Once you enter Vietnam, a country characterized by its S-shaped landmass, you will probably be impressed by the coffee shops that line the streets and avenues. From fashionable upscale cafes to small cafes with small tables on street corners and sidewalks, coffee is an essential drink wherever you go in Vietnam. Coffee is an indispensable drink in Vietnam, no matter where you are.
In Vietnam, it is common to see people enjoying coffee every morning at sidewalk cafes. While coffee is a beverage that is valued in Western countries for its ability to help people concentrate at work, coffee in Vietnam is a drink that has become an ingrained part of many people’s lifestyle, much like the tea ceremony is a part of the spiritual culture in Japan.
Iced black coffee (coffee, ice, sugar) and café sua da (coffee, condensed milk, ice) are probably the most popular coffee drinks in Vietnam. However, in the northern regions, where the weather cools down in the fall and winter, hot black coffee with sugar and hot milk coffee with condensed milk are also indispensable.
Vietnam has a unique way of brewing coffee. The filter cups used to brew coffee in Vietnam are double-filtered, which means that the brewing process takes longer. However, because of this, the coffee that drips through the filter into the cup has a deep and rich flavor.
The mainstream coffee bean in Vietnam is the Robusta variety. Vietnamese people prefer dark and bitter coffee. It is said that the French brought the Robusta coffee to Vietnam around 1914. By 1922, the red basalt soil of the central highlands of Van Metort was quickly transformed into the vast greenery of coffee plantations. The red basalt soil of the central highlands of Ban Metho was quickly transformed into the vast greenery of the coffee plantations.
Nowadays, Robusta coffee is grown not only in the Central Highlands region, but also in the southeastern and central regions of Vietnam. With the increase in cultivated area and production, the Vietnamese coffee brand and coffee culture have become well-known throughout the world. Today, Vietnam is the world’s largest producer of Robusta coffee and the second largest exporter after Brazil. Vietnamese coffee, especially Robusta coffee, is becoming increasingly recognized around the world.
In 2020, a CNN article titled “Why the world is waking up to Vietnamese coffee” introduced Vietnamese coffee as a beverage that can be enjoyed in many ways other than the traditional way it is brewed. In addition to the rich black iced coffee, Vietnamese people can now enjoy the following coffee-enhanced drinks.
Egg coffee, a specialty of the capital city of Hanoi
Egg coffee is a popular drink in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. This drink blends the flavors of Vietnamese coffee and freshly beaten eggs. Egg coffee first appeared in the early 20th century and has since become a uniquely Vietnamese drink associated with the nostalgic Old Quarter of Hanoi. 
Egg coffee, a specialty of the capital city of Hanoi.
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Salted coffee” in Hue, central Vietnam
Salt coffee is a drink that originated in the ancient capital of Hue. Salt coffee is a delicately flavored product inspired by the land and people of the ancient capital of Hue. Salted coffee is made from coffee, milk (condensed or raw), and salt. Salted coffee was created more than 10 years ago and continues to be popular among locals as well as tourists from all over the world.
Salt coffee” in Hue, central Vietnam.
Photo: Shutter Stock
Coconut coffee.
Coconut is one of the most popular tropical fruits that are good for you. Coconut coffee is made by combining coffee, sugar, and coconut milk. The mellow flavor of roasted and ground coffee blends perfectly with the sweet and juicy taste of coconut. It is a popular drink among tourists.
Vietnamese “coconut coffee”
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Coffee is a custom and an essential part of the Vietnamese culture. When you visit Vietnam, be sure to taste this unique and mellow flavor.
And we hope that you will come to understand and love Vietnam more deeply!
