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 CHF 944
Travel from historic Hanoi to modern Ho Chi Minh City. Tour down the Mekong, visit...
9 Days From CHF 705
Travel through Cambodia from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Bangkok in Thailand on an...
18 Days From CHF 1,854
Travel into the heart and soul of Indochina on this comprehensive tour of Vietnam and...
11 Days From CHF 671
Head from old-world Hanoi to ancient Hue and on to pretty Hoi An via beachy Phan Rang, ...
18 Days From CHF 1,845
Jump on this adventurous three-week journey to see the very best of Cambodia and...
10 Days From CHF 1,003
Travel to Vietnam and see the ultimate Ho Chi Minh tourist spots. Visit hidden Hanoi...
13 Days From CHF 1,152
Experience the Asia of old on a family adventure that captures the spirit of Vietnam....
10 Days From CHF 552
From Bangkok you'll hit the ancient streets and temples of Angkor in Siem Reap, get...
15 Days From CHF 1,823
Jump in the saddle for a two-wheeled adventure tour of Vietnam. Take in cultural...
8 Days From CHF 2,535
Experience historic Hue, vibrant Hanoi and the limestone beauty of Halong Bay and Phong...
12 Days From CHF 690
Travel from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City on a journey of discovery. Uncover the...
15 Days From CHF 761
From hectic Ho Chi Minh City to historic Hanoi, with Hoi An, Hue and Cat Ba Island in...
15 Days From CHF 3,640
Experience the beautiful coast of Vietnam on a small-ship adventure cruise to Nha Trang...
12 Days From CHF 1,496
Travel the breadth of Vietnam, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, experiencing tranquil...
13 Days From CHF 1,430
Experience Vietnamese customs and charms on a 13-day family adventure from Hanoi to Ho...
15 Days From CHF 896
Discover Vietnam and all its wonders on this exciting two-week tour. Uncover hidden...
8 Days From CHF 1,897
Travel the south coast of Vietnam on a Intrepid small-ship adventure cruise, visiting...
11 Days From CHF 636
Delve into Vietnamese culture on this 11-day journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City....
15 Days From CHF 1,861
Uncover the proud, spirited heart of Vietnam on this classic adventure. Tour to Halong...
22 Days From CHF 1,377
Bounce from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, through Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville Province and Siem...
8 Days From CHF 2,535
Embark on a small-ship coastal cruise in Vietnam, visiting iconic Halong Bay, the cave...
9 Days From CHF 794
Follow the Angkor trails on a trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Explore the...
15 Days From CHF 1,343
Journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on this 15-day Vietnam adventure. Trek in the...
12 Days From CHF 736
Travel to Cambodia on an Intrepid adventure from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok. Explore...
8 Days From CHF 967
From Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, discover the delights of one of South-East Asia's...
12 Days From CHF 668
Dive headfirst from Ho Chi Minh into Cambodia, visiting Phnom Penh, Siem Reap,...
8 Days From CHF 2,710
Cruise Vietnam’s south coast on a small-ship Intrepid adventure, visiting Hoi An, Nha...
10 Days From CHF 1,161
Hike, bike and kayak across Vietnam on this active tour based out of Hanoi. Trek in...
13 Days From CHF 2,065
See Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand from two wheels on this 13-day adventure from Ho Chi...
20 Days From CHF 1,971
From bustling Ho Chi Minh City to historical Hanoi, the Best of Vietnam tour is an...
26 Days From CHF 1,623
Experience Indochina on a trip through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Journey through...
22 Days From CHF 1,415
Explore Indochina on a trip through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Travel from Hanoi...
15 Days From CHF 3,640
Travel to Vietnam and embark on a small-ship adventure cruise to Nha Trang, Ha Long Bay...
24 Days From CHF 1,398
Take a trip with the lot – Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Tuy Hoa, Hoi An,...
13 Days From CHF 2,316
Uncover the dramatic histories of these two beautiful countries on a trip through the...
30 Days From CHF 3,465
Travel into the heart and soul of Indochina on this comprehensive tour of Thailand,...
10 Days From CHF 965
Experience the boundlessly welcoming and friendly nature of the ethnic hill tribe...
20 Days From CHF 3,397
On this comfort trip get to know two noisy siblings forever linked in both culture and...
9 Days From CHF 1,155
Get the most out of your family getaway by cycling, kayaking, walking and cruising...
13 Days From CHF 1,280
Experience the Asia of old on a family adventure that captures the spirit of Vietnam....
15 Days From CHF 2,410
Combine the excitement of Vietnam with the friendly warmth of Cambodia for an exotic...
35 Days From CHF 2,902
Embark on an epic journey to explore the best of Indochina. Venture out from Bangkok -...
22 Days From CHF 2,490
Indochina Uncovered snakes its way through the delights of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam,...
34 Days From CHF 2,682
Join us for the South East Asian trip of your dreams – a little bit of Bangkok, a pinch...
15 Days From CHF 2,515
Experience the sights, smells and tastes of Southeast Asia on a family tour through...
27 Days From CHF 4,175
Gear up for an energising and rewarding cycling tour that takes in the best of...
18 Days From CHF 2,175
From Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, explore Cambodia's fascinating history and impressive...
20 Days From CHF 3,505
Travel from Hanoi down and over to Siem Reap, seeing the landmark attractions,...
10 Days From CHF 1,422
Travel from Hoi An to Hanoi, spending time in the old imperial city of Hue, the...
21 Days From CHF 2,578
Two countries in one go! Enjoy a cocktail of experiences from the hustle and bustle in...
9 Days From CHF 1,295
Experience the eclectic allure of China on this adventure from Hanoi to Kunming....
8 Days From CHF 877
Jump in the saddle for a two-wheeled adventure tour of Northern Vietnam. Take in...
18 Days From CHF 2,135
Discover the remote mountains of northwest Vietnam and southwest China on a trip from...
20 Days From CHF 2,585
Discover the spectacular southern reaches of China on this adventure through its most...
29 Days From CHF 3,460
Discover the remote mountains of northwest Vietnam and southwest China on a trip from...
10 Days From CHF 1,120
Travel from historic Hanoi to modern Ho Chi Minh City with a group of solo travellerse....
9 Days From CHF 965
Trek through lush forests, discover colourful histories and break bread with ethnic...
17 Days From CHF 3,190
Journey through the highlights of Cambodia and Vietnam, experiencing local life,...
18 Days From CHF 2,515
Explore southern and central Vietnam’s lush highlands, hidden villages and charming...
23 Days From CHF 5,210
From Vietnam to Cambodia, discover incredible diversity, delectable cuisines, dramatic...
23 Days From CHF 2,318
Explore vibrant Vietnam, charismatic Cambodia and beguiling Bangkok on this exciting...
5 Days From CHF 310
Trek through Vietnam's mountainous region in the north-west to experience hiltribe...
3 Days From CHF 340
Treat your tastebuds to a whole new world of flavour in Hanoi on this bite-sized food...
4 Days From CHF 392
See the contrasts of city and river life around Ho Chi Minh City on this exciting short...
2 Days From CHF 173
See local industry, beautiful islands and what life is like along the mighty Mekong...
2 Days From CHF 207
Venture into the lush environs of Mai Chau and enjoy two days of cycling through remote...
2 Days From CHF 230
Cast away on a traditional-style boat and set sail through hundreds of limestone karsts...
