Bubble Tea in Ho Chi Minh City

Besides Vietnamese coffee, bubble tea is a popular drink these days for Vietnamese of all ages. Originated in Taiwan, it is now available in numerous places in Ho Chi Minh City. To save you from getting lost in hundreds of choices to try, here we have some common types of bubble tea in Ho Chi Minh City and where to find them.

Types of Bubble Tea in Ho Chi Minh City

Boba milk tea

This is the most well-known and frequently ordered type of bubble tea. Boba, or tapioca pearls, is the small, chewy balls that are usually black but can also be transparent or white. With boba milk tea, customers enjoy drinking and eating at the same time.

Boba milk tea is the origin of it all, born before any other type of bubble tea

Many people believe that boba represents the word “bubble” in bubble tea. However, some claim that bubble is the froth we get during the process of making milk tea. No matter what’s true, you just got to try this drink once in Vietnam!

Macchiato milk tea

The name speaks for its ingredients (as is the case with other types of bubble tea): a cup of either tea or milk tea topped with a layer of milk foam. The taste of macchiato is key, differing from stores to stores: sweet, salty, or cheese-like, and its texture can be thick or light.

Besides boba, milk foam is the favorite topping of many milk tea lovers

Brown sugar bubble milk

Obviously, there is no tea in it, but almost all tea shops have it in their menu. Brown sugar bubble milk arose as a “phenomenon” in the Vietnamese bubble tea market in early 2018. This drink has made its way to the best-seller list of some brands. Coated with brown sugar, the boba is much sweeter than normal. Combined with fresh milk (usually quite mild), after several shakes, you would get a tasty drink.

Both the outlook and the taste of this drink are attractive

Fruit tea

As a tropical country, Vietnam is a paradise of fruits that you should try. Thanks to this advantage, fruit tea is a part that cannot be left out in bubble tea shops’ menus. Its fresh taste and aroma make it a perfect choice for a hot, sunny day.

Fruit tea is a healthy choice

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Where to find Bubble Tea in Ho Chi Minh City

In recent years, hanging out at bubble tea shops has become a norm, especially in big cities like Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. Below is a list of famous brands where you can look for a delicious cup of bubble tea in Ho Chi Minh City.

Phuc Long

Phuc Long is well-known for its premium tea, and the drinks here do not go with many toppings like other brands since the taste of the tea makes it stand out already. If you want to buy some Vietnamese tea as a souvenir, Phuc Long is a good local brand to do so.

Phuc Long’s drinks are made from high-quality tea leaves

Address:
- Floor 4, Bitexco Tower, 2 Hai Trieu, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
- B217, Takashimaya Department Store, 92-94 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 7 AM - 10:30 PM
Price range: VND 35,000 - 70,000
Recommended drinks:
- Peach milk tea
- Oolong milk tea
- Latte green tea

Sharetea

Designed with a modern vibe, Sharetea is where young Saigonese love to hang out at. If you are not a big fan of sweet, do not forget to tell the staff to reduce the amount of sugar when you make your order, Sharetea is famous for its sweetness.

Mango Tea, one of the most well-known drinks of Sharetea

Address:
- 113 Nguyen Hue, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
- 33 Ton That Thiep, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 9 AM - 10 PM
Price range: VND 35,000 - 63,000
Recommended drinks:
- Mango tea
- Mango milk tea
- Herbal Jelly Fresh Milk
- Mini Boba as a topping

Toocha

After drinking milk tea became a trend, some people raised concerns of the calories that you consume when enjoying a cup of bubble tea. Responding to this worry, Toocha claims that their drinks “would not make you fat”. Its stores are usually full of the aromatic scent of fresh tea which is ready to be made right after your order.

A cup of milk tea in Toocha is full of pearls

Address: 53 Ho Tung Mau, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 9 AM - 10 PM
Price range: VND 41,000 - 72,000
Recommended drinks: Boba milk tea (with three types of boba: black, white, and pink)

Koi Thé

Being one of the first brands of bubble tea in Ho Chi Minh City, Koi Thé has macchiato series as its most loved products. All of its stores busy and well-decorated, suitable for buying to-go. Although the price is quite higher than average, the taste is undeniably irresistible.

Golden Pearl is also a signature of Koi Thé

Address:
- 76 Ngo Duc Ke, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
- 108-110 Ho Tung Mau, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 10 AM - 10:30 PM
Price range: VND 29,000 - 70,000
Recommended drinks:
- Macchiato series (black tea)
- Yakult series
- Hazelnut milk tea with Golden Bubble

Gong Cha

Gong Cha offers a wide range of bubble tea and occasionally introduces new drinks. It is also known for the milk foam series, just like Koi Thé, but the taste and texture are different.

The milk foam could make your cup of bubble tea tastier

Address:
- 43 Ton That Dam, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
- Vincom B, 45A Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 9 AM - 10 PM
Price range: VND 33,000 - 67,000
Recommended drinks:
- Milk foam series
- Alisan tea with White Bubble

Britea

Britea locations are carefully decorated to present the British royal style to customers. It also has unique types of pearls and milk foam such as Rosie Pearls, Grated Pearls, and Durian Cheese foam.

Fruit tea of Britea is a good choice for a detoxing day

Address: 60 Ngo Duc Ke, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 9 AM - 10:30 PM
Price range: VND 40,000 - 59,000
Recommended drinks: Fruit tea series

Comebuy

All of the tea and milk tea at Comebuy give out a fresh and healthy taste. Want to enjoy your “cheat day” but afraid of ruining your diet? Comebuy might fulfill that bubble tea craving.

Simple yet qualified is what the products of Comebuy represent

Address: 120 Ho Tung Mau, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 9 AM - 10 PM
Price range: VND 33,000 - 73,000
Recommended drinks:
- Guava Yakult
- Comebuy milk tea
- Neptune milk tea

R&B tea

A tall, big cup of milk tea full of toppings has been the iconic image of R&B. If you are into the milk foam, besides Gongcha and Koi Thé, it is the brand that you should not miss out. It also has a special type of boba called Dragon Ball, much bigger than the normal version. Make sure to try them out.

Two cups of R&B in a medium size

Address:
- 86 Ngo Duc Ke, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
- 104 Ho Tung Mau, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 9 AM - 10:30 PM
Price range: VND 36,000 - 63,000
Recommended drinks:
- Tea with cream series
- Dragon ball as a topping

Update: Tenren (closed)

Entering the market quite late, Tenren is indeed going very strong. Besides some traditional types, it has introduced some signature drinks which are creating its reputation.

Matcha and green tea are Tenren’s signature drinks

The Alley

Being the first store that drew the attention to the “rising star” drink Brown Sugar Boba Milk, The Alley has attracted many people. Its drinks are pricey, but lots of customers still come back for its unique taste.

The notable drink that has made The Alley popular

Address:
- 114 Ho Tung Mau, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
- 68 Nguyen Hue, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 9 AM - 10:30 PM
Price range: VND 41,000 - 88,000
Recommended drinks:
- Brown Sugar Deerioca series
- Aurora series

Tips - Make your orders at bubble tea shops in Ho Chi Minh City like a pro 

Step 1 - Choose a drink (if you’re a first-timer, go for one of the best-sellers, which are highlighted by a star next to their names). 
Step 2 - Choose toppings: black boba, white boba, flan, macchiato, sweet tofu, jelly, etc. 
Step 3 - Decide the amount of sugar and ice for your cup - 30%, 50%, 70% or default 100%. No ice would be OK.

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Summary of Bubble Tea in Ho Chi Minh City

Despite not being an original Vietnamese drink, bubble tea has contributed to the diversity of Vietnamese food culture. In any moment of the day, a cup of good tea with chewy toppings would definitely make your day better. Bubble tea shops are easy to find in Ho Chi Minh City, don’t hesitate to stop by and grab your favorite drink.

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