Cafe Giang: Hanoi's Famous Egg Coffee - Menu, Prices & History

Step into Café Giang, the humble Old Quarter café where Vietnam’s beloved Egg Coffee was first created. In this 2025 guide, we’ll share the café’s fascinating history, help you find its tucked-away location, and show you what to order (and what it costs) for an authentic taste of Hanoi’s coffee heritage. 

1. The Hunt for a Hidden Legend

Tucked away in a quiet alley of Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a place that’s easy to miss but impossible to forget. It’s not a grand landmark or a museum—it’s a cozy little café that changed the course of Vietnamese coffee history. This is Café Giang, the birthplace of the world-famous Egg Coffee (Cà Phê Trứng). What began as a humble wartime invention has grown into one of Hanoi’s most treasured culinary symbols, drawing visitors from every corner of the globe to taste a cup of liquid gold.

And honestly, there’s no better way to spend a crisp October afternoon in 2025 than sitting in this tiny café, sipping something that’s equal parts history, art, and comfort. In this guide, you’ll uncover the story behind Café Giang’s legendary drink, learn what makes it so special, and find out exactly how to track down this hidden gem in the maze-like streets of the Old Quarter. If you’re searching for the best egg coffee in Hanoi, this is where your journey begins.

2. First, A Quick Clarification: Café Giang vs. “Little Hanoi”

Before we dive in, let’s clear up one common source of confusion for visitors. There are quite a few cafes around Hanoi that serve egg coffee these days—some even claim to make it “just like the original.” But when we talk about Café Giang, we’re talking about the original.

Café Giang was founded in 1946 by Nguyen Van Giang, the man who actually invented egg coffee. This is the place where it all began—the very spot where a simple idea, born out of wartime scarcity, became a drink loved around the world. When you sip your cup here, you’re tasting a recipe that’s been passed down through generations of the same family.

You might also come across a café called Little Hanoi or other spots serving egg coffee. They may be pleasant enough, but they’re not connected to the original creator. If you want the real thing—the authentic, historic, and utterly delicious experience—make sure you go to Café Giang Hanoi. It’s the one and only home of the true egg coffee legend.

3. The Birth of a Legend: Why Is Café Giang Famous?

The global renown of Cafe Giang is not merely a testament to a unique beverage, but a story deeply embedded in Vietnamese history, professional artistry, and a fiercely protected family legacy. The cafe's signature invention, Cà Phê Trứng (egg coffee), is a direct culinary artifact of a specific historical moment—a symbol of ingenuity born from scarcity. Its journey from a clever improvisation in a luxury hotel to a cultural institution in a humble alley encapsulates a narrative of resilience and creativity that continues to captivate both Hanoians and international visitors alike. To understand why Cafe Giang is arguably the most famous coffee shop in Vietnam for its historical significance, one must trace the story of its founder, the circumstances of his invention, and the enduring legacy he created.

3.1. The Alchemist of the Metropole: The Making of a Founder

The story of egg coffee begins not in a traditional cafe, but behind the polished bar of Hanoi's most prestigious establishment. The inventor, Mr. Nguyen Van Giang, was a highly skilled bartender at the illustrious Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel during the French colonial era. As the city's premier five-star hotel, the Metropole was a bastion of European luxury, catering to an international elite and demanding the highest standards of culinary and beverage creation. This environment provided Mr. Giang with a unique training ground, exposing him to Western techniques and tastes unavailable to the general populace.

Within this context, Mr. Giang became intimately familiar with making European-style coffees, particularly the Italian cappuccino, which is defined by its creamy, frothed milk topping. His work at the Metropole gave him a clear creative target: to craft a Vietnamese version of this luxurious drink. However, his ambition was not merely to imitate. He harbored a deeper aspiration to create a special drink that could be enjoyed by the Vietnamese people, not just the foreign guests he served. He was keenly aware that ingredients like fresh milk cream were scarce and prohibitively expensive for most Hanoians. This desire to democratize a luxury experience reveals that the invention of egg coffee was not a happy accident but an act of professional adaptation. It was a targeted solution by a skilled artisan to translate a foreign concept using local, accessible ingredients, ultimately creating a harmonious combination of European and Asian sensibilities.

3.2. A Moment of Genius in a Time of Hardship: The 1946 Invention

The year 1946 was a turning point for Vietnam, marking the beginning of the First Indochina War and ushering in a period of immense hardship and scarcity in Hanoi. Against this backdrop of political turmoil, the central catalyst for Mr. Giang's invention emerged: a severe shortage of fresh milk. This wartime privation made the key ingredient for cappuccino foam a near-impossible luxury to procure. While sweetened condensed milk was a more common staple in Vietnam, it lacked the properties to be frothed into the light, airy texture required.

Faced with this creative constraint, Mr. Giang demonstrated remarkable ingenuity. He turned to a humble, affordable, and readily available local product: the chicken egg yolk. He began experimenting, whisking egg yolks with sugar and the available condensed milk, seeking to replicate the creamy, sweet, and frothy texture of cappuccino foam. The initial attempts were not an immediate success. The primary challenge was perfecting the technique to eliminate any potential for a raw or "fishy" egg taste, a problem that required considerable refinement. Furthermore, the original process was laborious, as whisking the mixture by hand to the correct consistency was a time-consuming task. The drink's popularization was later aided by the adoption of electric blenders, which allowed for a more consistent and efficient preparation.

The result of this persistent experimentation was a revolutionary beverage that blurred the line between a drink and a dessert. A cup of strong, dark Vietnamese coffee served as the base, upon which sat a thick, velvety, golden cream. This new creation, Cà Phê Trứng, was unlike anything Hanoi had seen before, often described by those who taste it as "liquid tiramisu" or a rich "vanilla custard". The drink's very existence is a testament to the Vietnamese spirit of resilience and the ability to create indulgence out of scarcity, transforming a limitation into a celebrated icon.

3.3. From Hotel Bar to Humble Alley: The Founding and Evolution of Cafe Giang

Mr. Giang's novel concoction was an immediate and overwhelming success among the patrons of the Metropole, who reportedly "began foaming at the mouth" for the unique drink. This enthusiastic reception gave him the confidence to embark on an entrepreneurial venture. In 1946, recognizing the immense potential of his creation, Mr. Giang made the pivotal decision to leave his stable, prestigious post at the hotel and open his own establishment: Cafe Giang.

The cafe's history mirrors the turbulence of the era. The first Cafe Giang opened on Cau Go Street, but the business faced significant disruptions during the war years, experiencing periods of opening and closing to "align with the wartime's priorities". The official history confirms that the cafe moved twice before settling into its current, iconic location. One of its former addresses was 7 Hang Gai Street.

Eventually, the cafe found its permanent home, tucked away "deep inside a small alley at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street" in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter. This location—often described as hidden, unassuming, and requiring a patient journey to find—has become as integral to the cafe's legend as the coffee itself. The physical journey to find the cafe has become a ritual for visitors, an act of discovery that enhances the feeling of authenticity. The space itself, with its "timeworn patina" and lack of modern polish, reinforces the impression that one has arrived at the original, unchanged source of a Hanoian legend.

3.4. A Custodial Legacy: The Giang Family and the Guarded Recipe

A cornerstone of Cafe Giang's identity and enduring appeal is its status as a family-run institution. After Mr. Nguyen Van Giang passed away in 1987, the responsibility for carrying on his legacy fell to his children, who became custodians of his creation. The main cafe at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan is now managed by one of his sons, referred to in various accounts as Nguyen Van Do, Nguyen Van Dao, or Nguyen Tri Hoa. This unbroken chain of custody provides a powerful guarantee of authenticity that no competitor can replicate.

The family legacy has also branched out, adding to the drink's lore. Mr. Giang's daughter, Ms. Bich, founded the highly respected Cafe Dinh, offering her own interpretation of the family recipe in a scenic location overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. Another brother established a branch at 106 Yen Phu. This friendly sibling competition only serves to heighten the mystique surrounding the original formula.

Despite the passage of more than 75 years, the family steadfastly maintains that the core recipe has remained "almost unchanged" since 1946. This commitment to tradition is central to the cafe's brand. The exact formula is a "closely guarded family secret," a narrative that fuels endless speculation and reinforces the cafe's unique status. While the basic components are known—egg yolk, Vietnamese coffee, sugar, and condensed milk—rumors of "esoteric" ingredients persist. Multiple sources mention the addition of butter and cheese, though one journalist noted that the cheese was undetectable, suggesting it may serve as a textural agent rather than a primary flavor. The family themselves emphasize that the true secret lies not just in the ingredients, but in the precise proportions, the quality of the coffee beans, and the unique preparation method that masterfully eliminates any hint of egginess while achieving the perfect, velvety texture.

3.5. Cementing a Place in History: From Local Treasure to National Symbol

Cafe Giang's fame is not an isolated phenomenon; it is deeply woven into the fabric of Hanoi's coffee culture. The cafe is revered as one of the legendary "four pillars" of classic Hanoi coffee: "Nhan – Nhi – Di – Giang". This unofficial designation places it in the pantheon of the city's most historically significant cafes, cementing its status as a "Hanoi coffee heritage" site where one can experience the soul of "an ancient and elegant Hanoi".

The cafe's reputation has long transcended national borders, achieving significant international acclaim. It has been prominently featured by global media outlets like CNN and Buzzfeed, frequently appearing on lists of the world's best and most essential coffee experiences. This global spotlight has transformed it into a must-visit destination for dignitaries and celebrities, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whose visits serve as powerful international endorsements.

Perhaps most significantly, Cafe Giang has played a role in culinary diplomacy. During the 2019 US–North Korea Summit held in Hanoi, the cafe was chosen to serve approximately 3,000 cups of its signature egg coffee to the international press corps. This act elevated the humble drink from a local specialty to an unofficial cultural ambassador for the city and the nation. The fame of Cafe Giang is therefore a confluence of its founder's prestigious background, a powerful origin story of wartime ingenuity, the enduring mystique of a secret family recipe, and its validation on the world stage. It is the undisputed birthplace of Vietnam's most celebrated coffee creation, making it a living monument to Hanoi's history and culture.

4. The Experience: Finding the Café & Your First Sip

Visiting Café Giang isn’t just about having coffee—it’s about the adventure of finding it, the feeling of stepping into a piece of living history, and that unforgettable first sip.

4.1. The Hunt for the Entrance

Finding Café Giang is half the fun. Don’t expect a flashy sign or a big storefront. Instead, head to 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street, right in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. What you’ll see is a narrow, dim alleyway that looks more like the entrance to someone’s house than a world-famous café. Walk with confidence—it’s all part of the experience. Follow the smell of coffee and the gentle chatter, and soon you’ll find yourself inside a cozy courtyard. From there, head up the stairs to one of the seating areas where the magic happens.

4.2. What to Order

There’s no debate about what to order first: the legendary Egg Coffee (Cà Phê Trứng). It arrives in a small cup nestled inside a bowl of warm water—an old-fashioned method that keeps it at the perfect temperature. Take your time. Start with a spoonful of the golden, creamy foam on top, sweet and silky like custard. Then gently stir it into the dark, fragrant coffee below. The combination is rich, velvety, and unlike anything you’ve ever tasted.

Feeling adventurous? Café Giang’s menu goes beyond coffee. You can try an Egg Rum, Egg Chocolate, or even the surprisingly good Egg Beer—each one a playful twist on the original recipe.

4.3. The Atmosphere

Don’t expect polished marble tables or minimalist décor here. Café Giang is all about authenticity. It’s a little worn, always buzzing, and filled with a comforting mix of locals, travelers, and families who’ve been coming for generations. The chatter of conversation, the clinking of cups, and the faint aroma of roasted coffee beans create a warmth that’s impossible to fake.

It’s not just a café—it’s a living slice of Hanoi’s spirit. You’ll leave with more than a caffeine buzz; you’ll take home a story you’ll want to tell everyone about.

5. Practical Information for Your Visit

Before you set off to find this little piece of Hanoi history, here’s everything you need to know to make your visit to Café Giang smooth and enjoyable.

Opening Hours

Café Giang is typically open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day. Whether you’re an early riser looking for your first caffeine fix or someone who prefers a relaxed evening cup, you’ll find the doors open and the coffee flowing.

Prices – Is Café Giang Expensive?

Not at all. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable “must-do” experiences in Hanoi. As of late 2025, a cup of their famous Egg Coffee costs only about 35,000 VND (around $1.40 USD). For that price, you’re not just buying coffee—you’re buying a sip of history. The rest of the menu, including other egg-based drinks and traditional Vietnamese coffees, is equally budget-friendly.

When’s the Best Time to Visit?

Café Giang can get quite busy, especially with curious travelers eager to try the original egg coffee. To skip the crowds, visit during mid-morning (around 9:00–11:00 AM) or mid-afternoon (2:00–4:00 PM) when the atmosphere is more relaxed, and you can really take your time. If you prefer a cozier, livelier vibe, evenings are also a great time—the café feels warm and welcoming under its soft lights, especially on cool autumn nights.

So bring a friend, or come solo with a book and an open mind. Café Giang isn’t just a stop—it’s a slow moment in the middle of Hanoi’s rush, where the past and present blend perfectly over a single, unforgettable cup.

6. Explore the Neighborhood: What to See After Your Coffee

One of the best things about Café Giang is its location. Tucked right in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, it’s not just the birthplace of egg coffee—it’s the perfect starting point for exploring the city’s most beloved landmarks. Once you’ve finished your cup and stepped back onto the lively streets, you’re surrounded by history, culture, and everyday Hanoi life within just a few minutes’ walk. Here’s how to make the most of your visit.

6.1. Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword)

Just a five-minute walk from Café Giang lies Hoan Kiem Lake, the soul of Hanoi. It’s the place where locals exercise at dawn, couples stroll hand-in-hand, and street musicians play under the trees at night. Don’t miss the elegant red Huc Bridge, which glows beautifully against the water—especially in the early morning light or at sunset. A walk around the lake is the perfect way to slow down and soak in the charm of the city.

6.2. Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain)

Connected to the lake by that same red bridge, Ngoc Son Temple sits gracefully on a small island. This peaceful spot is dedicated to national heroes and scholars, and it offers some of the best panoramic views of Hoan Kiem Lake. Step inside to see ancient artifacts and enjoy a moment of quiet reflection away from the bustle outside. It’s only a five-minute stroll from the café.

6.3. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

Looking for something uniquely Vietnamese? Walk six minutes around the lake to the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. This long-standing art form brings to life centuries-old folk tales using wooden puppets that dance across a shimmering pool of water. It’s playful, colorful, and deeply cultural—a must-see, especially if it’s your first time in Hanoi.

6.4. Bach Ma Temple (White Horse Temple)

Just a five-minute walk from Café Giang on Hang Buom Street, you’ll find Bach Ma Temple, believed to be the oldest temple in Hanoi. It’s small but deeply meaningful—a quiet, incense-filled space that offers a glimpse into the city’s spiritual roots. Step inside and you’ll instantly feel the centuries of devotion that have shaped Hanoi’s identity.

6.5. Dong Xuan Market

If you want to experience daily life the way locals do, head 10 to 12 minutes north to Dong Xuan Market—the largest indoor market in Hanoi. Inside, you’ll find a maze of vendors selling everything from fabrics and souvenirs to electronics and snacks. The real magic, though, is in the surrounding streets, where the smell of grilled seafood and sizzling spring rolls fills the air. It’s a feast for your senses and a must for any traveler who loves exploring markets.

6.6. Ta Hien Street (Beer Corner)

When the sun goes down, Ta Hien Street—just five minutes from the café—transforms into a completely different world. Tiny stools spill out onto the pavement, locals and tourists gather shoulder-to-shoulder, and glasses of bia hơi (fresh draft beer) clink under the neon lights. Add in some grilled skewers or fried spring rolls, and you’ve got the most authentic Hanoi nightlife experience.

So, after your cup of egg coffee at Café Giang, don’t rush off. Wander, explore, and let yourself get lost in the Old Quarter’s endless energy. Every corner here tells a story—and it all starts with that first sip of Hanoi’s most iconic drink.

7. FAQ: Your Quick Questions Answered

Why is Café Giang so famous?

Because it’s where it all began. Café Giang is the birthplace of Vietnamese Egg Coffee, a drink created by Nguyen Van Giang back in 1946. What started as an inventive solution to a post-war milk shortage has now become one of Hanoi’s most beloved—and most photographed—culinary icons. Every cup served here is a taste of that history.

Where is Café Giang located?

You’ll find it tucked away in a narrow alley at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, right in the heart of the Old Quarter. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking closely—just keep an eye out for the small sign and follow the alley all the way to the back. The hidden entrance is part of its charm!

How much does an egg coffee cost there?

Surprisingly little for such a legendary experience. As of late 2025, a cup of Café Giang’s famous egg coffee costs around 35,000 VND (roughly $1.40 USD). It’s one of the most affordable “bucket list” experiences you can have in Hanoi.

Is Café Giang the same as the “Little Hanoi” cafe?

No—they’re completely different. Café Giang is the original, historic home of egg coffee. While other cafés like “Little Hanoi” also serve the drink, they don’t share the same origin or recipe. If you want the authentic experience, go to the source: Café Giang.

What’s the difference between Café Giang and Café Dinh?

Good question! Café Dinh is actually part of the same family story—it was opened by Mr. Giang’s daughter. It’s another Hanoi classic, known for its slightly more bohemian, lived-in charm and a lovely balcony view overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. If you’re an egg coffee enthusiast, visit both. Comparing the two is like tasting history from two generations of the same legacy.

8. A Taste of History in a Cup

A visit to Café Giang isn’t just another stop on your Hanoi itinerary — it’s a quiet, meaningful moment where history and flavor come together. Every cup served here carries the legacy of a family, a city, and a simple act of creativity that turned necessity into something timeless. Sitting in that cozy little café, surrounded by the hum of locals and curious travelers, you’re not just drinking coffee — you’re tasting a piece of Hanoi’s soul.

Finding your way down that narrow alley to Café Giang is part of the magic. The first sip — sweet, creamy, and rich — is the reward. It’s the kind of experience that stays with you long after your trip ends, the kind that instantly takes you back to the sound of clinking spoons and the scent of freshly brewed coffee drifting through the Old Quarter.

So, be adventurous. Wander down that hidden path, grab a seat, and treat yourself to the original egg coffee that started it all. It’s not just a drink — it’s a story in a cup, waiting for you to taste it.

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