Cool off with 5 delightful drinks in HCMC
Travelers must know that Vietnam is rapidly recognized as one of the world-famous paradises for foodies, but the beverage here is also as attractive as the cuisine. Unlike Western countries when they usually take away cups of coffee from the cafeteria, Vietnamese would love the way they’re sitting at a streetside stand and conversing with their friends. If you’re walking down any crowded street and markets across the city, you definitely find some cold and refreshing drinks displayed on stalls. These simple and flavourful drinks would be able to satisfy your thirst on hot and humid days, especially in the summer times. Here are several delightful drinks that visitors should consider tasting while traveling in Vietnam.
Vietnamese Herbal Tea (Nước sâm)
Herbal tea is perhaps a typical drink appearing in the chaos and noise of every Vietnamese wet market. Inspired by Chinese medicine, the recipes of herbal tea are quite diverse. Chamomile tea has a mildly bitter taste, lightly fragrant, yet delicious. The drink could be made from any leftover ingredients in your house (sugarcane, various leaves, fruits, and roots...). The taste of herbal tea is fresh and sweet, suitable for serving over ice. Le Hong Phong and Tran Hung Dao streets are located with many herbal tea vendors on the sidewalks that you should give a try!
“Having been existing for years in Vietnam, Herbal tea or ‘Nước sâm is properly one of the best choices to quench your thirst immediately.”
Fresh Sugarcane Juice (Nước mía)
It’s no doubt that sugarcane juice is a local’s favorite drink to relieve on a sweltering summer day. It’s a natural beverage that is tasty, cheap, and popular in Saigon. Moreover, its own recognized symbol of a curly-hair-lady label on the juice electric machine. To enhance the original flavor and reduce the sweetness of sugarcane, the seller tends to add kumquat or orange to serve you a delightful cup. Moreover, people varied it by mixing it with durian, or shredded coconut meat with a tablespoon of mung bean paste.
Most of the sugarcane juice stalls are nameless and available at most small streetside. There are two old famous vendors in the city located at the junction of Phan Dinh Phung và Cao Thang Streets at Phu Nhuan District. The other one in the outskirts - Cu Chi district, an attractive Vuon Cao sugarcane juice stall serves durian sugarcane with a dish of coconut-milk-steamed tapioca and roasted sesame sprinkled. Go grab a cup to boost your energy!
Milk tea (Trà sữa)
Although being arrived from Taiwan, milk tea is actually the most favorite drink for young people in Vietnam, and it is expanded the most in Saigon in various combinations of flavors. Along with other traditional beverages, visitors should try bubble milk tea on your trip here. Aside from well-known brands like Gongcha, Koi, or Dingtea, Saigon has so far established some new brands for this addictive drink to satisfy boba lovers with more affordable prices and the same taste. Even milk-tea-streets have appeared in town which have plenty of shaking-beverage shops along the streets with catchy decorations for photographs.
“ Milk tea specializes in a smooth creamy feel, sweetness, and chewy tapioca pearls.”
Sinh tố
Smoothies and fruit juices are other fresh and healthy drinks in Vietnam. The country is widely so-called a true heaven of tropical fruits, so there should be no reason for travelers to miss out when they visit Vietnam. Similar to those drinks above, smoothie and juice booths could be found on sidewalks of any corner in the city, smoothie is normally made from slices of fruits blended with a swirl of condensed milk and crushed ice. The guest would be able to choose among a variety of local seasonal fruits such as mango, passion fruits, avocados, and dragon fruits, e.g. Especially, the fruits used for smoothies are always kept fresh and the seller only slices them when you already order. Some of the recommendations such as Anh Phan (60 Nguyen Thai Binh Street, District 1), Five Boys (Alley 241 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1), 142 (142 Ly Chinh Thang Street, District 3) or Ly Tu Trong (177 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1).
Cacao dừa
From the traditional coconut smoothie, Saigonese have further modified the unique beverage which is called Coconut cocoa. The coconut cocoa is made from ground cocoa blended with condensed milk and coconut meat, which creates a special flavor of sweetness and milky that is balanced by the slight bitterness and aroma of cocoa powder. Auntie Lan beverage shop at 329 Hung Vuong, District 5, is the first place to invent this strange drink and it became a hot trend through the accidental suggestion of students who came to try this new recipe.
