Vietnam coffee has a science to it. I love the hands-on brewing style and the way the class pushes you to make each drink yourself with a real phin filter. One catch: the menu includes yogurt and other dairy-based drinks, so it is not recommended for vegan travelers or anyone who is lactose intolerant.

You’ll meet at Lacàph Coffee Experiences SpaceUpstairs, 220 Nguyễn Công Trứ in District 1. Then you spend about 90 minutes learning and tasting three Vietnamese coffee drinks, with coffee, tea, and snacks included. Small group size matters here too: the workshop caps at 18 travelers, so questions don’t get swallowed up.

Key things that make this workshop work

• You make three drinks, not just watch someone pour
• Real brewing practice with the phin system, guided step-by-step
• Traditional picks plus a new twist: Bạc Xỉu, Cà Phê Muối, then Phin Con Panna
• Food and drinks are included: coffee, tea, and snacks
• You leave with recipes (and a completion certificate) so you can repeat it at home
• Instructors rotate, and names you may meet include Quan, Julie, Noah, Giao, Joey, and Kieu

Where the Workshop Happens: Lacàph’s upstairs space in District 1

This class starts at Lacàph Coffee Experiences SpaceUpstairs at 220 Nguyễn Công Trứ, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1. It’s in District 1, which is convenient for an easy start—especially if you’re already doing your usual sightseeing loops around central Hồ Chí Minh City.

The meeting point is also in a modern coffee-focused building, so you’re not hunting through a dusty back alley or a storefront with zero signage. Still, do yourself a favor and plan to arrive a few minutes early. A couple of people note that the location is easy to miss if you don’t spot where the workshop level is.

Inside, the workshop setup is designed for learning. You get to see the gear up close and use what you’re taught—rather than only getting a sip at the end. That’s a big part of why this feels fun. You’re not just paying for coffee; you’re paying for technique.

Group size is capped at 18, which keeps the energy friendly. You’ll likely rotate through tasting and building each drink, and you can ask the same question more than once without feeling like you’re slowing down the line.

What You’ll Make: Bạc Xỉu, Cà Phê Muối, and Phin Con Panna

This is a three-drink Vietnamese coffee workshop. You’ll learn how to make:

• Bạc Xỉu (the classic white coffee-style option)
• Cà Phê Muối (salt coffee)
• Phin Con Panna, a newer signature drink

That last one is the wild card: the description points to a fusion involving yogurt plus Lacàph Raw Coffee Blossom Honey. If you like the idea of tasting something that still feels Vietnamese but looks toward where coffee flavors may go next, this is the payoff.

The class also gives context as you work. You’re not just handed ingredients and told to try random combinations. The workshop frames each coffee through its history and how the brewing method affects the final taste. That’s useful because it trains you to reproduce it later, not just remember it as a one-time treat.

Salt coffee is especially interesting because it flips expectations. You’ll get a practical sense of how flavor balances when salt shows up in the coffee equation. And with Bạc Xỉu and the other traditional style, you’ll learn why Vietnamese coffee has its own rules compared to the coffee you might be used to.

If you’re a coffee nerd, you’ll probably enjoy the technical side. If you’re not, the good teaching keeps it simple: you’ll be guided through the steps, then you taste what you made.

The Hands-On Brewing Part (and why it feels technical in a good way)

The heart of this workshop is practice. You don’t just watch someone else do everything. The setup is built for you to handle the process, one drink at a time.

In several classes, instructors emphasize how to work the brew with precision. People describe it as hands-on and also “technical with the phin,” which is exactly what you want from a workshop that’s meant to help you recreate coffee at home. When the instructor explains what to watch for and how to adjust, you’re learning technique, not just recipes.

Here’s what you get out of that as a visitor:

• You learn what the equipment is doing, not only when to stop pouring
• You understand how the step-by-step method changes flavor
• You taste your own work, so the lesson sticks

The instructors are a mix of different personalities, but the common thread is clear teaching. Some people specifically mention excellent instructions and even a slide presentation (including one led by Giao). That combo—visual explanation plus hands-on brewing—helps you catch the method even if you’re new to Vietnamese coffee.

This is also one of those activities that works in rainy weather. If your Ho Chi Minh City plan got dented by clouds and drizzle, a 90-minute indoor workshop is a great reset button.

Taste, Learn, and Get Recipes to Recreate at Home

You get multiple tastings during the class, which means you’re not stuck with one drink you don’t like. And because you make all three, you’ll notice differences in flavor that come from brewing technique and ingredient choices.

One of the strongest reasons people rate this so highly is that it goes beyond taste. At the end, you get recipes and a completion certificate. That matters. A lot of “food experiences” end with a memory photo and a vague sense that something was sweet. Here, you leave with written guidance so you can repeat what you learned.

You may also want to pick up gear and coffee for home. People say they bought coffee and phin equipment after the class, including one couple who specifically mentioned they were able to make what they learned later because the instructions were good and the pricing felt reasonable.

If you’re the type who likes to bring a “skill” back instead of only souvenirs, you’ll probably appreciate that angle. It turns a tasting into a real culinary takeaway.

Value in Plain Numbers: $23.35 for drinks, snacks, and technique

At $23.35 per person for about 90 minutes, this workshop is priced in a way that feels fair for what you receive. You’re not just buying coffee—you’re buying:

• Instruction for three coffee drinks
• Brewing practice (with the phin setup)
• All coffee, tea, and snacks included
• Recipes to take home
• A small group experience (maximum 18 travelers)

The value goes up if you were planning to spend money anyway on specialty coffee tasting. You’re essentially getting a guided tasting plus hands-on technique at a price that doesn’t feel like it’s inflated for the “tour activity” label.

Also, the experience has strong proof behind it: it has a 5-star rating with 293 reviews and 100% recommended. I don’t treat ratings as gospel, but when you see that kind of consistency around the same themes—clear instruction, hands-on participation, and tasty drinks—that’s a good sign you’re buying something people actually get value from.

Who This Workshop Suits Best (and who should skip it)

This workshop is a great fit if you:

• Love coffee and want to learn a method that’s different from what you’re used to
• Enjoy practical classes where you do the work, not just watch
• Want a small-group activity in District 1 that’s easy to fold into a day
• Prefer a structured 90-minute plan with a clear endpoint and take-home recipes

It’s less ideal if you:

• Are vegan (the workshop is not recommended for vegan travelers)
• Have lactose intolerance (also not recommended)
• Want a workshop with only “plain coffee” styles (this class includes a yogurt-based drink and a salt coffee option)

Service animals are allowed, and the workshop is near public transportation, which makes it easier to fit into your itinerary.

One more practical note: because the class happens in an upstairs space, make sure you’re ready to follow directions for where to go once you arrive. It’s not complicated, but arriving early helps.

How to Pair It With Your Day in Ho Chi Minh City

Since it’s about 1 hour 30 minutes, you can treat this as either:

• A morning activity to kick off your coffee-focused day, or
• An afternoon break when you want something indoors that still feels distinctly local

You’ll usually have two tour options—morning and afternoon—so you can match it to your energy level.

Because the meeting point is in central District 1 at Nguyễn Công Trứ, it pairs nicely with nearby sightseeing, shopping streets, or a café crawl. The workshop also gives you a “coffee baseline” for the rest of your trip. After making Bạc Xỉu, salt coffee, and Phin Con Panna yourself, you’ll be more curious when you order Vietnamese coffee afterward, and you’ll know what questions to ask.

If you’re with friends, this is also a good shared activity. If you’re solo, it’s still a solid choice because the small group size and hands-on format naturally encourages interaction with the instructor and the people next to you.

Should You Book This Vietnamese Coffee Workshop?

Yes—if you want a real coffee lesson you can repeat at home. For the price, you get a structured class, three drinks, included coffee/tea/snacks, and take-home recipes. The best reason to book is the hands-on format: you use the phin setup and learn technique, not just taste.

Skip it if dairy-based options won’t work for you. And if you’re someone who only wants a wide buffet of coffee styles beyond three, you might find the menu limited—but what you get is guided and intentional.

If your plan has room for 90 minutes in District 1, this is one of those activities that feels small in time and big in payoff.

FAQ

How long is the Vietnamese coffee workshop in Ho Chi Minh City?

It runs for about 1 hour 30 minutes (approximately).

How much does it cost?

The price is $23.35 per person.

Where do I meet for the workshop?

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

What drinks will I learn to make?

You’ll practice making three Vietnamese coffee drinks: Bạc Xỉu, Cà Phê Muối, and Phin Con Panna.

Are coffee, tea, and snacks included?

Yes. All coffee, tea, and snacks are included with the tour.

Is there a mobile ticket?

Yes, the workshop offers a mobile ticket.

How large are the groups?

The workshop has a maximum of 18 travelers.

Is this workshop suitable for vegan travelers or lactose intolerance?

It is not recommended for vegan travelers and not recommended for travelers with lactose intolerance.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.