Vietnamese Salt Coffee: A Huế Specialty That Became a Trend
Of all the ideas Vietnamese coffee culture has produced, salt coffee (cà phê muối) is one of the most surprising on paper and one of the easiest to like in the cup. It was born in Huế, the former imperial capital, and pairs a dark, strong robusta coffee with a layer of smooth, lightly salted cream.
The name suggests something savoury, but the salt is there to round the drink off, not to dominate it. What you notice is the sweetness of condensed milk, a creamy texture and a soft salty finish that guides often compare to salted caramel. It is a good first step for visitors who find a plain cà phê đen too bitter. Sweet, creamy and balanced, salt coffee is a good example of Vietnamese creativity with simple ingredients. Unlike many Vietnamese drinks, it has a known birthplace: a single café in Huế, where you can still order it today.
Written by Oliver PHUNG (Tour Guide)
Updated on Oct 21, 2026
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Oliver Phung is a Northern Vietnam-based tour guide and blogger. His favorite topics to write about include cuisine, culture, travel, and under-the-radar experiences. Oliver possesses a deep, detailed understanding of the region, from the indigenous culture of the Hmong in the Northwest to the highland lifestyle of the Tay in the Northeast. Whether he is exploring ancient architecture or geological landscapes, he is always eager to share his insights with his readers.
Beyond his work at Kampá Tour, he produces specialized travel content on platforms such as Reddit, Instagram, LinkedIn, and various other publications.
Salt coffee combines a Vietnamese coffee brewed with a phin, the traditional individual coffee filter, with sweetened condensed milk and a lightly salted cream placed on top. Contrary to what its name might suggest, the coffee does not have a pronounced salty taste: a small amount of salt is enough to soften the bitterness of the coffee, balance the sugar and bring out notes reminiscent of salted butter caramel. The texture is richer and creamier than that of a classic café au lait.
It is generally enjoyed without a straw at first, so that you taste the salted cream first, before the coffee gradually mixes in the mouth. It is precisely this contrast between the bitterness of the coffee, the sweetness of the milk and the light salty note that gives Huế's salt coffee its distinctiveness.
Vietnamese salted coffee
A Recent Invention Born in Huế
Salt coffee was born around 2012 in Huế, the former imperial capital in central Vietnam, in a small café on Nguyễn Lương Bằng street. Its creators, a couple of café owners, are said to have had the idea of adding a pinch of salt to the condensed milk and coffee to balance the very pronounced bitterness of the local robusta. The drink was even said to have been named as a nod to a “slightly salty” love story, between tenderness and bitterness.
For several years, cà phê muối remained a local specialty, known only to the people of Huế. It is only in the past few years, carried by social media and Vietnamese food bloggers, that the recipe has spread to Da Nang, Da Lat, then Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, becoming a national trend and attracting the curiosity of foreign travellers in search of authentic culinary experiences.
Good Places to Try Salt Coffee Today
In Huế, the City Where Salt Coffee Began
The true cradle of Vietnamese salt coffee, Huế remains the ideal place to discover this local specialty in its original version, traditionally prepared with Vietnamese filter coffee (phin).
Cà Phê Muối: 10 Nguyễn Lương Bằng and 142 Đặng Thái Thân
Considered the first salt coffee café in Huế, this place popularised the recipe more than ten years ago. Its classic version combines an intense filter coffee with a lightly salted milk cream, creating a subtle balance between bitterness, sweetness and a hint of salt. Open from 6:30 to 22:00.
Nhà 87 Coffee: 87 Lê Huân
A well-liked address for its terrace with a beautiful view of Huế's Imperial City. A pleasant place to take a break after visiting the Imperial Enclosure.
Bali Coffee: 115 Lê Huân
Set over two floors, this café also has a view of the citadel. Its salt coffee stands out for a balanced dose of coffee, milk and salted cream.
Laph Coffee: 4 Trương Định
Very popular with young people in Huế, this café has a modern, lively atmosphere, ideal for discovering a more contemporary version of salt coffee.
In Hanoi
In Hanoi, salt coffee from Huế quickly found its place among the capital's new coffee trends. Several addresses now let you taste this specialty while enjoying the unique atmosphere of the city.
Salt.mate: 5-7 Lý Thái Tổ (Hoàn Kiếm), 248A Yên Hoa (Tây Hồ) and 80 Duy Tân (Cầu Giấy)
This brand specialising in salt coffee offers a recipe adapted to Hanoi tastes, in a contemporary and warm decor.
Cà Phê Muối: 12 Tông Đản (Hoàn Kiếm)
Located in the historic centre, a few steps from Hoàn Kiếm Lake, this café is a practical stop after a walk through the Old Quarter or around the lake. A good opportunity to discover a specialty from Central Vietnam in the heart of the capital.
Cà Phê Muối Đặc Sản Huế: 113 Nguyễn Khuyến (Đống Đa)
This small place with a garden recaptures the spirit of Huế, in a calm and authentic atmosphere. Open from 8:00 to 20:00.
Cộng Cà Phê: several addresses in Hanoi
This Vietnamese chain, known for its decor inspired by the wartime era, offers various creations around Vietnamese coffee, sometimes including salt coffee. Thanks to its many central locations, it is an easy option for travellers wanting to try this drink in a typically Vietnamese setting. A few practical addresses: 54 Mã Mây, Hoàn Kiếm, and 116 Cầu Gỗ, Hoàn Kiếm.
La Viet Coffee: 57A Tú Xương, 6D Trần Quang Diệu and 191 Hai Bà Trưng (District 3)
A recognised roaster, this address offers a carefully crafted salt coffee, where the bitter notes of the coffee blend with the sweetness of the milk and a delicate salty touch.
Huế Cafe Roastery: Xuân Thủy street, west Saigon
Inspired by the world of Huế, this café seeks to recreate part of the atmosphere of the former imperial capital in the heart of the modern city.
SaltCoffee: 42 Ngô Thời Nhiệm (District 3)
Entirely devoted to salt-based drinks, this café offers various creations such as the classic salt coffee, but also reinvented latte or cappuccino versions.
Where to Buy Salt Coffee in Sachets to Take Away?
To extend the discovery after the trip, some brands now offer salt coffee in an instant version or in individual sachets, a practical format to slip into your luggage or give as a souvenir from Vietnam.
Cộng Cà Phê: several shops in Vietnam
This well-known Vietnamese brand offers its version of cà phê muối, “Nâu kem muối”, in a box of individual sachets, reproducing the flavours of the drink served in its cafés. Easy to find in big cities such as Hanoi, Huế or Ho Chi Minh City.
Cà Phê Muối Chú Long: Ho Chi Minh City
One of the most popular salt coffee addresses in Saigon also offers take-away products, allowing you to recreate the taste of its specialty at home.
Cà Phê Cố Đô: Huế
This local brand offers Huế salt coffee in a soluble version, packed in small individual boxes. Easy to carry, it is a practical option for bringing back a specialty associated with the former imperial capital.
The Traditional Salt Coffee Recipe
No need to go all the way to Huế to taste a homemade version of cà phê muối: the recipe takes just a few simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
Ingredients (for one cup)
Ingredient
Quantity
Ground robusta coffee (brewed through the phin)
25 g
Sweetened condensed milk
1 to 2 tablespoons
Whole liquid cream
100 ml
Icing sugar
1 tablespoon
Fine salt
1 pinch (about 1/4 teaspoon)
Ice cubes
to taste
Preparation steps
Pass the ground coffee through a Vietnamese phin with hot water at about 95 °C, until you obtain a short, strong coffee.
Mix the still-hot coffee with the sweetened condensed milk.
Whisk the liquid cream with the icing sugar and salt until you get a frothy, light texture.
Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour in the coffee and condensed milk mixture.
Top with the salted cream, without mixing, then serve immediately.
The secret lies in the dosage of the salt: barely perceptible, it must never dominate, only reveal the sweetness of the condensed milk and soften the bitterness of the robusta.
Salt Coffee, Egg Coffee, Coconut Milk Coffee: What Are the Differences?
Salt coffee (cà phê muối): originally from Huế, it combines a strong Vietnamese coffee with a lightly salted milk cream. The salt balances the bitterness of the coffee and brings a soft, creamy touch.
Egg coffee (cà phê trứng): a Hanoi specialty, it blends intense black coffee with a creamy foam made from egg yolk and condensed milk, almost reminiscent of a dessert.
Coconut milk coffee (cà phê cốt dừa): very popular in the South, it combines Vietnamese coffee, coconut milk and often crushed ice for a cooler, sweeter, exotic drink.
Our Final Words
Today found in many cities in Vietnam, salt coffee remains deeply tied to its Huế origin. Behind its simple mix of coffee, milk and salt lies a different way of appreciating Vietnamese coffee: softer, more creative and still rooted in local habits. When passing through Huế or the country's big cities, taking the time to taste a cup is a simple way to discover this specialty that has become emblematic.
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