Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer, and its café culture is an all-day affair, with cups enjoyed over long conversations from morning until late at night. Coffee beans were first introduced by French missionaries in the mid-19th century and eventually took root in the Central Highlands. Production surged following the Đổi Mới economic reforms of the late 1980s, transforming Vietnam into the coffee powerhouse it is today.
Vietnamese coffee has centered on robusta, whose bold, chocolaty character lends itself particularly well to the phin, a single-serve metal filter that slowly drips concentrated coffee into the glass below. Add sweetened condensed milk and ice, and you get Vietnamese iced coffee, or cà phê sữa đá: bitter, sweet, and cold. Then there’s bạc xỉu, the sweeter, milkier Saigon remix that flips the ratio, adding just enough coffee to a glass of mostly milk for something lighter.
Vietnamese Coffee Culture
Across Vietnam, different regions and communities have developed their own ways of drinking coffee. The northern capital, Hanoi, gave rise to silky cà phê trứng, made with whipped egg yolks and sugar, while in central Vietnam, the former imperial capital of Huế produced cà phê muối, which tempers coffee’s bitterness with salt. Saigon’s historic Chinese immigrant community also left its mark with cà phê vợt, a once-common method of brewing coffee through a cloth “sock” filter that survives at a handful of old-school shops today.
Modern Coffee Trends
In more recent years, a third- and fourth-wave generation of roasters and baristas has been expanding the definition of Vietnamese coffee once again. Beyond robusta, they’re spotlighting modern brewing methods like pour-overs using arabica from Sơn La, Măng Đen, and other high-altitude growing regions. Meanwhile, new-school cafés experiment with local ingredients and flavors ranging from citrus to tamarind.
Essential Vietnamese Coffee Drinks
One of the most iconic Vietnamese coffee drinks is cà phê sữa đá, which can be found at Highlands Coffee, a chain founded by Vietnamese American entrepreneur David Thái. The drink is traditionally brewed through a phin filter, producing a flavor profile that is simultaneously bitter, sweet, rich, and refreshing. Another popular drink is bạc xỉu, which can be found at Lacàph Coffee Bar, a design-forward café in District 1.
Cà phê trứng, a Northern classic made with whipped egg yolks and sugar, can be found at Little Hanoi Egg Coffee, a specialist in the Northern capital’s signature drink. Cà phê muối, which tempers coffee’s bitterness with salt, can be found at Hue Cafe Roastery, a café in Thảo Điền that blends the salt directly into the coffee and condensed milk. Cà phê vợt, a traditional method of brewing coffee through a cloth “sock” filter, can be found at Cà Phê Vợt, a family-run shop in Phú Nhuận that has been preserving this brewing tradition for over 70 years.
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At Cà Phê Vợt, the coffee is brewed through a long cloth “sock” filter rather than the more familiar metal phin, producing a dark, aromatic base that can then be served as cà phê sữa đá, bạc xỉu, and more. The shop’s owner, Mrs. Tuyết, has been running the business for over 70 years and remembers when plenty of Saigon shops brewed coffee this way, but she has watched them gradually disappear. Mrs. Tuyết stayed the longest because she loves this work.
Cà phê cốt dừa, a coconut coffee drink, can be found at Cộng Cà Phê, a chain with design inspired by Vietnam’s post-war era. The drink blends coconut cream, condensed milk, and ice into a thick frozen base that’s paired with strong Vietnamese coffee and topped with toasted coconut. Vietnamese pour-over, made with specialty arabica grown in high-altitude regions, can be found at Sipply Coffee, a new-wave micro-roastery with two locations in District 1.
Cold-brew citrus punch, a refreshing drink that amps up cold brew with pineapple and lemon juice, can be found at Every Half Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee shop that works with locally grown arabica, fine robusta, and even liberica. Yogurt coffee, a combination of coffee and yogurt that works surprisingly well, can be found at Hoff Specialty Coffee, a contemporary café in District 3 that layers locally grown Lâm Hà robusta over fresh yogurt and finishes with toasted coconut flakes.
Tamarind cold brew, a drink that pairs Ethiopian cold brew with a housemade tamarind foam and a touch of pineapple, can be found at The Hummingbird Café & Roastery, a café in District 3 that looks to local palates for ideas. The drink is a clear example of how Saigon’s new generation of cafés is experimenting with local ingredients and flavors to create unique and delicious coffee drinks.
Cultural Exchange Influences
One of the key factors contributing to the growth of Vietnam’s coffee culture is the country’s history of cultural exchange and adaptation, which has allowed it to absorb and transform external influences into something distinctly Vietnamese. This process of cultural exchange has resulted in a diverse coffee culture that reflects the country’s complex history and geography.
Vietnamese coffee drinks, such as cà phê sữa đá and bạc xỉu, can be found at various cafes throughout Saigon, including Highlands Coffee and Lacàph Coffee Bar, with the former offering a traditional version of the drink and the latter providing a more modern take on the classic recipe, using premium Vietnamese beans and a microfilter phin.
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As the Vietnamese coffee scene continues to evolve, new and innovative drinks are being introduced to the market. One such drink is the cà phê bơ, a butter coffee that originated in the north of Vietnam. This rich and creamy drink is made with whipped butter, sugar, and coffee, creating a unique and delicious flavor profile. Another drink that is gaining popularity is the cà phê dừa, a coconut coffee that combines the flavors of coconut and coffee to create a refreshing and creamy drink.
New Wave Coffee Shops
New Wave Coffee Shops
New wave coffee shops are popping up all over Saigon, offering a wide range of specialty coffee drinks and unique brewing methods. These shops are often designed with a modern and sleek aesthetic, providing a comfortable and trendy space for coffee lovers to gather and enjoy their favorite drinks. One such shop is the Shin Coffee, which offers a variety of specialty coffee drinks, including a signature drink made with coffee, coconut, and condensed milk. Another shop is the Coffee Inn, which features a cozy and intimate atmosphere, perfect for relaxing and enjoying a cup of coffee.
The growth of the Vietnamese coffee industry has also led to an increase in coffee-related events and festivals. The annual Vietnam Coffee Festival, held in the city of Đà Lạt, celebrates the country’s coffee culture and features a range of activities, including coffee tastings, brewing competitions, and live music performances. The festival provides a platform for coffee farmers, roasters, and baristas to showcase their products and share their knowledge and expertise with coffee enthusiasts from around the world.
In addition to the festivals and events, the Vietnamese government has also launched initiatives to support the coffee industry, including programs to improve coffee quality, increase production, and promote Vietnamese coffee globally. These efforts have helped to establish Vietnam as a major player in the global coffee market, with Vietnamese coffee being exported to countries around the world. The country’s coffee industry is expected to continue growing, with new technologies, techniques, and innovations being introduced to improve coffee production and quality.
The Vietnamese coffee industry will continue to thrive, driven by the country’s rich coffee culture and the creativity of its coffee shops and roasters.
