'Back in time' with Do Phu coffee - Dai Han broken rice in Saigon Ranger style
In front of Do Phu - Dai Han rice dish (District 3 ) coffee shop, the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam with a golden five-pointed star on a red and green background is always flying high. This is not only a place for culinary experiences but also a historical landmark associated with the secret activities of the Saigon Special Forces before 1975.
A coffee shop-cum-restaurant that is also a historical site, associated with the secret activities of the Saigon Special Forces. Just that is enough to make many curious tourists want to find this interesting address. That is Do Phu - Dai Han rice dish coffee shop.
Why is it called Do Phu - Dai Han rice dish?
Located at 113A Dang Dung Street, District 3, Do Phu - Dai Han rice dish coffee shop makes a first impression with its ancient appearance of a charming wooden house, adorned with a flag of blue and red and a golden five-pointed star of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam waving proudly. In front of the shop's left corner is a signboard with the shop's name in the old-style handwriting. At the entrance, there is a bronze signboard with the words "Historical monument: Secret mailbox and bunker of the Saigon Special Forces".
Saigon shop: The front of Do Phu coffee shop on Dang Dung street, district 3. City. Ho Chi Minh
This wooden house from the 1940s was originally a place to sell coffee and broken rice of Mr. Do Mien and his wife - Mrs. Nguyen Thi Su. The shop is called "Do Phu", which means the palace (house) of the Do family.
Not only ordinary workers come to eat, but the restaurant also has guests who are Korean soldiers - Korean soldiers who went to the war in Vietnam. In the past, they lived in the Dai Han Building opposite the shop, so it was convenient to visit here.
Saigon restaurant: Do Phu cafe keeps many memorabilia of the Saigon Rangers in the past.
However, no one would have expected that the simple eatery before 1975 was actually one of the secret operating bases of the Saigon Special Forces, under the management of Mr. Tran Van Lai, also known as Nam Lai, a Hero of the People's Armed Forces.
The house was used by the revolutionary side as a hiding place, a place for liaison, meetings, exchanging secret letters and documents, and hiding officers.
Today, when visiting the Do Phu cafe - Dai Han broken rice restaurant, which some still refer to as "Biet Dong coffee," tourists will immediately see the traces of a revolutionary era of secret activities that once took place in the heart of the Saigon urban area.
Do Phu Coffee has a nostalgic space.
The Do Phu cafe - Dai Han broken rice restaurant has both a ground floor and an upper floor with a nostalgic atmosphere that seems to transport tourists back in time to the past.
"The house, and the wooden color here makes me feel very ancient. Then I learned that there were people in the revolutionary forces who operated secretly here, so I feel even more mysterious," shared Mr. Viet Hai (a customer residing in District 4).
Tourists visit and take souvenir photos at Do Phu coffee shop.
The owner of Do Phu cafe - Dai Han broken rice restaurant is Mr. Tran Vu Binh - the son of Mr. Tran Van Lai. He is the one who has contributed to preserving and elevating the ancient house, maintaining business operations, and serving tourism.
Mr. Binh has also devoted his time to collecting many antique objects to commemorate the past. Many tourists are delighted to take photos with the old Saigon artifacts displayed here.
When visiting Do Phu cafe, diners cannot miss the "Dai Han broken rice" dish. A full plate of rice includes grilled ribs, shredded pork skin, sunny-side-up eggs, egg meatloaf, and onion fat.
Coming to Do Phu restaurant, diners cannot ignore the dish "Dai Han broken rice".
Accompanied with the broken rice is a mixture of fish sauce, garlic, chili, and sugar - with a typical sweet taste of the Southern region. A small dish of boiled water spinach and kimchi cannot be missed. Kimchi is served to cater to the taste of the Korean soldiers in the past, creating a unique feature for the dish "Dai Han broken rice".
In addition to the "cơm tấm Dai Han" dish, the Do Phu café also offers Saigon-style refreshments such as milk coffee, French butter coffee, hot donuts with iced coffee, pandan leaf and coconut milk drink, shaved ice syrup, etc.
The upstairs of the Do Phu café - cơm tấm Dai Han has a spacious balcony that opens out to the street to catch the breeze, adorned with the green of plants and flowers, which is also a plus point. The café has been included in the Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City discovery tour by many travel companies, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists.
If you want to learn more about “Do Phu café - cơm tấm Dai Han” and experience the exciting activities here, visit our website or contact our team of professional guides. We are ready to support and help you have a great travel experience in Ho Chi Minh City.