Vietnam is already world-renowned for its cuisine, particularly street food, so it is not surprising that Vietnamese drinks are also very popular and have a culture of their own, albeit not as globally recognized as other cultural aspects. In addition to street food stands, Vietnamese markets and roadsides are also home to a variety of street side drinks carts, roadside bars, and makeshift cafes.
One cannot talk about Vietnamese's food and drink culture without mentioning Cà Phê Sữa Đá [Vietnamese Iced Milk Coffee]. Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer. Initially brought into the country in the 19th century, coffee not only quickly became a daily staple but also a cash crop. Today, Vietnam produces more than 1.73 million tons of coffee a year. While Vietnam is the world's second largest exporter of coffee, bit primarily invests in the production of Robusta coffee. Robusta coffee beans has about twice the amount of caffeine of regular coffee beans and strong taste as well as higher acidity. Authentic Vietnamese coffee is almost always drip coffee and is brewed using a Phin, which is a small cup with a filter chamber and lid to catch dripping coffee. It is then mixed with ice and condensed milk to counter the bitter and acidic taste of the brewed coffee. The drink is enjoyed throughout the day, despite its high caffeinated and sugar content, and can be found all over the country.
Another way to enjoy the bitter Robusta coffee is Cà Phê Trứng [Vietnamese Egg Coffee]. Cà Phê Trứng is made using sugar, milk, coffee, and of course, an egg. Milk and sugar are whipped with egg yolks and heated. Then coffee is poured onto the egg mixture to create a coating layer of foam. This type of coffee is primarily found in Hà Nội as it is not very popular among the southern Vietnamese population.
In addition to being one of the top producers of coffee beans, Vietnam also a producer of fresh fruits, primarily tropical fruits such as coconuts and oranges. As a result, fresh fruit juice is a staple in the Vietnamese daily life. Unlike the packaged juice in the west, however, the fruit juice sold on the roadside are made to order in that the fruit is cut and juice as needed rather than being prepackaged. A traditionally popular fresh drink, however, is nước mía (sugar cane juice) – a type of reed/grass. The stem of the reed is put through a compressor to extract the ‘sugary nectar’. The nectar is then mixed with the juice of a calamansi to make a sweet and tangy drink.
Finally, trà sữa trân châu or just trà sữa (boba tea) is a personal favorite. Although it did not originate from Vietnam, trà sữa is gaining popularity in the recent years among the younger population. The drink is a mixture of tea and fruit or milk, topped with tapioca balls (boba) or a variety of flavored jellies. The drink can be found all over the country, but most chains are primarily found in southern cities like Hồ Chí Minh cities near active night life areas and schools.
Comments
Hi Han! I enjoyed reading about Vietnamese street culture. I love Vietnamese food, especially Pho. I have also tried Vietnamese Iced Milk Coffee before and it is definitely one of the best coffees out there. I have never heard of Vietnamese Egg Coffee but I am definitely interested and will try it next time I go to the restuarant.
I’m personally not a huge coffee fan, but this description really makes me want to try the Cà Phê Trứng! The nước mía also sounds like an amazing drink! I actually saw the processor of the cane going through the compressor somewhere on social media and there was a surprisingly large amount of extract!