Vietnamese coffee: what to try, how it's brewed and what to bring home
Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer and the biggest robusta exporter. Try cà phê sữa đá — iced coffee with condensed milk — Hanoi's egg coffee and Hue's salt coffee. It's brewed in a small phin filter over the cup. Take home ground robusta from Buon Ma Thuot.
Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer after Brazil and the biggest robusta exporter: over 90% of Vietnamese coffee is robusta, grown mainly in the Central Highlands around Buon Ma Thuot in Dak Lak province. The must-tries are cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk), egg coffee (cà phê trứng), invented in Hanoi in 1946, and salt coffee (cà phê muối) from Hue. Coffee is brewed in a small metal phin filter set right on the cup.
| Order | What it is | From |
|---|---|---|
| cà phê sữa đá | strong coffee with condensed milk and ice | everywhere |
| cà phê đen đá | black iced coffee | everywhere |
| bạc xỉu | more milk than coffee | the south, Saigon |
| cà phê trứng | coffee topped with whipped egg yolk and sugar | Hanoi, 1946 |
| cà phê muối | coffee with salted cream | Hue, around 2010 |
Which coffee should you try in Vietnam?
Start with cà phê sữa đá — strong robusta with condensed milk over ice, the everyday coffee served at every street café. For something milder, ask for bạc xỉu, which has more milk than coffee. Black iced coffee is cà phê đen đá. Cafés: Nha Trang cafés, Da Nang cafés, Hoi An cafés.
What is egg coffee?
Egg coffee (cà phê trứng) is strong coffee topped with egg yolk whipped with sugar — it tastes like custard. Nguyen Van Giang invented it in Hanoi in 1946 when milk was scarce, and his family's Café Giang still serves it. Today you'll find it in cafés in other cities too.
What is salt coffee?
Salt coffee (cà phê muối) is coffee with cream and a pinch of salt, which softens the bitterness. It appeared in Hue around 2010 and has since spread across the country.
How is coffee brewed in a phin?
A phin is a small metal filter placed on top of a cup or glass. Ground robusta goes in, a press lid goes on top, hot water is poured over, and the coffee drips through over a few minutes — which is why Vietnamese coffee is thick and strong. Buy a phin at the market with your coffee and you can brew it the same way at home.
What coffee should you bring home from Vietnam?
Most people take home ground robusta from Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam's "coffee capital", which has its own protected geographical indication. Well-known Vietnamese brands are Trung Nguyên from Buon Ma Thuot (its instant coffee is G7) and the Highlands Coffee chain. See what to bring back from Vietnam.
Is Vietnamese weasel coffee real?
Mostly not. "Weasel" or civet coffee (cà phê chồn) sold in Vietnam is usually ordinary coffee with flavourings, and some packs have even been found to contain roasted soybeans and corn. Where it is real, the animals are often kept in cages. Cheap market "weasel coffee" is almost certainly flavoured coffee.
When is the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival?
The festival is held every two years; the 10th edition is in March 2027.
FAQ
What is Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk called? Cà phê sữa đá (iced) or cà phê sữa nóng (hot).
Where was egg coffee invented? In Hanoi, in 1946.
Is weasel coffee in Vietnam real? Usually not — it's mostly flavoured coffee.