In Vietnam, you’ll see tons of coffee and milk tea shops with English names, making you feel like you’re somewhere abroad instead of here. Names like Aloha Coffee, Sunny Tea, The Coffee House, Katinat, Chill Chill, Tony Coffee, Tubo Tea, Like Tea... I don’t know since when people started believing that English names sound fancier, while Vietnamese names are seen as old-fashioned or “countryside”.😌
And that’s why Cu Tũn stands out – a small but warm place. No “coffee”, no “tea”, no “Maison” anything – just a pure Vietnamese name, a bit funny, sounds like a kid’s nickname. I guess it might be the owner’s son.😗
I’ve been here a few times during the day, but that day was super hot, and the power at home was out.😉 I was sweating like crazy, couldn’t take it anymore, so I decided to get something cold to drink. I went straight to Cu Tũn – first, to cool down, second, to have a drink.😎
Cu Tũn has three separate spaces:
First, the outdoor seating – with a roof, some fresh air. Great if you like sitting outside watching traffic. I noticed young guys like sitting out here even when it’s hot, maybe because it feels free to chat and hang out.
Second, the indoor space with air conditioning – that’s where I sat. As soon as I walked in, the sweat stopped. The room’s not too big but comfy enough to chat or get some work done.
Third, the garden area in the back – bigger than the others, with trees, fairy lights, wooden tables, some small decorations like swings and teddy bears. It’s quiet, good for groups or dates.
Honestly, I like how the shop separates each space clearly and serves different needs. If you want cool air, go inside. Want natural air? Sit outside. Want a chill private spot? Go to the garden. Not every place thinks this through.
It was 10:30 at night when I walked in. I thought they were about to close, but nope – still customers sitting around, and the staff were busy. I counted about 6–7 staff doing orders, cleaning, shipping drinks. The inside was a bit messy – some tables not cleared, used cups still there – but it’s fine. It was the end of the day, and this is a local shop, not a hotel. I came for real drinks, not to judge the floor.
That night I ordered:
1 medium-sized milk tea (black tea + fresh milk) – 30,000 VND, with white boba
1 large lemon tea – 25,000 VND, no toppings
Lately I’m trying to live a bit healthier, so I don’t touch cheese foam, taro, or matcha with cream anymore. I went back to the basics: black tea + fresh milk, simple and clean, with boba for some fun.
Surprisingly, the milk tea was really good. Strong tea, fresh milk, no weird smell from cheap milk powder like other shops. A lot of places save money using cheap stuff, and it tastes gross. Sometimes it even leaves a weird aftertaste. But Cu Tũn didn’t do that. If your ingredients are good, your drink will be good – simple.
The lemon tea, though, I didn’t like much. 25,000 VND for a plain lemon tea (no toppings) felt a bit pricey. It’s just lemon juice, green tea, a bit of sugar – tastes good, refreshing, but still, that price makes more sense at a fancy cafe. At a Vietnamese-style shop like Cu Tũn, that’s too much. If I picked medium size, 15,000 VND would be fairer.
Their menu is quite full: milk tea, fruit tea, coffee, smoothies... I saw stuff like durian milk tea, peach-orange tea, fresh milk coffee, matcha with cream... But that night I chose basic drinks on purpose – easier to judge.
Among all the Western-sounding cafes, the ones with names that already scream “expensive,” Cu Tũn is like a small Vietnamese flame – warm and cozy. No fancy tricks, no flashy branding. Just a local shop with air conditioning, flexible space, friendly staff, and drinks that are actually worth drinking.
The name "Cu Tũn" isn’t old-fashioned – it’s identity. It’s memory. It’s pride, for those who still love the simplicity of Vietnamese names. You don’t need “House” or “Garden” to sound nice.🤓
