Vietnam remains world’s second biggest coffee exporter. We have a rich and diverse coffee culture, where you can find many different types of coffee drinks that suit your taste and mood.
So if you are curious about our take on the drink, here are 6 must-try Vietnamese coffee flavors for a glimpse into the coffee culture in Vietnam.
1. Filtered milk coffee – iconic Vietnamese drink
The most iconic of all types of Vietnamese coffee has to be the filtered milk coffee, or “cà phê phin” as we like to call it. Found in virtually any coffee shop all over Vietnam, the drink is characterized by a metal filter – or phin – fitted over a cup.
Coffee powder is tightly compressed in this filter. Then, hot water is added, and the coffee is brewed and drips down one drop at a time into the cup below – which can contain condensed milk if the drinker wants.
Needless to say, the process can take several minutes, but this is one of those drinks where the experience contributes as much as the taste itself. Perhaps it’s the feeling of expectation while watching your drink become ready that makes that first sip all the more delicious.
In any case, this isn’t something you pick up on your way to the office. It’s a drink you sit down and savor on a quiet morning, perhaps over conversations with friends, or just while idly watching life going by.
Where to have it?
1.Café Ut Lanh (8:00 am – 10:00 pm)
Address: 283/37 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, HCMC.
2. Trung Nguyen Legend (7:00am – 10:00pm).
Address: 07 Nguyen Van Chiem, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC.
2. Egg coffee – with egg yolks whipped into cream
Yes, filtered milk coffee is all but synonymous with “Vietnamese-style coffee” at this point. But if ever there was a characteristically “must-try” coffee in Hanoi, it has to be the egg coffee.
Originally, it was an idea to circumvent the shortage of milk at the time. However, the result turned out surprisingly well, elevating the drink into a specialty of the capital city.
While egg coffee has since been adopted by countless coffee shops all over Vietnam, many coffee lovers insist that the most authentic tastes can only be found at the three coffee shops owned by the original inventor’s descendants.
Where to have it?
1.RuNam D’Or (7:00 a.m – 23:00 p.m)
Address: 3 Cong Xa Paris Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
2. Nap Saigon (7:00 a.m – 21:00 p.m)
Address: 3/5 Nguyen Van Thu Street, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
3. Coconut coffee – with coconut milk for a tropical taste
A coconut coffee is a real deal when it comes to coffee and flavor. This type of coffee is very sweet, and it leaves a pleasant coconut taste in your mouth. Vietnamese people usually mix coconut ice cream, a bit of condensed milk, and the potent brew of Vietnamese dark coffee.
Once you mix it, you get a flawless combination that is called a coconut coffee. It’s not a very usual coffee choice among locals, but travelers in general love this type of coffee.
Basically, you’re scoping the coconut ice cream with a bit of coffee taste while drinking a strong Vietnamese coffee. How to beat that?
Where to have it?
Cong Caphe (0:00 a.m – 23:59 p.m)
Address: 127 – 129 Bui Vien Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
4. Salted coffee – salty caramel-like flavors
The coffee itself is brewed through a filter as usual, but here, it’s let to drip into a mixture of fermented milk, condensed milk, and of course, salt. It’s staggering how much a simple twist can drastically alter the taste, adding a caramel-like flavor.
As with any other popular drink, salted coffee has been adopted by many coffee shops around Vietnam.
Where to have it?
1.Salt Coffee: (6:30 a.m – 22:00 p.m)
Address: 42 Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
2. Miyama Coffee: (9:30 a.m) – 22:00 p.m)
L3-01 Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
5. Yogurt coffee – a healthier coffee variation
Another, rather unconventional, variation of coffee you can find in many stores in Vietnam is yogurt coffee. The idea is exactly what it sounds like: It’s yogurt mixed with coffee – and sometimes with condensed milk added.
Yogurt serves as a balanced source of nutrients and helps in maintaining healthy body functions like promoting the immune system, healthy heart, improve digestion, and much more. So they figured out they can mix it with their coffee and make a fantastic drink, because why not!
Its taste reminds of traditional milk coffee, but they add a bit of coconut milk and yogurt in the blend. Also, during the hot months, people add a ton of ice, which makes it crazy addictive and refreshing.
Where to have it?
1.Newin Coffee (10:00 a.m – 10:00 p.m)
Address: 26 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
6. Net coffee – an original coffee brewing method of the Chinese Vietnamese
Once the brewer has ground the beans carefully, they’ll put the coffee powder inside a net, then dip it into a ceramic pot of boiling water. The result is a thick, smooth, aromatic, and woody coffee. The net coffee is usually milder than that brewed by phin, the typical Vietnamese drip filter made of stainless steel.
The net coffee shops in Saigon range from 60 to 100 years old, passed down through two or three generations. Hence, visiting these cafes and talking to the shopowners will also be a great way to know more about the neighbourhood’s past.
However, these coffee shops are usually near the marketplaces, so they may be crowded and quite noisy. However, it is a worthy experience to enjoy net coffee while watching the local life.
Where to have it?
1. Cheo Leo Cafe (6:00 a.m – 18:00 p.m)
Address: 109 – 36 Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, Ward 2, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
2. Net Coffee Phan Dinh Phung (all day)
Address: 330/2 Phan Đinh Phung Street, Ward 1, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City
When drinking coffee in Vietnam, you’ll not only enjoy our staple drink but also experience an intriguing cultural aspect of the Vietnamese.
Apart from the famous cà phê sữa đá, there are still many other Vietnamese coffee drinks that you can try during your next trip to our country.
