The coffee culture in Vietnam and how you can experience it
At the beginning of the 1900s, coffee was virtually non-existent in Vietnam. Today, the situation is completely different. The country has become the world’s second-largest exporter of coffee beans, and coffee has also become an integral part of Vietnamese culture.
This text is translated using AI.
View the original article here.I, who am to put it mildly very fond of coffee and café visits, have no trouble enjoying myself in Hoi An.
Coffee was introduced during the French colonial rule, but it was only after the Vietnam War that production really took off.
After the war, the authorities made a major push to cultivate coffee in order to strengthen the economy, and in a short time coffee developed into one of the country’s most important export goods.
Even though it was the French who brought coffee to Vietnam, the drink no longer resembles what you’re served in cafés in France.
The Vietnamese have developed their own style, both in terms of preparation and taste. Traditionally, the coffee is brewed with a small metal filter, called a phin-filter, which is placed directly over the cup it will be drunk from.
Together with robusta beans, this method produces a more intense and full-bodied coffee than the one made from the arabica beans usually used in Europe. It is often mixed with sweetened condensed milk, which balances the flavor.
In addition, there are many other creative coffee variations such as egg coffee, salted coffee, and coconut coffee.
These are often quite sweet and almost reminiscent of desserts. So it’s something completely different from the coffee I’m used to. I still like it a lot, and I can already tell it’s something I’m going to miss when I’m back in Norway.
Coffee is an important part of everyday life for many Vietnamese people. It’s not necessarily about the drink itself, but about everything that comes with it.
It’s an opportunity to go to a café, which for many serves as an extension of the home and a natural meeting place.
You’ll find open cafés whether it’s morning or evening, and there really isn’t any “wrong” time to stop by.
Coffee is cheap, especially compared to Norwegian prices. That makes it easy for almost everyone to take part in the coffee culture.
The habit of going to cafés a lot has led to an unusually high number of cafés in Vietnamese cities, including here in Hoi An. I really enjoy trying new places and appreciate the wide selection.
Some cafés I can recommend are Good eats, Piatti café, Rosie café, Goodpages, La Quinn Bakery, Lagome, Tropical, Nourish and Rivia café. Here you’ll find not only Vietnamese coffee, but also lots of great food.
In addition, these are nice premises, with Wi‑Fi and power outlets. They’re places where you feel like staying for a long time, whether it’s to chat with friends, read a book, or get some schoolwork done.
Going to a café has become one of the highlights of everyday life in Hoi An. It is both a social activity and a place where you can withdraw for a break during the day. At the same time, it is of course an opportunity to enjoy one of the many varieties of Vietnamese coffee.
In other words, it’s easy to understand why coffee has taken such a central place in Vietnamese culture.
Sources:
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/vietnam-coffee-culture
- https://heritage-line.com/magazine/the-history-of-vietnamese-coffee-and-how-to-brew-your-own/
