2 Lam Son
PHOTOS BY BAO ZOAN
have taken up a table by the front window; a solo businessman with silver hair sits staring intently at his phone at the end of the bar, while two young couples order drinks behind me in one of the private booths. This place attracts all types. Two young ladies tell me they come here for the music, while the bar manager on his rounds tells me that people come here to see and be seen. But I’m also reliably informed it’s a place women can be left alone with their drinks; something quite rare in Saigon. “Sir, this is your Saigon Coffee Martini (VND310,000).” Again, this would not have been my choice, but I roll with it. In front of me is a champagne coupe — a shallow, broad-bowled stemmed
glass — with a drink that looks not unlike a Guinness but with a small layer of condensed milk settled on the bottom; a tell-tale sign that inspiration has come from that most ubiquitous of Vietnamese drinks — the ca phe sua da. Floating above the condensed milk is a shot of Belvedere vodka, Kahlua and Vietnamese coffee topped with a half-inch fluffy head of ‘homemade’ coconut foam. Already I can smell the coconut but it’s when I’m advised to give it a stir that the cocktail’s aromas are truly released. It’s beautiful. The mixture feels thick and rich to the spoon but to the palate it’s not, it’s gentle and smooth. The coffee doesn’t overpower the coconut; it’s not too sweet, not too creamy. Sensuous comes to mind. This
drink is impressive. Looking back over my notes, I read: “If only I could bathe in it.” The traffic outside has abated somewhat, so it’s time to move on. It’s 9.30pm, the beautiful people are filing in and the DJ has arrived. I leave certain that 2 Lam Son should be on everyone’s list when on a night out in Saigon, if only for those two magical cocktails. — Matt Cowan 2 Lam Son is on the Ground Floor of the Park Hyatt Saigon at 2 Lam Son Square, Q1, HCMC. Happy Hour (51% off) is from 5pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and from 3pm to 8pm on Sundays. All prices are subject to 5% service charge and 10% VAT. For more information or reservations, call (028) 3824 1234 or email SAIPH-2.Lam.Son@hyatt.com.
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