The exhibition that taught me about coffee culture in Vietnam

They say “Coffee is Vietnam!”

Throughout the history of this vibrant country, the growing and consuming of coffee have been a foundation of the culture, an escape from the daily bustle, and a morning ritual.

Recently, however, I found that there is a new world of coffee coming to the streets of Vietnam when I visited the Coffeerary Exhibition held in Ho Chi Minh City.

My expectations for the event, held at the Reunification Palace in District 1, was that it was going to be another big chain sales pitch with nothing more than what I would find down a big supermarket shopping aisle.

I could not have been more wrong.

It was the first event of its type held in the region and, while other coffee exhibitions tend to showcase dozens of local coffee brands, this was something a little different.

As I walked up the front stairs of the Reunification Palace, the wafting aroma of coffee filled the bustling forecourt. I could not wait to get my hands on a few of the coffees available to taste, and there were so many available given that every stall was handing out free coffee and other drinks.

The first coffee I tried was a blend from Ethiopia. Much milder than regular Vietnamese blends, Ethiopian coffee is said to be a drink that you can drink all day, and is at the other end of the scale to Vietnamese coffee.

Exotic coffee blends also filled the 25 or more stall holders. My second coffee was a coffee bean infused with whiskey. Whilst missing the high alcohol content of a shot of whiskey and a shot of coffee, this unique blend had a bite and aroma of a good strong whiskey with the mild refreshment of Vietnamese coffee.

As I moved through the stalls, I came across a young lady sharing a unique Mulberry wine which, as I know from cold nights back in my home country, is a perfect accompaniment to a hot black coffee after dinner. The taste of the wine was thick and soft on the pallet and took me back to my old life in Australia.

I was fortunate to meet the organiser of the event, Trang. The 24-year-old from Ho Chi Minh City clearly has a deep passion for coffee. The exhibition was Trang’s first, and she also shared that it was the first time the iconic Reunification Palace had been used for such an event.

By far my favourite coffees were the ones from Kon Tum, Khe Sanh, and Da Lat.

One small business from the region focuses on bringing local blends of coffee to Vietnamese consumers. Against the Ethiopian coffee, I was taken aback by the raw beauty and flavor of the Khe Sanh blend that tasted.

As I sat and talked to Trang about the exhibition, I was impressed with the number of expats taking the opportunity to experience this event. All the stall holders spoke English and it was easy to see that expats were taking in the experience of learning a little more about local and international coffees.

But then I realised that this was an exhibition that was about more than just coffee. This was an opportunity for young Vietnamese entrepreneurs to take their products to new markets, including expat markets, as much as it was bringing international flavors to Vietnam. It was a truly uplifting experience.

Alongside the coffee exhibition was a two-day competition that showcased some of the best coffees and baristas in the region. It was fabulous to see so many young and enthusiastic baristas present their secrets to making the perfect coffee, and doing so in English.

Coffee is Vietnam’s past, from the creation of egg coffee in a time when there was no milk available, to the unique blend of sweetened condensed milk and thick rich Vietnamese coffee, it has been a constant throughout the ages and a must-try for every tourist that visits the country.

There is a special feeling you get when you order a true local coffee, ca phe phin, and sit on the sidewalk as the hot water slowly blends with the freshly ground coffee and drips into your cup. It sets an air of anxiousness as it slowly drips, making you wait and watch until all the water is blended with the coffee and is ready to drink.

Whether you brew it with sweetened milk, fresh milk, egg, coconut, or just straight black, it is always a feel-good moment. In Ho Chi Minh City, black coffee blended with ice always makes for a refreshing moment in the heat of the day, while the coolness of Da Lat beckons the warmth of the same coffee, but it is hot and comforting to a cold hand on a winter’s day.

Whilst not the number-one producer in quantity, Vietnam turns out coffee considered among the best in the world. After experiencing coffees from a range of countries at the exhibition, I walked away with a pride knowing that Vietnam does truly hold the title of the best coffee in the world.

What I learned from my visit to the coffee exhibition is that Vietnam’s love for coffee is evolving rapidly. Whilst there is still the foundation of the local flavors, young dynamic Vietnamese are opening the marketplace to tastes from around the world. They are experimenting with flavored coffees, liqueur accompaniments, and products not yet seen in the Vietnamese market.

I will always love and appreciate Vietnamese coffee, no matter where I am in the world, but I am also very excited to see an emerging market in Vietnam that is taking on the tastes of the world, and making it a little Vietnamese. I am looking forward to seeing some of the exhibitors in street stalls in the near future all over Ho Chi Minh City share new flavors and new experiences, as Ho Chi Minh City continues to grow into a world-class city.

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