Originally a familiar drink in Vietnamese life, a sidewalk iced milk coffee is becoming an unforgettable experience for many international tourists when coming to Vietnam. The rich, sweet taste and simple way of enjoying it in the streets of Hanoi make many international visitors surprised and excited.
Having just arrived in Hanoi yesterday, two tourists from the United Kingdom, Kat Johnston and Dylan Smith, excitedly started their journey to explore Vietnamese cuisine, especially experiencing coffee varieties.
From the first taste, the two British guests were very impressed and quickly attracted by the rich and strong flavor of coffee blended with the characteristic mild sweetness when mixed with condensed milk.
Previously, both also tried coconut milk coffee and commented that Vietnamese coffee is not only delicious but also very diverse in flavors and processing methods. Each type brings a different and interesting taste experience that is difficult to compare.
“In England, we usually enjoy latte every morning, sometimes iced latte, sometimes hot latte. But if for comparison, I prefer iced milk coffee in Vietnam. The flavor is very harmonious with the slightly fragrant and bitter taste of coffee and the mild sweetness of condensed milk. In England, if we don't want coffee to be too bitter, we have to add sugar ourselves.
Hopefully in the coming days we will have the opportunity to discover more unique coffees here, especially egg coffee," Kat shared.
As for the two guests from Belgium, Elke and Cheft, although they had previously tasted Vietnamese coffee in Europe, the coffee in Hanoi still brought them many special impressions.
I once tried egg coffee in a Vietnamese restaurant in Belgium. At that time it was quite sweet, but the coffee here suited my taste better. With just two simple ingredients, coffee and condensed milk, it brought a wonderful blending aftertaste.
Especially with the hot weather in the middle of summer in Hanoi, enjoying a cup of coffee like this makes me feel very comfortable," Cheft expressed.
In the journey to explore many famous destinations of Vietnam, local cuisine combined with unique culinary culture promises to continue to leave deep impressions in the hearts of international visitors.
In recent years, Vietnamese coffee has been continuously honored by international media. In 2023, TasteAtlas ranked iced milk coffee in the group of best coffee drinks in the world, while CNN also recorded the rise of Vietnamese coffee culture. Previously, The Travel magazine (2022) ranked Vietnam first in coffee quality.
Coffee was introduced to Vietnam by the French in 1857, then developed strongly in the Central Highlands, especially in Dak Lak with Robusta variety. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the total coffee area in 2025 is about 718,000ha, with an output of 1.95 million tons.
