Discover the rich and aromatic world of Vietnamese coffee—where bold flavors, local traditions, and creative twists come together in every cup. In Vietnam, coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s a way of life. Whether you’re enjoying a strong cà phê đen on a plastic stool in Hanoi or sipping a creamy coconut coffee by the beach in Da Nang, each sip offers a glimpse into Vietnamese culture, history, and ingenuity. From the famous egg coffee to lesser-known regional favorites like bạc xỉu and salt coffee (cà phê muối), this guide will walk you through the must-try coffee drinks in Vietnam and explain exactly what makes them so unique.
Popular Vietnamese Coffee Drinks
Vietnam Coffee Production
Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world, and number one when it comes to robusta beans. Coffee farming in Vietnam is not just an economic driver—it’s a way of life, deeply tied to the country’s culture, geography, and climate.
🫘 Types of Coffee Beans Grown in Vietnam
Vietnam primarily grows two types of coffee beans:
- Robusta: Makes up around 90–95% of the country’s coffee production. Robusta beans have a strong, bold flavor with higher caffeine content and a more bitter profile. They’re often used in traditional Vietnamese brews like cà phê sữa đá (iced milk coffee) because their intensity cuts through condensed milk.
- Arabica: Grown in smaller quantities, Arabica beans offer a smoother, more delicate taste with floral and fruity notes. These beans are often used for specialty coffees and are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam’s growing third-wave café scene.
📍 Coffee-Growing Regions in Vietnam
Vietnam’s geography is ideal for coffee cultivation, especially in the Central Highlands, where altitude, volcanic soil, and rainfall create the perfect conditions.
Key coffee-producing regions include:
- Buôn Ma Thuột (Dak Lak Province): Known as the coffee capital of Vietnam, this highland region produces the richest robusta beans thanks to its red basalt soil and tropical climate.
- Lâm Đồng (home to Da Lat): This cooler, high-altitude area is one of the few regions where arabica beans thrive, producing coffee with more nuanced, complex flavors.
- Gia Lai and Kon Tum: Also part of the Central Highlands, these provinces contribute significantly to Vietnam’s coffee output and are home to both robusta and some arabica cultivation.
🌱 What Makes Vietnam a Great Coffee-Growing Country?
Several factors give Vietnam an edge in coffee cultivation:
- Tropical climate: Warm temperatures and distinct wet/dry seasons support healthy coffee growth.
- Volcanic soil: Nutrient-rich and well-draining, ideal for developing deep flavor in the beans.
- Altitude: Especially important for arabica beans, higher elevations like those in Da Lat produce more aromatic and complex coffees.
- Skilled farmers: Generations of expertise in planting, harvesting, and processing contribute to quality and consistency.
🌿 Sustainability in Vietnam’s Coffee Industry
Vietnam’s coffee producers are increasingly adopting sustainable and eco-friendly practices. From shade-grown coffee to organic farming and fair trade initiatives, there’s a growing movement toward protecting the environment while supporting local communities. This shift not only enhances the quality of Vietnamese coffee but also boosts its appeal on the global market.
Unique Coffee Experiences in Vietnam
In Vietnam, coffee is more than just a daily ritual—it’s a sensory and cultural experience that reflects the heart of Vietnamese life. Whether you’re sipping a bold cup of cà phê sữa đá on a sidewalk in Hanoi or touring a coffee farm in the Central Highlands, every moment offers a unique opportunity to connect with the country’s rich coffee heritage.
🏙️ Explore Vietnam’s Iconic Coffee Shops
Vietnam’s café scene is incredibly diverse, offering everything from tiny street-side stalls to chic rooftop lounges and hidden garden cafés. Each setting offers a different way to enjoy Vietnamese coffee:
- Street cafés: Sit on a plastic stool and enjoy people-watching with a cup of strong cà phê đen nóng (hot black coffee) or cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk).
- Egg coffee cafés: Head to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to try Vietnamese egg coffee (cà phê trứng), a rich, dessert-like drink made with whipped egg yolk and sweetened condensed milk.
- Trendy cafés: Visit modern coffee shops in Da Nang, Da Lat, or Saigon that experiment with cold brew, drip, and siphon brewing methods, often using locally sourced arabica beans.
🌱 Visit a Coffee Farm in Vietnam
Want to see where it all begins? Coffee tours in Vietnam offer travelers a chance to explore the full journey from bean to cup.
- Central Highlands (Buôn Ma Thuột, Lâm Đồng, Da Lat): These regions are famous for coffee farms and plantation tours. Many farms welcome visitors for guided coffee walks, harvesting experiences, and on-site tasting sessions.
- Learn about robusta and arabica cultivation, processing methods (wet vs. dry), and how terroir impacts flavor.
- Some tours even include hands-on experiences like roasting and grinding beans or trying your hand at traditional Vietnamese brewing techniques.
🍵 Discover Traditional Brewing Methods
Vietnam has a distinct brewing culture that’s worth exploring beyond just tasting the drinks. Some unique methods and tools to look out for:
- Phin filter: The iconic stainless-steel drip filter used to brew single cups of strong, slow-drip coffee.
- Siphon brewing: A theatrical and precise method gaining popularity in specialty cafés.
- Cold brew and nitro: Modern takes on Vietnamese coffee, often made with high-quality arabica beans from Da Lat.
- Egg coffee & salt coffee: Learn how these signature drinks are prepared using traditional techniques passed down through generations.
🧭 Coffee Tours & Workshops for Travelers
- Guided visits to coffee plantations
- Tasting flights of different Vietnamese coffee drinks
- Demonstrations of roasting and brewing methods
- Opportunities to meet local farmers and producers
Must-Try Vietnamese Coffee Specialties
Vietnamese coffee is known for its bold flavors, creative ingredients, and one-of-a-kind preparation methods. From time-honored classics to innovative new twists, Vietnamese coffee drinks are as diverse and dynamic as the country itself.
☕ Traditional Meets Creative
One of the most iconic and beloved coffee drinks in Vietnam is egg coffee (cà phê trứng). Created in Hanoi in the 1940s, this decadent drink features a thick, frothy topping of whisked egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk over robust Vietnamese coffee. It’s rich, creamy, and surprisingly dessert-like—often compared to tiramisu in a cup.
Equally popular is Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá), a staple of daily life throughout the country. Made by slowly brewing strong coffee through a traditional phin filter and mixing it with condensed milk over ice, this drink is refreshingly sweet, smooth, and highly caffeinated—perfect for Vietnam’s tropical climate.
🌴 Unique Flavors & Bold Innovations
Vietnamese coffee culture also embraces more adventurous flavors. Take coconut coffee (cà phê cốt dừa), for example—this tropical favorite blends creamy coconut milk or frozen coconut cream with robust coffee, creating a sweet, icy treat that’s especially popular in Hanoi and Da Nang.
Then there’s weasel coffee (cà phê chồn), a rare and luxurious specialty made from beans that have been digested by civet cats. The result is a surprisingly smooth, low-acidity coffee with earthy undertones. While it’s not for everyone (and ethically sourced weasel coffee is a must), it’s certainly one of the most talked-about brews in Vietnam. It also makes a great souvenir, often sold in gift sets with a traditional phin filter for about $13.
🧭 A Coffee for Every Palate
Whether you prefer your coffee hot or iced, strong or smooth, classic or creative, Vietnam has something to satisfy every coffee lover. Each drink reflects the country’s rich traditions, regional ingredients, and the locals’ deep passion for coffee.
👉 Now, let’s explore the Top 10 Vietnamese Coffee Drinks You Need to Try — from iconic staples to unique local favorites you won’t find anywhere else.
10 Must-Try Popular Coffee Drinks in Vietnam
1. Cà Phê Phin – Vietnamese Drip Coffee
This is the foundation of Vietnamese coffee. Cà phê phin is brewed using a small metal drip filter placed directly over a cup, slowly releasing strong, concentrated coffee drop by drop. The result is bold, rich, and often intense—especially when made with dark-roasted robusta beans. It can be enjoyed black or sweetened with condensed milk, hot or iced. One great trick locals use is adding a bit more water through the same grounds to squeeze out a second, lighter cup. Simple, powerful, and uniquely Vietnamese.
2. Cà Phê Đen Saigon – Strong, Icy Black Coffee
Cà phê đen Saigon is a stronger, larger version of traditional black coffee. While it still uses the classic phin filter, it’s brewed in a bigger portion—perfect for those who want more volume without sacrificing intensity. Typically made with robusta beans, it delivers a bold, slightly bitter flavor and is usually served over ice. Depending on personal preference, locals may add sugar or even a splash of condensed milk, but it’s most often enjoyed black for a clean, energizing kick.
3. Cà Phê Đen – Vietnamese Black Coffee
Cà phê đen is Vietnam’s classic black coffee—strong, no milk, and packed with bold flavor. Often made with dark-roasted robusta beans, it delivers an intense, slightly bitter taste with a natural kick of caffeine. In many cafés, it’s pre-brewed in large batches using a phin filter, then served as a concentrated shot that’s topped up with hot water or ice, depending on how you like it. It’s simple, powerful, and one of the most common ways locals start their day.
4. Cà Phê Muối – Vietnamese Salt Coffee
Cà phê muối is one of the most unique—and delicious—coffee drinks in Vietnam. Originating in Hue, this creamy creation blends strong phin-brewed coffee with a lightly salted whipped cream or milk foam topping. The salt enhances the sweetness and adds depth, creating a perfectly balanced, rich flavor that’s hard to stop sipping. It’s incredibly indulgent thanks to the thick cream, so maybe not one for every day—but definitely a must-try while in Vietnam.
5. Cà Phê Bơ – Creamy Avocado Coffee
Cà phê bơ is a surprisingly smooth and indulgent blend of ripe avocado and strong Vietnamese coffee. Often made like a smoothie, the avocado is blended with condensed milk and ice to create a rich, creamy base, then topped with a shot of robust coffee. The result is a velvety drink that’s both refreshing and satisfying, with the bitterness of the coffee perfectly balanced by the buttery sweetness of the avocado. It’s unique, tropical, and a must-try for adventurous coffee lovers.
6. Cà Phê Dừa – Vietnamese Coconut Coffee
Cà phê dừa combines the bold flavor of Vietnamese coffee with the creamy richness of coconut milk for a tropical treat that’s both sweet and refreshing. Typically made by blending coconut milk (or frozen coconut cream), condensed milk, and ice into a slushy base, it’s topped with a shot of strong phin-brewed coffee. The result is a cool, smooth, and indulgent drink that’s perfect for hot days. It’s especially popular in Hanoi and Da Nang and has quickly become a must-try modern Vietnamese coffee.
7. Cà Phê Lạnh – Chilled Vietnamese Coffee
Cà phê lạnh is Vietnam’s no-frills iced black coffee—strong, chilled, and energizing. Brewed using a phin filter or pulled from a pre-made batch, the concentrated black coffee is poured over ice without any milk or sweetener. It’s bold, slightly bitter, and delivers a clean caffeine hit, especially popular in the hot southern cities. While it’s often confused with cà phê đen đá, cà phê lạnh tends to be more straightforward: just coffee and ice, nothing else.
8. Cà Phê Sữa – Vietnamese Coffee with Milk
Cà phê sữa is a popular Vietnamese coffee drink made by combining strong phin-brewed coffee with sweet milk—usually condensed milk, though some cafés may use evaporated or fresh milk. It’s typically served over ice, offering a bold yet smooth flavor with just the right touch of sweetness. This drink strikes a perfect balance between bitter and creamy, making it a go-to favorite for locals and visitors alike across Vietnam.
9. Bạc Xỉu – A Light and Milky Coffee
Originally a Saigon classic, Bạc Xỉu is perfect for those who prefer a lighter, milkier coffee experience. This drink flips the usual coffee-to-milk ratio by using mostly sweetened condensed milk and regular milk, with just a splash of strong coffee added on top. Served cold, Bạc Xỉu is creamy, smooth, and just slightly caffeinated — more like a dessert in a glass than a typical coffee. It’s a must-try for anyone curious about the sweeter side of Vietnamese coffee culture.
10. Cà Phê Trứng (Egg Coffee):
While the idea of egg in coffee might raise eyebrows, Cà Phê Trứng is a pleasantly rich and velvety surprise. A shot of strong Vietnamese coffee is topped with a thick, creamy foam made by whipping egg yolk, sugar, and sweetened condensed milk until it becomes luxuriously smooth. The result tastes more like a coffee-flavored dessert than anything eggy — imagine a sweet, frothy tiramisu in a cup. Whether served hot or cold, this decadent drink is one of Vietnam’s most unique and unforgettable coffee experiences.
Bonus: Unique Flavor Twists
While these drinks aren’t as common as the classics, some Vietnamese cafés love to experiment with fun flavors. You might find chocolate coffee for a rich, mocha-like treat, peanut butter coffee for a nutty twist, or yogurt coffee for a tangy, creamy surprise. The pictured chocolate coffee was incredibly delicious — a perfect example of how creative Vietnamese coffee culture can be.
Conclusion of Our Vietnam Coffee Guide
From strong drip brews to creamy coconut creations and egg-topped delights, Vietnamese coffee is a world of bold flavors, cultural traditions, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re wandering the bustling streets of Saigon, relaxing in a Da Lat café, or venturing into the Central Highlands, every cup offers a glimpse into Vietnam’s unique coffee heritage. By trying these must-have Vietnamese coffee drinks, you’re not just tasting coffee—you’re connecting with the country’s history, innovation, and passion for this beloved beverage. So grab a stool, order a cà phê, and savor the journey one sip at a time.
Full Vietnam Travel Guide
