Three Vietnamese coffee drinks made it into the top 10 best drinks in Southeast Asia.

The barista decorates the egg coffee with an image of the Turtle Tower. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Vietnam continues to make a strong mark on the international culinary map, especially in Southeast Asia, as three coffee-based drinks have been honored by the renowned food website Taste Atlas in the top 10 of its list of 62 best drinks in the region.

Leading the Vietnamese beverage category is Iced Milk Coffee, ranking 3rd. Taste Atlas describes it as a harmonious combination of strong coffee, condensed milk, and ice, creating an irresistible and distinctive flavor.

The strong bitterness of the coffee is softened by the sweet and creamy taste of condensed milk, blended with the coolness of ice, creating an authentically Vietnamese experience.

Iced milk coffee. (Photo: Pham Hau/VNA)

Traditionally, iced milk coffee is made from medium or coarsely ground roasted coffee, usually Robusta, using a drip filter. The coffee is then poured over ice, mixed with condensed milk, and served in a tall glass. Nowadays, espresso versions with condensed milk also create an equally appealing flavor.

Vietnamese black coffee ranks 6th. Although it's a globally popular beverage, it's the unique Vietnamese ingredients that have earned it this distinction. Taste Atlas states that coffee was introduced to Vietnam by the French in the mid-19th century, and Vietnam quickly became one of the world's largest coffee producers, particularly leading in Robusta exports.

Robusta is the most commonly used type of coffee in Vietnamese coffee culture. This bean has a strong, bold, bitter taste, with little acidity and sometimes a slightly astringent aftertaste. The distinctive flavor of Robusta is further enhanced by the slow roasting process; some places even roast the beans with butter, sugar, or even add cocoa or vanilla. For those who appreciate a pure flavor, a glass of unsweetened iced black coffee is always the perfect choice.

Egg coffee, a Hanoi specialty, is a perfect blend of the rich flavor of coffee and the creamy richness of whipped egg yolks, making it a truly captivating drink for tourists visiting the capital city. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Egg coffee, a renowned Hanoi beverage, made it into the top 10. Egg coffee is described as a sweet, rich drink combining Robusta coffee with a smooth cream made from whipped egg yolks and condensed milk. The egg mixture is whipped for about 10 minutes and then heated until smooth and creamy, creating its characteristic foam.

Traditionally, coffee is dripped through a filter and then poured over a layer of whipped egg. This drink originated in the 1950s and remains an icon of Hanoi cuisine to this day.

Besides the top 10, many other Vietnamese drinks continue to make their mark at high positions such as Lotus tea (12), Iced yogurt (23), Apple wine (26), Rice wine (29), Purple sticky rice wine (31)

Many other unique coffee drinks, such as salted coffee and coconut coffee, also made it onto the ranking, showcasing the diversity and creativity of Vietnamese beverage culture.

Ranked number 1 on the list of 62 best drinks in the region is Thai red milk tea; second place goes to Ipoh white coffee from Malaysia.

Over the years, Vietnamese coffee has consistently been honored and praised in a number of prestigious international publications.

Previously, in 2023, Taste Alas also ranked Vietnamese iced milk coffee second in its top 10 most highly rated coffee drinks in the world.

In 2022, the Canadian travel magazine The Travel listed the countries with the best coffee in the world, with Vietnamese coffee being mentioned first.

In 2020, in a CNN article titled "Why the world is waking up to Vietnamese coffee," Vietnamese coffee was introduced as a popular beverage with many different brewing methods.

The New York Times also published an article titled "In Vietnam, Coffee Culture Brims With New Energy" ("In Vietnam, coffee culture is brimming with new energy") in March 2020 assessed that Vietnamese coffee is becoming a national brand with diverse and unique flavors.

Moreover, Vietnamese filter coffee and iced milk coffee are distinctive beverages that international politicians and heads of state, such as US President Obama, and world-famous celebrities, have always praised and eagerly anticipated when visiting Vietnam.

Coffee harvesting in Dak Lak. (Photo: Vu Sinh/VNA)

Coffee was introduced to Vietnam in 1857 by French missionaries who brought it and experimented with planting Arabica in the North (Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa), but without success. It was then brought to the Central Highlands (Dak Lak) and thrived thanks to the ideal climate and soil, especially the Robusta variety, transforming Vietnam into a world coffee exporting powerhouse.

Currently, coffee has become one of the key and strategic industrial crops, with an area of approximately 680,000 hectares spread throughout the country.

Despite being an imported beverage, Vietnamese coffee has, over time, developed its own unique style, creating a distinct difference from European styles.

This distinctive flavor comes from the diversity of coffee varieties, soil characteristics, climate, rainfall, sunlight, and even the altitude at which the plants grow. Currently, Vietnamese coffee is used to create many rich and unique beverages with captivating aromas, most notably the Robusta from Buon Ma Thuot – a dark-roasted, slightly acidic coffee with a rich, full-bodied texture and intense flavor.

It is this rich, robust Robusta coffee that has played a crucial role in bringing Vietnamese coffee to the world stage.

In recent years, Vietnam has emerged as one of the leading coffee exporting countries, with impressive growth figures.

Cumulatively from the beginning of the year to November 15, 2025, coffee exports reached nearly 1.35 million tons, worth 7.64 billion USD - an increase of 14.6% in volume and 62.3% in value compared to the same period in 2024.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ba-mon-caphe-viet-nam-lot-top-10-do-uong-ngon-nhat-khu-vuc-dong-nam-a-post1081503.vnp