Coffee enthusiasts who love coffee and are considering a journey to Vietnam will find delight in the choice of their destination. Vietnam is renowned not only for its stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage but also for its distinctive and varied coffee culture. Let’s explore the wonderful world of Vietnamese coffee!
Vietnam is one of the largest producers of coffee in the world
Vietnam is famous for its Robusta beans recognized by their rich and bold taste. Coffee culture in this country is an integral part of daily life— offering an extraordinary diversity of local flavors that are quite unmatched elsewhere on the globe.
Vietnamese people are used to drinking coffee every day. In Vietnam, coffee is not just for caffeine; it's for life. People drink their coffee at any time of the day in a lively cafe or while wandering around. It’s a time to unwind, connect with others, or merely enjoy the present moment.
Special types of coffee in Vietnam
Some Vietnamese coffee types that you must try — their uniqueness and places where you can relish them.
Drip-filter coffee (ca phe phin) - The must-try Vietnamese coffee for tourist
The traditional way to make Vietnamese coffee is by using a metal Vietnamese coffee filter to produce coffee extract. Coffee beans, after being roasted in butter, are ground and put in the filter with hot water. Coffee essence will drip from the filter into a cup below. When the coffee essence is enough for a cup, you can drink it as iced black coffee (ca phe den da) or add sugar or condensed milk and enjoy your iced milk coffee (ca phe sua da).
Try it: You can find the drip-filter coffee on every street in Vietnam. Some best local place for you:
Cafe Thai, 27 Trieu Viet Vuong, Hai Ba Trung Dist., Ha Noi
Pavement cafes at the crossroads of Truong Dinh and Pham Hong Thai, Hue
Cafe Long, 123 Le Loi, Hai Chau Dist., Da Nang
Cafe Tung, 06 Hoa Binh, Ward 1, Da Lat, Lam Dong
Vietnamese hot egg coffee (ca phe trung)
Egg coffee is a creation of the people of Hanoi in the 1940s, back when there was a shortage of milk. Even as Vietnam became more prosperous and milk returned to the market, ca phe trung persisted for its delicious goodness. It’s now a must-try Hanoi specialty drink, especially during the winter months. The creamy, dense, frothy foam floating on top of the cup will make you fall in love with this drink, especially on a cold winter day.
Refer the article about Vietnamese egg coffee for more information.
Try it: The best egg coffee is in Ha Noi, but you can find this coffee in many other places in Vietnam
Café Giảng, 39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Ha Noi
Loading T Cafe, 2nd floor, 08 Chan Cam, Ha Noi
Ma Xo, 152 Tran Vu, Truc Bach, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi
Luu Gia Cafe, 173 Truong Dinh, Ho Chi Minh City
Coconut coffee (ca phe cot dua) - one of the best Vietnamese coffee
If you start to overheat while exploring, why not try an iced coconut coffee? Iced coconut coffee is more popular in Southern Vietnam, where the weather is hot all year round. Traditional coffee is blended with coconut milk, fresh milk, and condensed milk to create a tropical coffee cocktail that can cool you down in the heat of summer. The coffee grounds the flavor with the coconut giving the drink a fun tropical twist, kind of like a coffee cocktail.
Try it:
Cong Caphe - branches across Vietnam
An Café - 40 Le Thanh Ton, Ho Chi Minh City
Yogurt Coffee (ca phe sua chua) - a wonderful flavor of Vietnamese coffee
This Vietnamese coffee variation consists of yogurt, condensed milk, ice, and coffee. You’ll find ca phe sua chua on menus across Ha Noi, however the best coffee shops use fresh, home-made yoghurt. This creamy and rich drink can be served with many kinds of toppings like fresh fruit or fermented rice.
Try it:
Cafe Duy Tri, 43 Yen Phu, Ha Noi
Kafeville, 23A Hai Ba Trung, Ha Noi
The best Vietnamese coffee for a sugar rush - Bac xiu
The ingredients are essentially the same as the holy trinity of a cà phê sữa đá: coffee, condensed milk, and crushed ice. The difference is all in the proportions, with more milk less coffee going into a bac xiu.
Some other best places for a cup of good Vietnamese coffee
Cafe Giang - As the birthplace of Vietnamese egg coffee: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi
Cafe Dinh: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi
The Note Coffee: 64 Luong Van Can Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi
Trieu Viet Vuong Street: Nguyen Du Ward, Hai Ba Trung District, Ha Noi
Danang Souvenirs & Coffee - Top beautiful cafe in Da Nang: 34 Bach Dang Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang
The Garden House Cafe Bistro: 275 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang
Den Da Coffee & Dessert: 6 Tran Quoc Toan Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang
Faifo Cafe - having a rooftop view of the ancient streets and houses below: 130 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An
Roving Chillhouse - located in front of a lush rice field: Nguyen Trai Road - Cua Dai, Hoi An
U Cafe: 120 Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, Hoi An
An Cafe: 40 Le Dai Hanh Street, Nha Trang
Tron Cafe: Villa 23, Lane 86C, Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang
Tiem Ca Phe: 30/23 Doan Tran Nghiep Street, Nha Trang
The World Coffee Museum: Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Tan Loi, Buon Ma Thuot
G20 Cafe: Tan An, Buon Ma Thuot
Anh O Dau Cafe: 144/3 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Khanh Xuan, Buon Ma Thuot
The Workshop Coffee: 27 Ngo Duc Ke Street, District 1, HCMC
Bosgaurus Coffee: 1D5, 92, Villa, Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Saigon Pearl, Binh Thanh District, HCMC
La Viet: 191 Hai Ba Trung Street, District 3, HCMC
Coffee Classes for Foreign Tourists
For those who want to dive deeper into Vietnamese coffee culture, there are several coffee classes available:
Saigon Coffee Workshop: Offers workshops on brewing techniques, coffee history, and tasting sessions. Location: 19B Pham Ngoc Thach, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Hanoi Coffee Tour: Guided tours that take you through Hanoi’s best coffee spots, explaining the history and making of different coffee types. Location: Starts at 39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Hanoi
Hợp Tác Xã Coffee Cooperative: Learn about coffee cultivation and processing with hands-on experience. Location: Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak Province
Vietnamese coffee offers a rich tapestry of flavors and experiences that reflect the country's vibrant culture. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or just a curious traveler, exploring Vietnam’s coffee scene is a journey worth taking. Enjoy your cup!
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