Cheo Leo coffee is located in alley 109 Nguyen Thien Thuat, Ward 2, District 3. The shop has been open since 1938, spanning 4 generations of family, and still maintains the traditional method of brewing coffee with a "filter" (fabric filter bag) cooked over charcoal – a technique that has nearly disappeared in modern Saigon.

The shop has a small space, with a few low wooden tables and chairs, faded yellow walls, and an old ceiling fan hanging. Inside is a small kitchen with two clay pots always emitting smoke. The owner stirs the coffee powder with boiling water, pouring it through the fabric filter gently, the thick black coffee flows down into a thick glass. A black iced coffee costs only 18,000đ – 22,000đ, iced milk coffee 28,000đ.

The special thing about the filter coffee is its not too bitter taste, mild aroma, and light sweet aftertaste – quite different from the popular "strong roast" drip coffee. Taking a sip, most customers are middle-aged locals who stop by every morning to read the newspaper, chat for a bit, and then leave. Coming to Cheo Leo is not just to drink, but to touch a rhythm of old Saigon that is rare.

Tip: visiting from 7 AM to 9 AM is the busiest; on Saturdays and Sundays, many young people from other districts come by. Don't forget to order some bánh mì chả lụa or nearby bao for a complete breakfast. The shop is small, so keep your voice down, no loud music. Please ask the owner for permission before taking close-up photos of the charcoal stove.

Stepping out of the alley, the sounds of Saigon traffic rush back immediately. But the taste of coffee in the mouth still lingers – a flavor that cannot be found in any modern coffee chain.

Content generated by AI.