Vietnam offers a variety of ways to quench your thirst on hot and humid days. From sugar cane juice to local beers and artisan rice wine, here is our list of drinks to try in Vietnam:
Sinh to (fruit smoothie)
The abundance of fresh tropical fruit is just a blender and a block of ice away from becoming a delicious smoothie. Fresh dragonfruit, jackfruit, custard apple and banana are all popular in drinks, as well as local strawberries, thanks to Vietnam’s cooler, mountainous regions.
Fresh coconut juice
Enjoyed straight from a green coconut, fresh coconut juice is sweet, revitalising and comes with the added bonus of roadside theatre as you watch someone artfully slice open a coconut with a machete. Smaller coconuts tend to be sweeter. Try to find a roadside stall that keeps their coconuts on the ice.
Nuoc mia (sugar cane juice)
Sugar cane juice is less sweet than it sounds and squeezed from fresh canes by roadside vendors. Juice from calamansi, a sour mandarin-like fruit, is often added to round out its grassy flavour.
Soda chanh (lime soda)
This concoction of fresh lime, sugar syrup and soda water is as simple as it is refreshing. Fancier places will serve the sugar syrup on the side of your drink so that you can adjust the ratio of sweet to tart to suit your taste.
Bia (beer)
Submerse yourself in the boozier part of northern Vietnam’s street life by enjoying a bai hoi – a low alcohol, watery larger served straight from the keg – while sitting on the plastic chairs provided by roadside vendors. Vietnam also has a burgeoning microbrewery scene centred in Saigon and growing in Hanoi.
Ruou can (rice wine)
Glutinous rice is brewed with herbs in large earthenware jugs for a month to create this local tipple - the sort of thing you might find on a Hmong homestay.
Water
It's important to stay hydrated while travelling in Vietnam. We recommend packing a reusable bottle with filtered water to take with you as local tap water is not safe to drink.
Enjoy a refreshing bia hoi (beer) with your street food.
Click to read what to eat in Vietnam
Click to return to Vietnam FAQs
Our Vietnam Tours
10 Days From $1,188
Travel from historic Hanoi to modern Ho Chi Minh City. Tour down the Mekong, visit...
18 Days From $2,193
Travel into the heart and soul of Indochina on this comprehensive tour of Vietnam and...
9 Days From $1,003
Travel through Cambodia from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Bangkok in Thailand on an...
13 Days From $1,252
Experience the Asia of old on a family adventure that captures the spirit of Vietnam....
10 Days From $1,262
Travel to Vietnam and see the ultimate Ho Chi Minh tourist spots. Visit hidden Hanoi...
15 Days From $1,871
Jump in the saddle for a two-wheeled adventure tour of Vietnam. Take in cultural...
12 Days From $900
Travel from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City on a journey of discovery. Uncover the...
15 Days From $6,895
Experience the beautiful coast of Vietnam on a small-ship adventure cruise to Nha Trang...
12 Days From $1,912
Travel the breadth of Vietnam, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, experiencing tranquil...
15 Days From $971
Discover Vietnam and all its wonders on this exciting two-week tour. Uncover hidden...
13 Days From $1,610
Experience Vietnamese customs and charms on a 13-day family adventure from Hanoi to Ho...
10 Days From $1,381
Hike, bike and kayak across Vietnam on this active tour based out of Hanoi. Trek in...
8 Days From $3,595
Travel the south coast of Vietnam on a Intrepid small-ship adventure cruise, visiting...
11 Days From $738
Delve into Vietnamese culture on this 11-day journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City....
15 Days From $2,337
Uncover the proud, spirited heart of Vietnam on this classic adventure. Tour to Halong...
8 Days From $3,360
Embark on a small-ship coastal cruise in Vietnam, visiting iconic Halong Bay, the cave...
9 Days From $990
Follow the Angkor trails on a trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Explore the...
15 Days From $1,687
Journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on this 15-day Vietnam adventure. Trek in the...
12 Days From $900
Travel to Cambodia on an Intrepid adventure from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok. Explore...
8 Days From $1,381
From Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, discover the delights of one of South-East Asia's...
18 Days From $2,184
Jump on this adventurous three-week journey to see the very best of Cambodia and...
8 Days From $3,595
Cruise Vietnam’s south coast on a small-ship Intrepid adventure, visiting Hoi An, Nha...
13 Days From $2,397
See Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand from two wheels on this 13-day adventure from Ho Chi...
20 Days From $2,337
From bustling Ho Chi Minh City to historical Hanoi, the Best of Vietnam tour is an...
26 Days From $1,993
Experience Indochina on a trip through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Journey through...
22 Days From $1,533
Explore Indochina on a trip through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Travel from Hanoi...
15 Days From $6,895
Travel to Vietnam and embark on a small-ship adventure cruise to Nha Trang, Ha Long Bay...
13 Days From $3,094
Uncover the dramatic histories of these two beautiful countries on a trip through the...
30 Days From $4,177
Travel into the heart and soul of Indochina on this comprehensive tour of Thailand,...
10 Days From $1,037
Experience the boundlessly welcoming and friendly nature of the ethnic hill tribe...
8 Days From $3,360
Experience historic Hue, vibrant Hanoi and the limestone beauty of Halong Bay and Phong...
9 Days From $1,304
Get the most out of your family getaway by cycling, kayaking, walking and cruising...
20 Days From $4,020
On this comfort trip get to know two noisy siblings forever linked in both culture and...
15 Days From $2,677
Combine the excitement of Vietnam with the friendly warmth of Cambodia for an exotic...
13 Days From $1,449
Experience the Asia of old on a family adventure that captures the spirit of Vietnam....
35 Days From $3,366
Embark on an epic journey to explore the best of Indochina. Venture out from Bangkok -...
22 Days From $3,115
Indochina Uncovered snakes its way through the delights of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam,...
15 Days From $2,626
Experience the sights, smells and tastes of Southeast Asia on a family tour through...
12 Days From $2,440
Experience the eclectic allure of China on this adventure from Hanoi to Hong Kong....
27 Days From $4,356
Gear up for an energising and rewarding cycling tour that takes in the best of...
18 Days From $2,414
From Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, explore Cambodia's fascinating history and impressive...
20 Days From $3,650
Travel from Hanoi down and over to Siem Reap, seeing the landmark attractions,...
10 Days From $1,665
Travel from Hoi An to Hanoi, spending time in the old imperial city of Hue, the...
21 Days From $3,795
Two countries in one go! Enjoy a cocktail of experiences from the hustle and bustle in...
10 Days From $1,485
Travel from historic Hanoi to modern Ho Chi Minh City with a group of solo travellerse....
9 Days From $1,200
Trek through lush forests, discover colourful histories and break bread with ethnic...
17 Days From $3,493
Journey through the highlights of Cambodia and Vietnam, experiencing local life,...
18 Days From $3,300
Explore southern and central Vietnam’s lush highlands, hidden villages and charming...
23 Days From $5,542
From Vietnam to Cambodia, discover incredible diversity, delectable cuisines, dramatic...
23 Days From $2,596
Explore vibrant Vietnam, charismatic Cambodia and beguiling Bangkok on this awesome...
5 Days From $410
Trek through Vietnam's mountainous region in the north-west to experience hiltribe...
3 Days From $450
Treat your tastebuds to a whole new world of flavour in Hanoi on this bite-sized food...
4 Days From $525
See the contrasts of city and river life around Ho Chi Minh City on this exciting short...
2 Days From $240
See local industry, beautiful islands and what life is like along the mighty Mekong...
2 Days From $290
Venture into the lush environs of Mai Chau and enjoy two days of cycling through remote...
2 Days From $310
Cast away on a traditional junk boat and set sail through hundreds of limestone karsts...
