After a full day of eating Pho and Bahn Mi, we were feeling guilty after gorging ourselves with that much delicious and hearty street food, so we knew we had to cleanse ourselves with something a little healthier. Just a stone’s throw away from Ho Chi Minh City’s very own “Stark Tower”, the Bitexco Financial Tower, sits one of the trendiest and most modern-looking cafés in District 1, The Running Bean.

We were first drawn to the chic architecture of the single-story building, reminiscent of South Korean-style cafés with geometric patterns lining the exterior of the building. The Running Bean is popular amongst a younger demographic and the entire compound is filled with Instagram-worthy backdrops for you to snap the perfect “OOTD”.

If you’re planning to take a short break before embarking on more adventures in HCMC, take a break at The Running Bean and lounge in one of their comfortable seats inside or al fresco.

After trying out a bunch of really great Vietnamese coffee, we had to take a break from the caffeine for fear of a sleepless night. Hence, we went for the Smoothie Bowls, something we were very much intrigued by on their menu.

It comes in 3 variations—Dragon Fruit (95,000VND | S$5.60), Mango and Green (90,000VND each | S$5.30).

We were surprised by the huge and generous portions but we were immediately sold on one thing—the vivid colours! We went right for the Dragon Fruit and Green Smoothie Bowls and they were both a hit.

The Green is a blend of banana, avocado spinach and almonds. It reminded us of regular green smoothies but elevated. The bowl is topped off with even more bananas, almond flakes, raspberries and chia seeds. If we were feeling anything but healthy before, the thought was certainly long gone. We especially liked the rich texture of this smoothie bowl from the bananas and avocados blended in.

The Dragon Fruit smoothie bowl is vivid purple and topped with strawberries, chia seeds, walnuts and honey. The actual smoothie was sweet and slightly tart but we love the chunks of fruit still unblended in the smoothie bowls to give it a nice bite.

Refreshing and extremely pleasant, it was a good palate cleanser before we went on to more street food!

If you’re an avid café hopper visiting Ho Chi Minh City, you must add The Running Bean onto your list!

The Running Bean
115 Ho Tung Mau
Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 28 3915 0055
Daily: 8am – 10.30pm

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City Guide to discover the best places to visit in the city.