Pastries without the pinky

French · District 3 · From 47b Trần Cao Vân

Bakes started in 2015 with online deliveries alone, supplying pastries to favourite Saigon cafes and restaurants — and only then opened its first own shop, right by Turtle Lake.

Before it had a shop, Bakes pastries were already served at some of the city's best-known cafes and restaurants, like Thinker & Dreamer Coffee and Anan Restaurant. The first own shop was built with creative agency The Lab Saigon at 47 Trần Cao Vân — a small shop with just a few tables, for guests to take their pastries out to Turtle Lake.

Bakes' philosophy is simple: as natural as possible, as little sugar as possible, as little waste as possible. Pastries are handmade daily from fresh ingredients, with no preservatives, local fresh fruit, and takeaway bags made from biodegradable cassava starch. Best on the day, keepable for up to 3 days.

Today Bakes is founded by Laure Chevallier (French) and Tuan Le (Vietnamese-American), with executive pastry chef Brian Gartner; the Thao Dien lab bakes and delivers to the Turtle Lake shop. Birthday cakes can be ordered up to 1 month ahead. And dogs are still welcome — the shop keeps homemade treats for dogs.

Wooden pastry table close-up — croissants, cinnamon rolls, danishes, tarts with handwritten cards

The first shop

From deliveries to its own shop

Started online in 2015, supplying favourite cafes, then opened its first own shop at 47 Trần Cao Vân, with The Lab Saigon.

Philosophy

Natural, low-sugar, low-waste

Fresh ingredients, no preservatives, local fruit, biodegradable cassava-starch bags.

The lab

From Thao Dien to Turtle Lake

The Thao Dien lab bakes and delivers to the Turtle Lake shop — one kitchen, one case.

Dogs

Dogs get a treat too

The shop keeps homemade treats for dogs — bring yours along to Turtle Lake.