Le Enchantuer : Mien Dong Thao Café

By: Aly Abaquin
Cafes in Vietnam are one of the kind. There are cafes playing loud music upon entry you feel there to drown you of there Disco feel music, Strobes lights, or the tiny firefly lights / flicker lights the thing we see on Christmas and New Years are a decorating must haves.

With Large LCD TV screens are staples that features football matches from Europe or Hollywood blockbusters while others harbor on the KAOROKE with matching bands on the side and lets you loose control for you to sing MY WAY or YESTERDAY or our “ANAK” - A Filipino Song popularized by Freddy Aguilar now an ASIAN Staple SONG which was Translated in every dialect worldwide.. including a Vietnamese version as per request from person singing .
Then afterwards that Soulful rendition they’ll give you a rose as appreciating your bravery for taking that time to damaged our ear drums. While beer and coffee mix together with nuts and bun (noodle soups) are always a favorite.


However if you like me are looking for quieter place to just talk and offer an indoor / outdoor feel of ENGLISH MANOR in a far far away land.. dream like feeling with Water and River stones where French music is at reasonable level in which one can just stay relax with friends over a Café sua Da or Tra. And you feel like your transported in UK.
Then you must go to this hidden treasure of a café house. Mien Dong Thao Café.
HIDDENLY Located at 221A Nguyễn Trọng Tuyển P.8 , Q. Phú Nhuận , TP. Hồ Chí Minh
Tel no: (84-8) 38451357 - (84-8) 62782208 Hours : 7:00 - 23:00

THE WAY : It so out of the way that no taxi can maneuver thru its little nook and streets. Better take a local so that you can get there or "Xe Om" A motor cycle taxi is a must.
But again make sure the local Vietnamese know where it is. If not you’ll be lost in the labyrinth of small streets and alley ways.

Its right beside the Train Tracks in Phu Nhuan District. Again I repeat yes its beside a TRAIN TRACK. …..Whatt???? Yes FRODDO it is true. What I did is I took a cab then I made him drop me off in the middle of the railroad in Nguyen Van Troi… Again you’ll Holler…. middle of a Train Track????….. Again Yes I am adventurous!!!! The taxi driver must be saying to me this crazy tourist.. Hahahahahaha..
So to continue in the middle of the main street where the Railroad tracks intersects the road (NGUYEN VAN TROI) you must turn on your right (Coming from Dist 1) walk one kilometer . Do this is the morning I suggest not in the night time to be safe then a few minutes you’ll reach your destination and presto welcome to the Middle earth./ English country side of Mien Dong Thao Café.

THE FEEL : LE ENCHANTUER: Inspired by the woodlands atmosphere of the English Manor in which your creative self will reside in a few hours and spent time amongst the trees there, listening, watching, waiting, for the Nymphs, Fairies and Froddo to appear.

Think of the English Manor House / Lord of the Rings/ Middle earth theme. Where the lords and the lady’s of the Lemurian abbey abode. . Wow the owners took painstakingly making this Manor stone house appear enchanting. Hence, the title….
Imagine for a moment that you are stretched out on a couch of rattan sofas, with a comfortable group of friends who are brought together by their love of the written word and their love of their own voices. Yeah ….People who sit together on numerous occasions for the simple pleasure of talking about anything that comes to mind.
All the while sipping Café Sua da and nibbling Tiramisu cake is offered and platters of food are passed around to quench other forms of hunger and thirst.
THE FOOD: Practically average but the cakes are sumptuously with quality.
THE PRICE: Reasonable and not pricey. 32,000 vnd – 55,000 Vnd ( $2-$3 dollars)
Overall a good hang out for friends looking for a quieter alternative of this bustling HCMC…good thing I have the book Lord of the rings to past my time reading. WinK!!