Cocobana Tea Rooms

Cocobana Tea Rooms is a tea house set in a two-storey merchant's house at 16 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, one of the old town's main heritage streets. The house has been opened up to catch the breezes from the river and the sea, and a shaded central garden courtyard gives it a calm, green heart.

Tea is the speciality. The menu lists around 25 teas, from flower, herb and fruit teas, such as passionfruit, peach, lychee and kumquat, to black leaf teas and pandan tea, and there is coffee for those who prefer it. A tea brewed fresh each day is offered for tasting, which is a good way to try something new before choosing a pot.

The owner, Nguyen Wee, is often on hand to introduce the teas and explain their origins, which makes a visit more personal than a typical cafe stop. The tea room also sells boutique tea labels from across Vietnam, so it is a good place to buy gifts.

Beyond the tea, Cocobana offers more than most cafes in the old town. Upstairs there is a gallery and a library, and guests can relax with a herbal footbath, a welcome treat after a day on foot in the heritage streets. The tea room also runs handmade paper workshops, a hands-on activity that suits families and anyone interested in traditional crafts.

Travel writers list it as opening from 09:00 until late, so it works for a morning pot of tea or an evening visit, but check before you go if you plan to arrive late.

Cocobana suits couples, solo travellers and families who want a quiet place to sit in a historic building rather than a quick coffee stop. Its position on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street puts it close to Tan Ky Old House, the Museum of Folk Culture at number 33 and Little Faifo at number 66, so it fits neatly into a walking route through the western half of the old town. Order the tea of the day if you are unsure, then book a footbath or a paper workshop if you have time to stay longer.