It is often said that pho (beef or chicken noodle soup) is the fuel that keeps the Vietnamese running. But with the late night karaoke sessions and the early morning starts for work, a close contender would have to be Vietnamese coffee. Very thick and strong, the coffee is traditionally served in small cups and dripping from a silver percolator.
The coffee is primarily served with or without sua (condensed milk) and with or without ice. The four most common varieties are listed below.
Café den – hot black coffee
Café sua – hot coffee with milk (pictured above)
Café den da – black coffee served with ice
Café sua da – black coffee with milk and ice.
If you would like more condensed milk, order a café sua Saigon, which is a supersized café sua da, served in a taller glass with more coffee and more condensed milk.
Most coffee shops can be found occupied throughout the day and extremely busy at night where young people and families will go to enjoy a drink and some music.
One of the most traditional places to have a coffee and watch the passing parade is Café Long which is located on Le Loi Street. Here you will enjoy super cheap coffee at tiny wooden chairs and tables. This place is always busy and is the place to go for the typical Vietnamese café experience.
Beautifully decorated, Karty Coffee is a reasonably new addition to the café landscape of Danang. Located on Bach Dang, on the banks of the Han river, at night this café has spectacular views of the Han bridge. Karty coffee features an English and Vietnamese language menu and staff can speak some English.
Or if chain store coffee is more to your liking, Highlands coffee is the Starbucks of Vietnam. There are two locations in Danang city and they offer a range of hot and cold beverages (albeit at inflated prices). There are also snacks and sandwiches, with the Vietnamese coffee cheesecake a standout!
Café Long – Le Loi Street
Karty Coffee – 96-98 Bach Dang Street
Highlands Coffee – Ground floor, Indochina Towers, Bach Dang Street
Ground Floor, Big C Building, Hung Vuong Street