includes yogurt and Lacàph Raw Coffee Blossom Honey.

Can I choose a morning or afternoon time?

Yes, you can choose between morning and afternoon tours.

How many people are in a group?

The workshop has a maximum of 18 travelers.

Is the workshop suitable for vegans or lactose-intolerant travelers?

It’s not recommended for vegan travelers and it’s not recommended for travelers with lactose intolerance.

Is there free cancellation, and how far in advance do I need to cancel?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.