Coffee Culture in Vietnam is a Vibe!

My two favourite places in the world, to enjoy a perfect cup of coffee, are Italy and Australia. Both have unique styles of creating the perfect cup of java. When I came here, I was not expecting to find a rival. But that I did. The coffee culture in Vietnam is a Vibe!

Da Nang

I began my coffee experience in Da Nang. From the very first Grab I took from the airport, the driver told me he loved coffee and one of his favourite things to do was sit at coffee shops. I thought this was a little strange, until I began walking the streets the next day.

There is a whole vibe here, of coffee and shops. I pass them so frequently when out and about and each one tries to entice the passer by with a unique and eclectic décor.

One thing most have in common though is the strong and robust Vietnamese coffee bean mixture. Made from a combination of arabica and robusta beans, this delicious coffee is thick, rich and nutty. I cannot get enough. My favourite brew is the Ca Phe Saigon, either iced or piping hot.

Hoi An

Another city I enjoyed coffee in was that of Hoi An specifically old town. One thing I discovered with Vietnamese coffee, is the locals like it sweet! Usually accompanied with thick gooey condensed milk, it can have an overwhelming sugary element for sure.

I enjoyed a beautiful cup of tea whist in Hoi An as well. The Reaching Out Tea house is run by the hearing impaired. It is a completely silent space. Visitors are provided a menu and any needs can be stamped onto a piece of paper to present to the staff. The tea and biscuits here are divine.

Hue City

By this point in the trip, coffee has become a necessity each day. I usually don’t indulge in coffee shops during the day, as it can quickly eat into my budget. But here in Vietnam, not only is the coffee incredible, but the prices are really affordable as well.

My cup of Saigon is usually around 20-40k dong or $1.10-$2.20 CAD. The price fluctuates with how vibey and popular the place is. Of course, the tourist locations are going to be more expensive and I avoid these like the plague.

Choosing a Cafe

When choosing a coffee shop, because there are so many, I look for one that is nearly full of people, some of which are women, and mostly made up of locals. This has never steered me wrong.

Two things I love about the coffee vibe here are most places are using glassware, real glassware, not single use plastic. There are of course places with plastic cups, but these seem to be used in the ultra trendy places and chain café’s that are crammed full of young Vietnamese people.

The second interesting thing is each time one orders a coffee, a cup of tea will come as an accompaniment! How lovely, usually it is not hot but luke warm, and can be so weak as to have almost no taste. Other times you get a fully flavoured delicious simple cup of clear tea.

I must say, I am completely in love with the coffee culture here in Vietnam. It is something I was not expecting to discover and will dearly miss when I leave.