Vietnam is an enchanting country not only with its street food but also with its beverages, each sip telling a story. An iced tea handed to you when the heat becomes overwhelming, a steaming strong coffee in the early morning hours, or a refreshing smoothie made with a tropical fruit… Vietnam’s drink culture offers a perfect blend of traditional recipes and modern interpretations. In this article, we will explore Traditional Vietnamese Drinks that will appeal to both your taste buds and your visual senses. Are you ready?
1. Cà Phê Sữa – Iced Milk Coffee
This iconic coffee, a staple of Vietnamese mornings, is brewed with strong robusta beans and mixed with condensed milk. When served with ice, the resulting flavor both wakes you up and offers a sweet delight. Affordable, practical, and easy to find on every corner, it has become one of the most consumed drinks in the country. If you say “Cà Phê Sữa,” every Vietnamese will understand what you mean, but if not, just say “Milk Coffee” and they’ll bring it. Sitting on a plastic chair on the street and sipping this coffee is the essence of the Vietnam experience! But be warned—it may taste a bit intense and strong at first.
Flavor Profile:
Intense coffee aroma, caramel-like sweetness, a bold body softened with velvety milk.
Ingredients:
- Vietnamese coffee (primarily robusta)
- Condensed milk
- Ice
- Phin – Vietnamese coffee filter (traditional method)
2. Cà Phê Trứng – Egg Coffee
When I walked into a café in Phu Quoc and saw “egg coffee” on the menu, I hesitated for a moment. Egg and coffee? But then I ordered it. A yellowish foam like cream on top, intense coffee underneath. It was so light that it felt like a dessert. It really had a touch of tiramisu.
Flavor Profile:
Sweet, creamy, slightly vanilla-like, and balanced with the strong aroma of coffee.
Ingredients:
- Egg yolk
- Sugar
- Condensed milk
- Vietnamese coffee (brewed)
- (optional) Vanilla, cinnamon
3. Trà Sữa – Milk Tea (Bubble Tea)
While looking at the menu in a bubble tea chain in Ho Chi Minh, I got completely lost. Should I get taro or matcha? They even had cheese foam! In the end, I chose taro, and as I sipped that cold, slightly sweet, purple drink, I felt like I was in a TikTok video. Fun, refreshing, and full of chewy little pearls!
Flavor Profile:
Sweet, tea-flavored, balanced with milk, fruity or nutty notes. A chewy texture from the soft tapioca pearls.
Ingredients (for the basic recipe):
- Black/green tea
- Milk or milk powder
- Sugar
- Tapioca pearls
- (Optional) Taro powder, matcha, fruit jelly, cheese cream
Also:
The round, black, jelly-like balls typically found in bubble tea are called tapioca pearls. These:
Are made from starch extracted from the cassava root
Are softened by boiling and usually sweetened with brown sugar
Offer a sweet and chewy texture when consumed
📌 But! Bubble tea doesn’t have to contain only tapioca. In different versions, you may also find:
- Popping boba (juice-filled balls that burst in the mouth)
- Aloe vera pieces
- Fruit jellies (soft textures in cube or strip form)
- Red beans (lightly sweetened, soft beans)
- Grass jelly (black-colored, slightly bitter herbal flavor)
- Rice jelly
So, the classic version includes tapioca, but modern bubble tea menus often feature a wide variety of creative ingredients.
4. Trà Đá – Iced Tea
If you sit down at any café or restaurant and a glass of iced tea is placed in front of you, know that you’re in Vietnam. It’s free but refreshing. Sometimes it has a light jasmine aroma. It especially refreshes the palate when eating pho (Vietnamese noodle soup). When I first came to Vietnam, I judged the taste—but you get used to it 🙂
Flavor Profile:
Light, refreshing, grassy green tea aroma.
Ingredients:
- Green tea leaves
- Water
- Ice
5. Sinh Tố – Tropical Smoothies
My favorite is definitely banana! Made with fresh fruit, lots of ice, and milk, this drink is the ultimate summer savior. With tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, and jackfruit, the options are endless.
Flavor Profile:
Intense fruit flavor, creamy texture with milk, refreshing with ice.
Ingredients:
- Fresh fruit (mango, avocado, strawberry, etc.)
- Condensed milk or milk
- Ice
- (optional) Sugar or honey
6. Nước Dừa – Coconut Juice (Fresh Coconut Water)
I’ll never forget the moment I sat on a beach holding a coconut with a plastic straw. Nothing added, like a gift from nature. It’s both refreshing and energizing. Still, if you ask me whether I liked the taste, I can’t say I truly did. I’ve been living in Asia for a long time and still haven’t gotten used to it. If you don’t like this, you can also try “Coconut Coffee.”
Flavor Profile:
Slightly sweet, light, coconut aroma, natural mineral taste.
Ingredients:
- Fresh young coconut
- (optional) Ice
7. Rượu Nếp – Rice Wine
I was offered this at a village festival. It was served in tiny glasses and instantly turned my face red! Slightly sweet, but with a striking aroma. After a few sips, it leaves a warm smile on your face.
Flavor Profile:
Sweetness from fermented rice, mild alcoholic burn, full-bodied.
Ingredients:
- Glutinous rice
- Fermentation yeast
- Water
- (Sometimes sweetener)
8. Sâm Lạnh – Cold Herbal Tea
One day while walking on the street, an old lady handed me this dark brown drink. It was herbal tea. Cold and felt medicinal. Different, but once you get used to it, it becomes addictive.
Flavor Profile:
Herbal, mildly sweet, healing notes, refreshing.
Ingredients:
- Licorice root
- Laksa leaves
- Dried corn silk
- Lotus seeds
- Goji berry (optional)
9. Nước Mía – Sugarcane Juice
I tried this drink for the first time in Saigon. The creaky sound of the sugarcane press combined with the aroma of freshly cut orange peel… icy cold, sweet, and invigorating! Thanks to its natural sugar content, it gives a quick energy boost and is also rich in electrolytes and antioxidants.
Flavor Profile:
Sweet but natural, light citrus notes, enhanced aroma with orange peel.
Ingredients:
- Fresh sugarcane
- Lime or orange peel
- Ice
10. Sữa Ngô – Corn Milk
A warm cup handed to me at the morning market: corn milk! It was so smooth and sweet that it almost served as breakfast.
Flavor Profile:
Natural sweetness from corn, soft and creamy touch with milk.
Ingredients:
- Sweet corn
- Milk or coconut milk
- Sugar
- (optional) Vanilla
11. Sâm Dứa – Pandan and Ginseng Flavored Green Tea
Sâm dứa is green tea flavored with pandan leaf and ginseng. It’s a lightly sweet, herbal, and exotic beverage. The vanilla-like scent of pandan and the mildly bitter aroma of ginseng create a perfect harmony.
Flavor Profile:
Lightly sweet, herbal, vanilla-scented, refreshing with a healing feel.
Ingredients:
- Green tea
- Pandan leaf flavor
- Ginseng extract
- Sugar
- Ice
12. Trà Vải – Lychee Iced Tea
I saw this drink on a café menu and decided to try it—it was a true tropical escape! I never imagined tea would pair so well with fresh lychee. Served ice-cold, this tea is perfect especially for summer evenings.
Flavor Profile:
Sweet and aromatic, fruity lightness balanced with tea, refreshing aftertaste.
Ingredients:
- Black or green tea
- Fresh or canned lychee
- Ice
- (optional) Sugar syrup or honey
13. Trà Sữa Khoai Môn – Taro Milk Tea
The first time I saw it, I fell in love with its color: those pastel purple tones were almost too beautiful to drink! When taro’s mildly nutty, vanilla-like flavor blends with milk, it creates a sweet yet subtle harmony. This drink, appealing to both the eyes and the palate, became one of my favorites.
Flavor Profile:
Creamy, mildly sweet, nutty earthy undertones, balanced with a hint of vanilla aroma.
Ingredients:
- Taro powder (or boiled taro purée)
- Milk or milk powder
- Black tea (optional)
- Sugar
- Ice
- Tapioca pearls (optional)
14. Trà Sữa Matcha – Matcha Milk Tea
As a green tea lover, I wasn’t surprised to come across matcha milk tea in Vietnam, but the quality impressed me. The earthy, slightly bitter taste of matcha softens when combined with milk, creating a drink that is both calming and energizing. Still, no matter how much it was softened, it still tasted bitter to me. The earthy texture also bothered me. Maybe you’ll like it. While you’re at it, don’t forget to try a “Matcha Latte” too—that one is one of my favorites. It has a milder taste compared to matcha tea.
Flavor Profile:
Earthy tones, slightly bitter but balanced with milk, refreshing and smooth to drink.
Ingredients:
- Matcha powder (Japanese green tea powder)
- Milk or milk powder
- Sugar
- Ice
- Tapioca pearls (optional)
15. Cà Phê Muối – Salt Coffee
I have to admit, the idea of adding salt to coffee sounded a bit strange when I first heard it. In Turkey, salt in coffee is only known as a symbolic “patience test” for grooms during traditional engagement ceremonies. 😄 But when I tried it at a café in the city of Hue, I was met with a completely different flavor experience. Slightly salty, slightly sweet, milky, and frothy—this drink offers a much softer and more balanced taste than classic coffee. The salt tones down the bitterness of the coffee; when combined with milk, it creates a tiramisu-like flavor. There’s also a “Matcha Latte Cream Salt” version—definitely worth trying too.
Flavor Profile:
A perfect balance between sweet and salty, creamy texture, the harshness of coffee fades away. With light caramel-like undertones, it’s an ideal choice for those who love both sweet and salty flavors.
Ingredients:
- Vietnamese coffee (usually robusta)
- Condensed milk
- Cream or milk foam
- A small amount of salt
- Ice (for the cold version)
16. Nước Ổi Cóc – Guava & Ambarella Mixed Fruit Juice
On a hot day in Vietnam, while searching for an icy fruit juice, I came across a sign that said “nước ổi cóc.” This tropical blend of guava and ambarella (cóc) was an explosion of energy with its sweet and sour flavors. The rich, smooth taste of guava combined with the tart freshness of ambarella created a refreshing and balanced drink. Not only is it cooling, but it’s also rich in vitamin C. I can honestly say I fell in love from the very first sip. The flavor is so unique—it tastes like nothing else.
Flavor Profile:
A balanced mix of sweet and sour. Guava’s rich, smooth fruitiness is brightened by ambarella’s lemony, slightly astringent flavor. Refreshing, revitalizing, and with a hint of tropical character.
Ingredients:
- Fresh guava (green or pink)
- Fresh ambarella (cóc)
- Sugar or honey (optional)
- Lime juice (to balance flavor)
- Ice
- Water or coconut water (in some recipes)
💡 Note: On Vietnam’s street stalls, it’s typically freshly pressed and served in a plastic cup with lots of ice. Some versions include salt or dried plum powder (muối tôm).
Bonus Tip: Favorite Drink Spots in Vietnam
In Vietnam, experiencing drinks at street stalls—not just chain cafés—is the key to truly living the local culture. Here are my personal favorites:
- Giảng Cafe (Hanoi): The birthplace of egg coffee
- Tocotoco / The Alley: Modern bubble tea options
- Bùi Viện Street (Ho Chi Minh): Nightlife + street drink stalls
- Ben Thanh Market: Fresh fruit juices and sinh tố (smoothies)
- Coastal towns (Nha Trang, Da Nang): Coconut water and sugarcane juice
Vietnam’s drinks don’t just quench your thirst—they pull you into the heart of the culture. Whether it’s a sugarcane juice from a street vendor or an egg coffee sipped in an old café, each becomes a memory.
💬 So, what about you?
Which of these coffee varieties would you like to try—or have you tried already? Don’t forget to share with us on our social media accounts 🍹😊