Cups of ca phe sua da and iced tea at a café in Saigon. Photo by VnExpress/Di Vy
Canadian magazine The Travel has listed Vietnam among 10 countries with a unique coffee culture in which iced coffee with condensed milk and egg coffee are the best options.
“In Vietnam, coffee isn’t just a drink to start the day; it’s something people enjoy morning, noon, and even night,” it said.
It advised travelers to try the ca phe sua da, a ground dark roast Vietnamese-grown coffee often served with ice with condensed milk that can be found on most sidewalk coffee stalls.
A cup of ca phe sua da costs VND10,000-15,000 ($0.44-0.66).
Another unique variety is egg coffee, a Hanoi specialty.
It starts with a layer of condensed milk at the bottom over which is poured strong black coffee. A whisked egg yolk is placed on top.
It was invented in the 1940s when there was a scarcity of milk in the city, prompting a bartender to use a replacement. The alternative, whisked egg yolk, turned the coffee into one of the most renowned drinks in the country.
The list also includes Australia, Costa Rica, France, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Sweden, and Turkey.