Do you like coffee?
If so, you’ll love Vietnam.
The country’s French colonial influence helped popularize cafe culture across the entire nation.
Vietnamese coffee shops are also notable for being fun and quirky. Serving up cheap delicious brews in some interesting settings.
In this article, we’ll look at what Vietnamese coffee is like, and why the local cafes are so unique.
Ready?
Average Price Of A Coffee In Vietnam
Vietnamese people love to drink “Ca Phe Sua Da.” This is the most common type of coffee you’ll find. It’s served at every restaurant and cafe.
So what is it?
Well, Ca phe sua da is essentially iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk. It tastes delicious.
Additionally, it’s pretty cheap. Most local cafes price their iced coffee at 10,000 – 20,000 VND ($0.50 – $1.00). And upscale places usually charge a buck or two per glass.
This is a far cry from the cost of Starbucks, plus local Vietnamese coffee is a million times better.
Grabbing a ca phe sua da and reading a book is a great way to kill time. Especially during the country’s rainy season. It’s cheap entertainment, and a good way to get out of the house and do something despite the bad weather.
Also, most shops are fun and distinct.
They’ve got crazy architecture, or weird attractions (like a swimming pool or pet monkeys). This makes it fun to go exploring. Every place is unique, and you’re sure to find some oddity which catches you by surprise.
(This Is A Cafe)
Some of my favorite cafes are: A large water park themed shop with two swimming pools, a cool all glass coffee house designed to look like a flower, and a “coffee garden” with waterfalls and a jungle theme.
These are all cool, memorable places. And they beat the hell out of franchises like Starbucks.
Best Brand Of Coffee
Vietnam is famous among coffee snobs. They all know the country for its legendary Kopi luwak.
This is the world’s most expensive coffee. And a single kilo costs $600. Yikes!
I’ve actually had Kopi luwak a few times (they serve it at the fancier hotels), and it’s… okay.
Personally, I’m not a huge fan. My favorite coffee is Trung Nguyen.
This is a mainstream brand that’s very popular. And for good reason. It’s delicious, strong, and smells awesome.
Trung Nguyen is the coffee I always send relatives for Christmas. I also keep a can in my apartment and brew myself a big cup almost every morning.
How To Make Vietnamese Coffee At Home
Using a press is the best way to prepare your coffee.
In Vietnam, locals generally use a small single cup “Gravity Insert.” It’s a small filter that goes on top of your mug, preparing one serving of coffee.
These are nice (you’ll find them on Amazon for under $12), but they only prepare one cup’s worth of brew.
If you’re a serious coffee drinker, you’ll want something bigger.
I recommend the KONA French Press. You’re able to brew up to 34-ounces of coffee in it, making it perfect for aficionados.
(KONA Press)
Oftentimes, I’ll make two days worth of iced coffee in it, saving myself a lot of time in the morning.
The KONA French Press is a good tool for brewing in massive quantities, and it’s more efficient than a single serving coffee maker.
Check it out if you’re looking for a good system for brewing Vietnamese coffee.