There are countries you visit because they look beautiful in photos… and then there are countries that completely surprise you in ways you never expected.
Vietnam was that kind of place for me.
As a coffee lover and someone who built a coffee brand inspired by travel, nature, and adventure, I thought I knew what to expect. Good coffee? Absolutely. But I didn’t expect coffee culture to be woven into literally every part of daily life.
Vietnam completely blew my mind.
From tiny street-side cafés with little plastic stools to specialty coffee shops serving organic robusta beans, from egg coffee to salt coffee to coconut coffee, every single day felt like discovering an entirely new coffee world.
And honestly? My coffee obsession reached new heights there.
We visited Vietnam during one of the country’s worst flood seasons in years, so between the flooded streets, tropical rainstorms, endless scooters, craft beer stops, and coffee-fueled runs through chaotic cities, the trip became one giant unforgettable adventure.
Ho Chi Minh City: Coffee, Scooters & Beautiful Chaos
The best way I can describe Ho Chi Minh City is this:
Hot. Humid. Crowded. Colorful. Smelly. Magical.
And somehow, all of it works together perfectly.
The night we arrived at The Hammock Hotel Fine Arts, after what felt like forever traveling, we were exhausted… but way too excited to sleep. So naturally, we headed straight to the rooftop.
We sat there in hammocks overlooking the city while scooters buzzed endlessly below us. It was loud, chaotic, humid, and perfect.
The first thing I noticed in Vietnam was this:
Coffee is EVERYWHERE.
Even walking into the hotel felt like entering a specialty coffee shop. Right beside the front desk sat an Appia Life espresso machine, surrounded by coffee-themed décor and quotes like “Coffee for a better morning.”
Okay Vietnam… I see you.
The next morning, we had our first proper Vietnamese phin coffee during breakfast. If you’ve never had one before, phin coffee is brewed slowly right in front of you using a small metal filter that drips directly into your glass.
It’s bold, rich, concentrated, and somehow incredibly smooth at the same time.
As runners and coffee lovers, my husband and I have a pretty chaotic but effective way of exploring places: we run from one destination to the next, usually in search of coffee shops, good food, and breweries along the way.
And Vietnam gave us PLENTY to explore.
Our first coffee stop was Tonkin Coffee Shop, a specialty coffee spot serving fine robusta beans sourced from local farms in Central Vietnam. They focus on sustainable and organic farming practices, which instantly made me love the place even more.
We ordered an egg coffee and a salt coffee — both around 69,000 Vietnamese dong (about $2.60 USD).
Egg coffee sounds strange until you try it. It’s made with egg yolk, sugar, and black coffee whipped into this creamy, dessert-like foam that somehow works unbelievably well.
And salt coffee?
I still don’t fully understand how salty coffee can taste so good, but Vietnam somehow figured it out.
The Scooter Situation
Nothing — and I mean NOTHING — could have prepared me for the traffic in Ho Chi Minh City.
I have never seen that many scooters in my life.
At every traffic light, hundreds of scooters gather together like a giant motorcycle wave waiting to be unleashed. Crossing the street feels less like following traffic laws and more like joining a real-life trust exercise.
And somehow… nobody crashes.
I honestly admire every single person confidently driving through that chaos.
Craft Beer, Sun Bears & Vietnamese Adventures
Of course, coffee wasn’t the only thing we explored.
We stopped by Heart of Darkness Brewery, which had an awesome atmosphere and seriously good craft beer. Vietnam’s craft beer scene surprised me almost as much as the coffee culture did.
We also visited the zoo, where I finally saw a sun bear for the first time — one of the endangered bears that inspired the Tropical Bear Coffee brand in the first place.
At the same time, it was bittersweet seeing such a beautiful animal inside a fenced area in the middle of a city. Hopefully, one day I’ll get to see sun bears in the wild instead.
We also checked out:
- Pasteur Street Craft Beer
- Hot Beans Coffee
- Little Hanoi Egg Coffee Shop
- 7 Bridges Brewing Co.
- Bep Me In – Mama’s Kitchen with a Twist
At Bep Me In, one of the specialties was fried frog with lemongrass and chili.
No… I did not try it. 😂
A Quick Note About Reviews in Vietnam
One thing we noticed everywhere in Vietnam: businesses REALLY want five-star reviews.
And I mean really.
People will offer discounts, freebies, or directly ask you to leave a five-star review almost everywhere you go. So if you’re someone who relies heavily on online ratings while traveling, just know they might not always be 100% accurate.
Sorry. Somebody had to say it. 😅
Flooded Streets & Going with the Flow
Because we visited during one of Vietnam’s worst flood seasons, we experienced a LOT of rain.
Flooded streets became part of daily life.
What amazed me most was how calm everybody seemed about it. The locals simply adjusted, avoided the deeper streets, hopped on scooters, and carried on with their day as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, we were trying not to step ankle-deep into mystery puddles.
Honestly, though, the rain became part of the adventure.
And despite all the chaos, I would go back to Ho Chi Minh City anytime.
Vietnam’s Coffee Culture Is on Another Level
Before visiting Vietnam, I knew it was the second-largest coffee producer in the world.
But actually experiencing Vietnamese coffee culture in person was something completely different.
Coffee in Vietnam isn’t rushed.
People sit. Talk. Slow down. Watch the streets. Coffee feels intentional there.
Vietnam is also known for its robusta beans, which often get unfairly judged in the coffee world. But after trying specialty robusta prepared properly, I realized how much potential it actually has.
Strong chocolate notes, low acidity, creamy textures — completely different from what most people expect.
Some of the Vietnamese coffees we tried included:
- Egg Coffee
- Salt Coffee
- Coconut Coffee
- Phin Coffee
- Avocado Coffee (not my favorite 😂)
- Orange Coffee
And yes… I even took a Vietnamese coffee class, so now I officially know how to make egg coffee, salt coffee, coconut coffee, and phin coffee myself.
Dangerous knowledge.
Da Nang: Rainstorms, Dragon Bridge & Coffee Classes
Our second stop was Da Nang, and almost everyone we talked to before the trip told us the same thing:
“You HAVE to go to Da Nang.”
They were right.
Da Nang felt completely different from Ho Chi Minh City. It had this amazing mix of beach vibes, culture, mountains, coffee shops, and relaxed energy.
Of course, the weather decided to keep things interesting.
We got caught in massive rainstorms, completely soaked multiple times, and at one point stood near the Dragon Bridge just in time to get blasted with fire, smoke, ash, and water from the dragon show.
Worth it.
We spent our days running around the city exploring:
- Linh Ung Pagoda
- The Marble Mountains
- local markets
- coffee shops
- breweries
- random food spots on side streets
At Linh Ung Pagoda, we saw the massive Lady Buddha statue overlooking the ocean. The views were incredible, peaceful, and one of the most beautiful spots we visited in Vietnam.
We also witnessed a monkey stealing ice cream from a kid.
Which somehow feels like a very accurate summary of traveling.
The Best Banh Mi & More Coffee Experiments
One of the best meals we had in Vietnam was a simple roadside banh mi.
Tiny plastic chairs. Quiet street. No fancy setup.
Absolutely perfect.
Some standout spots in Da Nang included:
- Aeroco Coffee
- An’s Café
- Zotopia
- 1989 Beer
- Phin Coffee Class Vietnam
And one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to anywhere:
Veteran — a Korean-style restaurant with unbelievably good service.
Seriously. If you ever go to Da Nang, go there and let me know.
Marble Mountains & Spiritual Views
One of the coolest places we explored was the Marble Mountains, a cluster of five marble and limestone hills named after the five natural elements.
The caves, temples, viewpoints, and hidden stairways made it feel like a real-life adventure movie.
It was hot, sweaty, slippery from rain… and completely worth it.
Final Thoughts: Vietnam Changed My Coffee World
Vietnam surprised me in every possible way.
The food was incredible.
The people were kind.
The coffee culture was inspiring.
The prices were unbelievably affordable.
The landscapes were beautiful.
And the energy of the country felt alive all the time.
As someone deeply connected to coffee through Tropical Bear Coffee, this trip genuinely changed how I think about coffee culture and coffee experiences.
I already know I want to come back someday — especially to explore Northern Vietnam and visit coffee farms in the countryside.
Because after experiencing Vietnam, it’s impossible not to want more.
Until next time, Vietnam…
Happy Brewing,
Erica ☕🐻
