Coffee in Vietnam: 3 Regional Blends with Rich Stories

Foreign tourists have probably heard of Coffee in Vietnam, simply because this country ranks second in the world in terms of annual coffee export output. And it is no surprise that the coffee culture in Vietnam can be so rich.

From the sidewalk cafes opposite the Notre Dame Cathedral (Ho Chi Minh City) that cannot be called cafes because they do not have a specific address, a common shelf like the shops we often see, simply square pieces of canvas are handed to customers when their motorbikes stop on the sidewalk and then, from any corner, cups of black iced coffee or iced milk coffee typical of Saigon are brought to the drinkers. Up to the famous old cafes in Hanoi with names that are too familiar to the people of the capital such as Lam cafe, Nhan cafe, Giang cafe, Tho cafe...

In recent years, coffee culture in Vietnam has undergone profound changes following the flow of the coffee wave that is rapidly spreading globally. The third wave of coffee as it is now focuses on more complex sensory points and emphasizes the relationship between coffee beans and the coffee growing region, with factors such as geographical location, soil, water source... to create coffee-based drinks with a more wonderful, deeper flavor for the drinker.

View More: What is special about Vietnamese coffee?

Specialty coffee names can be easily found in big cities in Vietnam such as Bosgaurus, Red door, The Yellow Cup (HCMC), Soul, Acid8, Loi's (Hanoi), XLIII, O2o First Roast, Àla (Da Nang) and now even in small cities, there are specialty coffee shops with their own personalities and stories, for coffee lovers all over Vietnam as well as other countries to find, such as Son Pacamara, The Married Beans, Tay Nam (Da Lat), Tan., Nha Quin, Hue Cafe Roastery (Hue), Espresso Station, Hoi An Roastery, Mia Coffee (Hoi An), Guru, Nora, Anh (Nha Trang)...

Although with a diverse picture of coffee shops as well as the coffee enjoyment of locals and tourists, each region in Vietnam is also the place where very special and unique coffee drinks are produced, carrying the telling story of both historical and social change. Let's explore some typical drinks:

1. Egg Coffee (Hanoi)

It would be hard to say you have been to Hanoi without trying egg coffee. This drink was born in the 1940s, when the North was short of milk. This can also be seen that coffee and milk coffee (coffee au lait) were introduced to Vietnam with the French a long time ago, creating a coffee drinking habit of the Vietnamese people at that time.

To make this drink, raw egg yolks will be beaten with condensed milk until they are smooth and white. The strong hot brewed coffee is poured into the cup, and the egg cream mixture will be poured on top, and finally a little cocoa powder will be sprinkled on top for decoration.

When enjoying, the drinker can stir well to mix the strong coffee layer below with the smooth egg cream layer above, both to reduce the sweetness of the egg cream layer and to avoid being "shocked" by the amount of strong black coffee below. Or the drinker can also use a spoon to enjoy the smooth and rich egg cream layer on top, then enjoy the coffee below.

However, this drink should really be consumed while it is still hot, no matter how you enjoy it. When it is cold, the drinker will easily feel the distinct flavor of the egg, making the drink more difficult to perceive. This drink is best enjoyed when it is just brought to the table and still warm, whether it is summer or winter.

2. Salt Coffee (Hue)

If egg coffee was invented in Hanoi by a former chef at a famous 5-star hotel in the capital in 1946, salt coffee was only introduced in 2010 by a couple from Hue in the ancient capital. Just like sugar or milk, the use of salt when added to coffee can reduce the bitterness of this drink.

The ingredients of a cup of salt coffee include strong brewed coffee, combined with condensed milk, creamy milk and a little salt. When enjoying, the drinker sips the coffee with a slightly bitter taste at first, then immediately feels the sweetness and then the richness of the cream and a little saltiness on the tip of the tongue. All of those flavors blend in the faint aroma of coffee until the last sip.

Just like egg coffee in Hanoi, salt coffee in Hue is still sold by the owner's family who invented the drink, with all the culinary sophistication to refine the elegant, refined, creative drink while still retaining the original coffee flavor.

3. Bac Xiu (Saigon) - Coffee in Vietnam

Bac Xiu (or Bac Siu) is definitely a symbol of Saigon drinks. The two words Bac - Xiu originate from Chinese language, an abbreviation of Bac Tay Xiu Phe (White Milk with a Little Coffee). This drink was born in the 1950s-1960s in the Chinese community in Saigon, a drink that blends all three culinary cultures: French - Vietnamese - Chinese. The French brought coffee to Vietnam, the Vietnamese added condensed milk to reduce the bitterness of the coffee, and the Chinese added a lot of condensed milk to reduce the bitterness, creating a drink that can serve even those who cannot get used to the original bitterness of coffee.

Bac Xiu can be brewed hot or iced, each way of brewing brings the same enjoyment. To make it hot, condensed milk will be put into the cup first, followed by fresh milk that has been frothed and finally a little hot coffee will be poured on top to create color and aroma. To make it cold, condensed milk will be stirred with ice cubes, then a sufficient amount of fresh milk will be poured to cover the ice cubes in the cup and finally the concentrated coffee that has been frothed will be poured on top.

All three types of drinks are now very popular throughout Vietnam, each coffee shop, each region, can have different ways of making and adding a few different ingredients to create a difference for the shop. Right at Bason Cafe in the lobby of The Myst Dong Khoi Hotel, Silverland Ben Thanh Hotel and Silverland May Hotel in our hotel chains, you can also order these drinks to feel and enjoy the diversity of a Western drink that when introduced to Vietnam has been invented in many styles without losing the original essence of the cup of coffee.