{"id":2785,"date":"2020-12-29T17:46:33","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T22:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tourhero.com\/en\/magazine\/?p=2785"},"modified":"2024-08-16T08:04:18","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T12:04:18","slug":"coffee-in-vietnam-a-way-of-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tourhero.com\/en\/magazine\/gastronomy\/coffee-in-vietnam-a-way-of-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Coffee in Vietnam: A way of life!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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640Image by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu<\/a> via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coffee is everywhere in Vietnam, from busy street stalls to unassuming little cafes hidden around the corner. Discover the country’s vibrant coffee culture and explore the different drink styles that are most popular. Here’s our guide to understanding coffee in Vietnam and the nuances in the variations you’ll find across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffee culture in Vietnam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Coffee is not just a drink in Vietnam, it truly is a way of life. From as early as 4 am, you can find cafes and street vendors open, and many sell coffee well into the night. It\u2019s something of a mystery to outsiders how the locals can sip coffee at 10 pm and then go to sleep at night, but many do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drinking coffee in Vietnam is a sociable pastime and a chance for ba tam<\/em>, a Vietnamese phrase that loosely translates to “gossip”. Many cafes in Vietnam are open-air, giving a great view of the street and its various comings and goings. Coffee gives people the chance to find out what\u2019s happening in their immediate area just before they get down to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image by Thomas G.<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re new to Vietnam, the vibrancy of the early-morning coffee culture should not be missed! Make it one of your top 10 things to do when you visit the country. You may not feel like peeling yourself from your bed at 5 am, but it\u2019s the most lively part of the day. Half a coffee later, you\u2019ll never have felt more alive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnamese coffee beans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Western coffee drinkers will know the taste of coffee found in the Arabica bean, with its vaguely-nutty flavor that\u2019s mostly imported into Europe and America. You can find Arabica-blend coffee in Vietnam without too much fuss, but there\u2019s another bean here to try: the Robusta bean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robusta is the secret ingredient of Vietnam\u2019s coffee scene.<\/strong> A lot of younger local people are seeking Western-style coffee in order to try something different, but it\u2019s Robusta coffee that marks Vietnam\u2019s cuppa as something special and different from the brew you\u2019re used to back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image by Helena Coffee Vietnam<\/a> via Unsplash<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In terms of exports, Robusta beans often end up being distorted into instant coffee blends. The taste was once judged by someone somewhere to be too strong and too bitter. It\u2019s certainly punchy, and at 2.7 percent caffeine content, it\u2019s nearly double the strength of Arabica\u2019s 1.5 percent. There’s a bitterness too, but that\u2019s no bad thing. It\u2019s nothing that can\u2019t be dampened by a spoonful of sugar, if bitter isn\u2019t your bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of Robusta versus Arabica as being similar to dark chocolate versus milk chocolate, dark beer versus light beer, or red wine versus white wine. One might be easier on the palate, but the other has a greater depth of flavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there\u2019s nothing wrong with liking both. These days, many higher-end cafes will offer not only both blends but a bespoke mix of the two. Vietnamese coffee culture does indeed have something for everyone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quick history of coffee in Vietnam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When did coffee come to Vietnam?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coffee was introduced in Vietnam by the French, during the 19th century. The primary way of making coffee here \u2014 through a phin<\/em> \u2014 is also a French creation. The preference for condensed milk over regular milk is yet another French legacy. Back in the 19th century, it was much harder to carry milk over long distances without it spoiling. Condensed milk was a simple solution, and its sweetness caught on among the general population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where is coffee grown in Vietnam?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Vietnamese
Image by Trung L\u00ea<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most Vietnamese coffee beans are grown in the Central Highlands, more specifically the Da Lat region. Here, the climate differs from much of the country, given that much of the area is at a higher altitude. The combination of mountains, sunshine, rain, and good soil conditions make it good for both Robusta and Arabica beans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic styles of Vietnamese coffee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, you\u2019ve just landed in Vietnam and you\u2019re dying to try the local blend. Where to start? Well, it\u2019s handy to know that Vietnamese coffee comes in two basic styles, loosely based on geography. Bear in mind that coffee will come iced (da<\/em>) unless you ask for it hot (nong<\/em>)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Frank Mckenna<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whilst Western-style lattes and cappuccinos are on the increase, the best Vietnamese coffee is served with a phin<\/em>. This is a French-style filter, used for making drip coffee. Unless you specify, coffee here will be served with sugar, and a fair amount of it too. This does result in a fabulous-tasting blend, but it can make a drinker hit the ceiling from a caffeine and sugar high, and not come down all day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Vietnamese
Image by Nghia Nguyen<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ca phe Hanoi<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Vietnamese Society Coffee (@ro.vietnam)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>