Vietnamese Coffee: A must-try specialty with an intensely strong taste

Contents

Robusta coffee offer highest production in Vietnam (Source: Collected)

Vietnam travel and tourism has been attracting tourists from all over the world, especially after the pandemic, with Vietnamese coffee being considered a prominent highlight of the country. Vietnam is also among the largest coffee exporters in the world. There are many ways to enjoy the special taste of the coffee, thanks to the creativity of Vietnamese people.

1. About Vietnamese Coffee

Coffee Arabica is the first species of coffee introduced by French missionaries to Vietnam in 1857. It was initially grown near churches in the northern and central regions of Vietnam, such as in the provinces of Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh, then in Quang Tri and Quang Binh. After that, coffee was also grown in the south of the Central Highlands and the southeastern region. The Central Highlands was discovered to be the most suitable place for growing coffee.

At the end of the 1990s, Vietnam became the leading coffee producer in Southeast Asia, and the second leading one in the world after Brazil. Vietnam produces mostly Robusta coffee.

During the 1990s, productivity increased by 20-30 percent each year. Private enterprises have made considerable contributions to the sudden development of the coffee processing industry. Some typical brands are Trung Nguyen Coffee and Highlands Coffee.

The Central Highlands produce the most Vietnamese coffee (Source: Collected)

The Central Highlands is the most important region to grow Vietnamese coffee, in particular, the provinces of Dak Lak, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong. Thanks to the soil’s characteristics here, the coffee has become popular not only in Vietnam but also in the whole world .

With the average productivity of 2.3 tonnes/hectares, Vietnam has a higher coffee productivity than any other coffee producing nation in the world. Together with Vietnamese food, coffee is definitely one of the top specialties that you must definitely try when you come to the S-shaped country of Vietnam.

2. What makes Vietnamese coffee different?

In Vietnam, start your day by sipping a cup of coffee, you will better understand Vietnamese culture.

It is said that the preparation and blending of coffee beans have resulted in the special taste of Vietnamese coffee. Traditionally, Vietnamese people roast coffee with rice wine, salt, and butter, which results in slow-drip coffee with a slight oily texture. Chocolate or caramel can be added to suit the demands of coffee drinkers.

Coarse ground beans will be put into a French drip filter (which is called “phin” in Vietnamese), which sits on top of a cup. The ground beans are covered with a thin lid, and hot water is poured into the “phin”. The water will slowly drop into the cup. There is nothing more relaxing than to sit with a friend on a bright morning, look out at the streets, wait for the coffee drops to fill the cup while chatting on and on.

Coffee beans are processed and brewed differently in Vietnam to create a special flavour (Source: Collected)

3. TOP 5 Vietnamese coffee types to try once

To suit different demands, coffee makers have created various new ways of mixing coffee to make it more tasty and nutritious. Read about the following most popular coffee types to learn more about Vietnamese coffee ingredients or how to drink Vietnamese coffee:

3.1. Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk

Vietnamese iced coffee can cool off the heat (Source: Collected)

The most popular type of coffee throughout the country is ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk), which is a mixture of coffee, condensed milk, and some ice. You will get a cup with a “phin” on top and minced coffee beans brewed inside. Just wait for the hot water to drip into the cup along with the coffee essence. When the process is done, just take the filter away, stir the coffee with condensed milk and put some ice in. It will be so tasty that you may get addicted to this sweet creamy brown drink.

3.2. Vietnamese egg coffee

This unique type of coffee was invented in Hanoi Old Quarter, by a man named Nguyen Tri Hoa in 1946, who used egg to mix with coffee instead of milk, as milk was not readily available during the French colonial period. Egg coffee was not popular until the 80s, when Vietnam started to develop its coffee industry. Now you can enjoy it almost anywhere in the country.

Egg coffee is an innovation of Vietnamese people (Source: Collected)

Egg coffee is made with fresh yolk, condensed milk, and hot coffee, which can be served either hot or cold. The fatty and sweet taste of this drink is truly unique.

3.3. Vietnamese drip coffee

As mentioned above, the Vietnamese traditional method of coffee brewing is an authentic way to preserve the coffee’s flavour and aroma. The coffee beans, after being roasted with some salt and butter, are brewed in metal filters with hot water. Hot water will drop into the cup below, bringing along the beans’ essence. It takes some time but will maintain most of the coffee’s flavour. Then you can drink it with no milk (black coffee) or with condensed milk, with or without ice, depending on your taste.

Vietnamese drip coffee offers a leisurely way of enjoying life (Source: Collected)

3.4. Vietnamese coconut coffee

Another invention of Vietnamese people is coffee with coconut milk, fresh milk, and condensed milk. This mixture can be served with or without ice, which tastes like a chilly coffee cocktail that is ideal for cooling down the heat of summer.

Vietnamese coconut coffee is like a cocktail (Source: Collected)

3.5. Yoghurt coffee

Yoghurt was also introduced by the French into Vietnam. This drink has cream, fruits and fermented sticky rice as a kind of topping. The creaminess of the yogurt mixes with the bitterness of the black coffee, creating an amazing taste for drinkers.

Yoghurt coffee has a unique taste (Source: Collected)

4. Where to buy Vietnamese coffee on your trip?

You can buy coffee in most destinations in Vietnam, such as Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, etc.

On every street in big cities, you can enjoy as much coffee as you want at a fairly reasonable price.

• Hanoi

You can visit the Old Quarter and enjoy the authentic coffee flavours in various cafe, such as Cafe Giang on Nguyen Huu Huan Street, Cafe Nang on Hang Bac Street, Cafe Nhi on Hang Ca Street; Cafe Nhan on Hang Hanh Street, and many new cafes on Trieu Viet Vuong Street. The Cafe Cong franchise is also highly recommended.

Visiting Hanoi, don’t miss out on a cafe tour in the Old Quarter (Source: Collected)

After enjoying the coffee in downtown Hanoi, you can take your children to VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium Times City on Minh Khai Street, which is just a short distance away, to have more fun.

At Vinpearl Aquarium, children can explore a colorful world of the ocean at one of the most modern aquarium systems in Vietnam, which is home to more than 30,000 marine creatures from around the world.

On the other hand, VinKE offers a “play and learn” space for children to experience their dream career, gain knowledge about their favorite field, and become more confident with the world around them.

Visit VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium for more fun in Hanoi

>>> Remember to book tickets of VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium and enjoy Hanoi to your heart’s content!

• Phu Quoc

You can enjoy coffee and other drinks at various cafes with good views in this pearl island, such as the cafes on Tran Hung Dao Street, Duong Dong Town, namely: Chuon Chuon Bistro & Skybar, Aroi Dessert Cafe, OCSEN Beach Bar, and Ocvan Kitchen Beach Bar. Or you can come to the cafes on Truong Beach, Duong To Commune, such as: the 19th floor of INK 360 Phu Quoc, Intercontinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, and Sunset Sanato Beach.

Enjoy the coffee and admire the beautiful scenery in Phu Quoc (Source: Collected)

While you are in Phu Quoc, don’t forget to visit VinWonders Phu Quoc, one of the most modern theme parks in Vietnam. Here, you can:

• Explore the super exciting outdoor play area with the Skydrop free-fall tower, upside-down Topspin swing, flying dolphin, cable-stayed swing, etc.
• Enjoy the water park and its cool water streams, super basin slide, multi-lane slide, tornado slide, etc.
• Visit the aquarium with an area of ​​nearly 5,000 square meters and more than 9,000 species of rare marine individuals, such as rays, sharks, albino catfish, elongated tortoises, etc.
• Experience the indoor play area with 120 world-class high-tech games and modern 5D cinema rooms.

Visit VinWonders Phu Quoc theme park to try many modern games

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• Nha Trang

There are many cafes with a chill atmosphere in Nha Trang, such as Tron Cafe on Tran Phu Road, Amazon Coffee & Bar on Dang Tat Road, Rainforest Cafe on Vo Tru Road, Sailing Club on Tran Phu Street, and Wave Bar in Vinpearl Luxury Nha Trang.

Enjoy quiet moments in Nha Trang at a local cafe (Source: Collected)

While you are in Nha Trang, don’t forget to visit VinWonders Nha Trang amusement park to have even more fun. Here, there are 6 subdivisions for you to explore as follows:

• • Fairy Land: This is a wonderland with a 880-meter-long zipline which is Vietnam’s longest, steepest, and highest zipline.
  • Sea World: With a collection of over 30,000 sea creatures, this is an ideal subdivision for tourists to explore the underwater world.
  • Adventure Land: An ideal place for those seeking adventure, with many thrilling games such as roller coasters, swings, bungee jumping, aerial racing, etc.
  • World Garden: A subdivision that lets you admire with your own eyes the numerous rare flora from all over the world.
  • King’s Garden: Here, you have the chance to see about 30 bird species, feed the giraffes, contemplate the beauty of the flamingos, observe the hippos, or take photos of the Bengal tigers.
  • Water World: Known as a tropical paradise which is Vietnam’s first and only freshwater park, this subdivision offers up to 20 riveting water games.

Have even more fun at VinWonders Nha Trang

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• Hoi An

There are many cozy cafes in Hoi An Ancient town, such as The Deck House on An Bang Beach, Cafe Hoi An Roastery on Tran Phu Street, TRE coffee lounge and dining near Vo Chi Cong Road, Poolside Bar and Lobby Bar at Vinpearl Resort & Spa Hoi An.

Contemplate the ancient atmosphere at a cafe in Hoi An Town (Source: Collected)

While you are in Hoi An, you should not miss out on VinWonders Nam Hoi An amusement park, which has 5 large subdivisions, namely:

• • Harbor Corner: A section that recreates the once bustling commercial port of Hoi An in the past
  • Island of Folk Culture: A subdivision that shows the artistic quintessence of traditional Vietnamese villages
  • River Safari: A wildlife sanctuary where visitors can see many rare animals from a boat floating along the river
  • Adventure Land: An entertainment paradise with nearly 100 indoor games and more than 20 thrilling outdoor games
  • Water World: A summer relieving spot thanks to a system of slides, pools, and a series of exciting activities

VinWonders Nam Hoi An offers many exciting moments

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Vietnamese coffee is a valuable gift that nature has bestowed Vietnam. It has become a popular drink for locals, a magnet to tourists, and high-value product for Vietnamese exporters. There are many ways to process coffee to enhance its strong taste and suit various demands. Hopefully, this article will be helpful for you before your trip to Vietnam, so that you can better understand Vietnamese coffee – a part of the country’s culinary art and culture. Remember to try all the top 5 coffee drinks above to add more flavours to your life!

>>> Book tickets of VinWonders Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Nam Hoi An, VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium to grab the best deals!