The New York Times recently suggested ideal destinations for tourists to enjoy traditional coffee and other coffee specialties in Vietnam. According to the newspaper, besides Brazil, no country produces more coffee than Vietnam.
Cheo Leo Coffee in District 3 is a favorite among locals, who traditionally drink their coffee with a little sweetened condensed milk. Photo: Justin Mott/The New York Times.
Vietnam's coffee industry is now a $3 billion business, accounting for about 15% of the global market, making Vietnam the coffee "giant" of Southeast Asia.
However, quality has only recently started to catch up with quantity, largely due to Vietnamese farmers increasing the weight of Robusta beans that are popular with coffee enthusiasts.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is a favorite destination for coffee lovers.
Thanks to the direct supply from farm to store, the coffee retail business is thriving in this Southeast Asian country. A growing number of roasters and specialty coffee shops are popping up on the streets, between the supermarkets and shops on trendy Dong Khoi Boulevard and in the high-rise tower blocks of District 2.
Cheo Leo Coffee: Old and rich flavor
With the distinctive bitterness and caffeine content of most Robusta beans, the baristas at the shop will soften the coffee with a little sweetened condensed milk. If you want to start experiencing this traditional coffee shop, you can come here to experience.
Enjoying coffee and listening to lyrical Vietnamese music is a specialty here. The author describes: the baristas are women working under a single light bulb in a small kitchen, filling hand-held cloth meshes with a blend of Robusta and Arabica coffee to grind, then passing them through pots of boiling water heated by coal.
This coffee shop has been around since 1938 in Ban Co area (District 3), and is still a popular destination for those who crave the atmosphere of old Saigon. Ms. Nguyen Thi Suong, daughter of Mr. Vinh Ngo, shared: "The tap water is left in the tank for about 3 days to let the smell of disinfectant evaporate before being used to make coffee."
Lacaph Coffee
Making coffee at Lacaph. Photo: Justin Mott/The New York Times
Sweeter concoctions await at Lacaph, a chic new cafe in District 1, just off the Ben Nghe Creek. Decorated with dark wood paneling and mood lighting, the cafe serves a variety of coffees, all brewed in a traditional Vietnamese filter. There are plenty of less sugary options, including espresso, milk coffee, and cascara – a tea-like drink made from coffee pods and cherry skins.
The main attraction, according to the author, is the exhibition space in the cafe. Decorated with posters, maps, machinery and even a vintage motorbike, the space offers knowledge about the country’s regional history, coffee beans, cultivation methods and coffee production techniques.
96B Coffee
A small group of American tourists learn how to make traditional egg coffee at one of 96B's coffee shops. Photo: Justin Mott /The New York Times
Heading to Tan Dinh district, 96B Cafe offers hands-on coffee-making workshops – from roasting to latte art. Coffee enthusiasts can take two courses that teach the art of brewing coffee like a pro, from understanding acidity to assessing sweetness.
96B's mission isn't purely academic, the cafe also serves five hand-brewed Vietnamese coffees – complete with tasting notes and individual pots – and other experimental drinks like the Solar Cold Brew – a blend of chilled coffee, ginger syrup, ginger jam, lemon cordial and rosemary.
Vet Coffee: The "never-sleep" coffee shop
Ca Phe Vot operates from a small shop on the ground floor, serving a variety of traditional Vietnamese coffees. Photo: Justin Mott/The New York Times
If you are a heavy caffeine addict, you are not alone in Ho Chi Minh City as a small coffee shop is open all night to meet the needs of tourists. Called Ca Phe Cua Vet, the small space located in an alley on Phan Dinh Phung Street greets the new day with the fragrant aroma of coffee.
The shop has been open since the 1950s. Due to the high demand from tourists, the cafe serves more than 500 cups a day. The taste of filter coffee is very interesting to both locals and tourists because this is one of the oldest cafes in the city and is especially delicious, brewed with a very special tool - a filter. The owner of this cafe is Mrs. Tuyet who sells coffee every day.
The way to prepare this drink is very simple but also very special. First, dip the filter into boiling water with enough coffee powder, pour boiling water and let the coffee bloom… finally, filter the coffee in an aluminum cup to get a smooth, fragrant black product.
This cafe is crowded not only because the coffee is brewed with a racket but also because of the flavor of the drink./.
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