The Old Compass Cafe and Bar

06/10/2026

(Vietnamese below)
Meet our new Special Dish of the Week: BÚN BÒ LÁ LỐT – RICE VERMICELLI WITH GRILLED BEEF LOLOT ✨
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Savor juicy, seasoned beef wrapped in fragrant lolot leaves, grilled to perfection and served over rice vermicelli. Topped with scallion oil, crushed peanuts, crispy shallots, fresh herbs, pickled daikon & carrots, and sweet pineapple—drizzled with our special fish sauce on top. All are freshly home-cooked.
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We also love to pair it with our refreshing green combo juice, or a kick of caffeine to brighten up your day!
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📍 The Old Compass Cafe & Bar - 3rd Floor, 63/11 Pasteur, Sai Gon Ward, HCMC

03/10/2026

01/10/2026

Last Friday, we had the honour to welcome author Sam Korsmoe to give a talk on his newly published book “40 Years of Innovators: The personal stories of 25 individuals who have made a difference for Vietnam,” where we delved into the stories of extraordinary individuals who helped shape Vietnam’s remarkable journey since the 1986 Đổi Mới era. Not only did this mark a major turning point for Vietnam’s economy, but also opened up many opportunities for pioneering change-makers.

Let’s have a look at our favourite moments, and stay tuned for The Old Compass’ future events.

Sam Korsmoe

23/09/2026

Last Sunday, we had the pleasure of hosting a creative sharing night with RMIT University and Practice Research Symposium (PRS) Asia, where our beloved friends gathered to share their works. Between the heartfelt presentations, cozy vibes, comforting home-cooked plates, and glasses of chilled b**r and w**e, our space was wholly immersed in the art of poetry, sound, and conversation.
So grateful to have hosted such a lovely night. Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their craft! 🥂📖🎶

Old Compass Cafe & Bar

12/09/2026

Join us on a special talk with author Sam Korsmoe on Friday, 25th September 2026 upon the publication of his new book “40 Years of Innovators: The personal stories of 25 individuals who have made a difference for Vietnam” (co-authored with Sam Van), where we will be exploring the stories of extraordinary individuals who helped shape Vietnam’s remarkable journey since the 1986 Đổi Mới era.
The Đổi Mới era marked a historic turning point for Vietnam on various aspects. From opening up an economy to redefining a nation’s future, Vietnam’s transformation since 1986 is nothing short of extraordinary. But behind every major shift in policy, culture, and business, there are real people who dared to build something new. “40 Years of Innovators” captures Vietnam’s rise from the ground up and delves deeper into personal stories that are both resilient and incredible throughout this period.

11/09/2026

Today, we visited the Tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt (also known as Lăng Ông Bà Chiểu) to commemorate General Lê Văn Duyệt and got to experience a traditional Vietnamese opera performance (hát bội) by the Ngọc Khánh troupe. This is one of the beautiful long-standing theatrical tradition of Vietnam. 🎭
Such a lovely afternoon for traditional arts and culture appreciation. Don’t forget to stay tuned for show at The Old Compass Cafe and more of our art-hopping walks!

05/09/2026

Old Compass Cafe & Bar

17/05/2026

A weekend afternoon.
A drink, a school memoir, a passing thought.

20/04/2026

While many know Ms. Le Ly Hayslip from her powerful memoir and the film Heaven & Earth, our special evening last Thursday was dedicated to celebrating her 40-year mission of healing and hope.
She has brilliantly channeled her journey of war and resilience into impactful humanitarian work through the East Meets West and Global Village Foundations.

Her new book The Bamboo Can Bend But Not Break beautifully captures the wisdom behind this work and reinforces her powerful message: "Everything is Possible."

It was an inspiring night. All books sold out. We extend our sincere gratitude to Ms. Le Ly Hayslip and all our wonderful guests!