A shot of espresso blended with rich coconut cream, stirred into distinct layers of milky white and deep brown — this is cà phê cốt dừa, a coconut coffee that went viral in Hai Phong in recent years and is now widely copied in cities across the country.
130 Lam Son Street: the shop multiple reports point to as the originator
State outlet Tuổi Trẻ once quoted an international food commentary piece that described this drink as a 'tropical symphony,' featuring it alongside Hanoi's egg coffee as a distinctly Vietnamese specialty; VinWonders and other travel outlets consistently identify Cà Phê Cốt Dừa Cô Hạnh, at 130 Lam Son Street, as the shop that originated Hai Phong's coconut coffee.
Honest clarification: the technique is southern in origin; Hai Phong's contribution is the local twist that went viral
It has to be clarified honestly: the coconut coffee technique itself actually originates in southern Vietnam — a common method in coconut-growing regions around Saigon and the Mekong Delta — rather than something Hai Phong invented from scratch. Hai Phong's version, developed through local reinvention in roughly 2023 to 2024, is what triggered the nationwide viral moment. The accurate way to put it is that 'Hai Phong's local flavor combination became widely popular,' not that 'Hai Phong invented the coconut coffee technique itself.' It's also worth noting that the international food commentary piece mentioned above is a food-writing feature, not any kind of restaurant rating or star-based accreditation — it has been separately verified that Hai Phong is not among the cities covered by any such official rating guide, so readers shouldn't mistake this coverage for a formal culinary award.
How to Drink It Right
- Stir it well before drinking — the coconut cream and coffee taste best fully blended.
- For a richer flavor, ask the shop for extra coconut cream.
- The iced version is more cooling in summer; the hot version brings out the coconut aroma more.
Understand This Coffee's Backstory Honestly
- The coconut coffee technique originates in southern Vietnam; Hai Phong's version is a recent local reinvention.
- The accurate framing is 'Hai Phong's flavor combination went viral,' not 'Hai Phong invented the technique itself.'
- The international food commentary piece mentioned is a food-writing feature, not any star-based or official rating accreditation, and Hai Phong is not among the cities covered by such guides.
A cup of coconut coffee carries Hai Phong's recent viral moment — the technique may be borrowed from the south, but turning it into a flavor the whole country wants to copy is Hai Phong's own achievement.