Buon Ma Thuot is called the coffee capital of Vietnam, and you will understand why the moment you leave the city: coffee gardens stretch over the red basalt hills in every direction. Vietnam is one of the largest coffee producers in the world, and Dak Lak grows more coffee than any other province.
A Short History
Coffee came to the Central Highlands in the early 20th century, when French planters started the first plantations around Buon Ma Thuot. The rich basalt soil and the dry season proved ideal. Most of the coffee grown here today is robusta, which is strong, bold and has more caffeine than arabica.
How to Drink It
- Ca phe den: black coffee, often dripped slowly through a small metal phin filter
- Ca phe sua da: strong coffee with sweetened condensed milk over ice
- Ca phe nong: hot coffee, popular on cool mornings
- Bac xiu: more milk than coffee, a gentle start for first-timers
Local coffee is strong. If you prefer it lighter, ask for less coffee or more milk and ice.
From Farm to Cup
On our Coffee Garden and Dray Sap cycling day you visit a family farm to see how coffee is grown, picked, dried and roasted, and taste it where it is grown. Come between October and January to see the harvest, or between January and March when the white coffee flowers bloom.
In the City
- Sit at a street café in the morning and watch the city wake up.
- Visit the World Coffee Museum, a striking modern building with a collection of coffee tools and history.
- Bring home beans or ground coffee from the local shops and markets.
