What is coconut coffee and where can I get it in Hoi An?

Coconut coffee (ca phe cot dua) is espresso or strong drip coffee poured over a thick layer of sweetened coconut cream, served cold. It has become a signature drink in Hoi An. Try it at Cargo Club (107 Nguyen Thai Hoc) or Rosie's Cafe near the Japanese Covered Bridge. Expect to pay 35,000-65,000 VND ($1.40-2.60).

What does Vietnamese drip coffee cost in Hoi An?

A standard ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) brewed through a phin filter costs 20,000-35,000 VND ($0.80-1.40) at a local cafe. Specialty espresso drinks at tourist-facing cafes range from 45,000-80,000 VND ($1.80-3.20).

Are there any specialty coffee roasters in Hoi An?

Hoi An has fewer dedicated specialty roasters than Da Nang or Da Lat, but The Espresso Station (on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai) offers quality espresso with imported and local beans. Da Nang-based 43 Factory ships beans widely and some cafes use their roasts.

Can you get egg coffee in Hoi An?

Yes. Egg coffee (ca phe trung) originated in Hanoi but is now widely available throughout Vietnam. Several cafes in Hoi An's old town serve it - look for signs on Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc. A cup costs 35,000-55,000 VND ($1.40-2.20).

Hoi An Coffee | The Vietnam Guides

Hoi An’s cafe culture sits at the intersection of old-town charm and tourist infrastructure. Ancient shophouses converted into garden cafes, rooftop terraces over the Thu Bon River, and lantern-lit interior courtyards give the coffee experience here a visual quality matched by few Vietnamese cities. The coffee itself ranges from excellent to average - knowing where to go makes the difference.

The Hoi An coffee context

Hoi An is not a coffee-growing region. Unlike Da Lat (which sits inside Vietnam’s highland coffee belt) or the Central Highlands, Hoi An sources its beans from elsewhere - primarily Robusta from the Central Highlands, specialty Arabica from Da Lat and Lam Dong province, and occasional imports at higher-end cafes.

What Hoi An does exceptionally well is atmosphere. The UNESCO-listed old town - with its French colonial buildings, Japanese merchant houses, and covered bridge - provides a backdrop that makes a simple cup of coffee feel like an occasion. The river terrace cafes and courtyard spots are genuinely worth seeking out.

Standard Vietnamese coffee (ca phe sua da) is available everywhere for 20,000-35,000 VND ($0.80-1.40). Specialty espresso drinks at quality cafes run 45,000-80,000 VND ($1.80-3.20).

Coconut coffee (ca phe cot dua)

The drink most associated with Hoi An’s contemporary cafe scene. Strong espresso or very strong phin-brewed coffee is poured over a thick, cold layer of sweetened coconut cream - the result is intense, sweet, and richly textured. Best drunk immediately before the layers mix.

Coconut coffee caught on in Hoi An earlier than most central Vietnamese cities and is now a menu staple across the old town. A well-made version should have genuine coconut cream (not coconut-flavoured condensed milk - a common shortcut) and strong enough coffee to cut through the sweetness.

Where to drink it: Cargo Club (107 Nguyen Thai Hoc, overlooking the river) serves a reliable coconut coffee with good river views - 45,000-65,000 VND ($1.80-2.60). Rosie’s Cafe near the Japanese Covered Bridge is a smaller local spot with a better coffee-to-coconut ratio at 35,000-50,000 VND ($1.40-2).

Egg coffee (ca phe trung)

Hanoi’s most famous export. Whipped egg yolk, sugar, and condensed milk beaten until pale and creamy, then spooned over strong coffee. The result is extraordinarily rich - closer to a dessert than a standard coffee. Best drunk hot, sitting the cup in warm water to keep it at temperature.

Egg coffee is now found across Vietnam and Hoi An is no exception. Several cafes on Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc offer it. Quality varies considerably - the egg cream should be pale, thick, and genuinely airy rather than dense and eggy-smelling.

A cup costs 35,000-55,000 VND ($1.40-2.20) at most old town cafes.

Standard Vietnamese phin coffee

The classic. Hot water dripped through a small metal filter (phin) over ground Robusta, served with sweetened condensed milk either stirred in (ca phe sua nong, hot) or poured over ice (ca phe sua da, cold). The Robusta base means higher caffeine and more bitterness than an Arabica espresso - the condensed milk balances this.

For the most authentic phin experience in Hoi An, avoid the heavily tourist-facing cafes on An Hoi island (the peninsula across from the old town) where the coffee is often weak and overpriced. Instead, look for the small local spots on the back streets of the old town and the streets running parallel to Bach Dang riverfront.

A reliable phin coffee costs 20,000-30,000 VND ($0.80-1.20) at a local cafe.

Best cafes in Hoi An

The Espresso Station (Nguyen Thi Minh Khai): The most seriously coffee-focused option in the old town. Quality espresso, attention to extraction and temperature, and a range of single-origin options. The interior is small and fills quickly in the morning. Espresso-based drinks: 45,000-75,000 VND ($1.80-3). Best choice for specialty coffee drinkers.

Cargo Club (107 Nguyen Thai Hoc): Three-storey riverside restaurant and cafe with the best river views in the old town. The coffee is decent rather than exceptional, but the terrace seating and coconut coffee make it worth the visit. Open from 08:00. Coffees: 35,000-65,000 VND ($1.40-2.60).

Mia Coffee House (Tran Hung Dao): A quiet courtyard cafe slightly removed from the busiest tourist streets. The garden setting with plants and natural light makes it one of the more pleasant places to spend a morning. Phin coffee and basic espresso drinks. Coffees: 25,000-55,000 VND ($1-2.20).

Reaching Out Tea House (131 Tran Phu): Not strictly a coffee cafe - it’s a tea-focused social enterprise employing deaf staff, with communication via written notes. Worth visiting for the experience and the quieter atmosphere. Limited coffee menu, exceptional tea selection. Open from 09:00.

Yellow Leaf Coffee: A smaller, locally-run spot on a side street near the market. Basic but good phin coffee at low prices, with a small terrace. Used by local residents rather than exclusively by tourists. Coffee: 18,000-30,000 VND ($0.70-1.20).

Garden cafes and atmosphere spots

Several cafes in Hoi An are worth visiting primarily for their setting rather than the coffee quality.

Secret Garden (Tran Hung Dao area): A multi-level cafe with trailing greenery and lanterns - very photogenic. The coffee is adequate. Open from 08:00.

Cocobox (Nguyen Thi Minh Khai): Primarily a coconut product shop, but the adjacent seating area with fresh coconut drinks and simple coffee is a good pitstop after the market.

Cafes near the Japanese Covered Bridge: The cluster of cafes on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai near the bridge trade heavily on atmosphere and foot traffic. The coffee quality is inconsistent - approach with low expectations on the drink and enjoy the location.

What to know before you go

The old town becomes very crowded from 09:00 onward. The best time to experience the cafes without queues is 07:00-08:30, when the streets are quiet and morning light is good.
Most old town cafes are cash-preferred. A few accept cards or payment apps but keep dong available.
Air-conditioned seating is less common than open-air courtyard and terrace seating. In July and August (peak heat), cafes with fans and shade fill first.
Hoi An’s lantern-making heritage means many cafes decorate heavily with silk lanterns. Evening visits have a different character from morning - some cafes transform into wine or cocktail bars from 18:00.

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