We knew we were going to enjoy the local cuisine on our trip to Vietnam. Toni and several travel articles we had read beforehand had already warned me about it. However, the incredible discovery we made with Vietnamese coffee took me completely by surprise.
And I can tell you right away—no, we are not coffee lovers. Those who know us well know that we are more into beer!
Although Toni had already explained to me how coffee was prepared there, I remember that on the first day I saw it, I couldn’t help but be amused by the brewing method—it reminded him so much of the “sock coffee” our grandmothers used to drink.
This method is quite simple: a cup-shaped filter is placed over the same glass from which the coffee will be drunk. The ground coffee and boiling water are added to the filter, and drop by drop, the coffee slowly drips into the glass.
One thing that caught our attention was that coffee is often served with condensed milk—a tradition dating back to the French colonial era.
When you add milk, it’s called cà phê sữa. So if, when ordering, the waiter asks you “sữa?”, don’t think they’re speaking broken English and asking if you want sugar (as we mistakenly thought at first). They’re actually asking if you want condensed milk.
If you say yes, they will serve the milk in the glass first, and the coffee will slowly drip onto it.
Vietnamese coffee has such a rich and intense flavor that it’s delicious even without milk. And if you’re feeling hot, you can order it with ice, just ask for “cà phê đá.“
After our experience in Vietnam, we developed a theory: the further away you go from tourist areas, the better the coffee. In places frequented by travelers, they often serve espresso or American coffee, and Vietnamese coffee tends to be weaker.
Do you know where we found the best coffee? At small roadside stands where drivers stop to take a break. The coffee they made there was some of the best I’ve ever tasted. And the funny thing is, many of these places have hammocks to rest in, which was absolutely perfect for us.
Another thing to remember is that in 90% of cases, when you order coffee, they will also bring you a small pot of green tea—and it’s free! The tiny, delicate teacups they serve it in are quite charming.
After this discovery, it’s no surprise that we ended up buying a few of these coffee filters and a bag of Vietnamese coffee to make it at home. When it comes to good Vietnamese coffee, Nespresso doesn’t even compare!
So, if you’re traveling to Vietnam, make sure to try it—you’ll see that we’re not exaggerating!
