Vietnam is a country known for its vibrant street food culture and unique culinary traditions. This extends beyond solid food to include an array of bottled and canned beverages that might surprise and delight the uninitiated who wish to move away from the standard Coca-Cola or 7 Up. From the fresh and fruity to the downright unconventional, these drinks offer a taste of Vietnam’s rich and diverse beverage culture. Here are some of the most unusual bottled and canned drinks you can find in Vietnam.
Bird’s Nest Drink
Birds Nest Drink is believed to be a very healthy beverage
One of the most intriguing and strange sounding beverages in Vietnam is the Bird’s Nest Drink. This drink is exactly as it sounds and is made from the nests of swiftlets, which are harvested from caves and cliffs and is considered a delicacy with the actual nests being able to be purchased in certain parts of the country at exorbitant prices! The nests are dissolved in water, creating a slightly gelatinous texture although due to the expensive price of the nests, it is very diluted! To make it more palatable, Birds Nest Drink is often sweetened and sometimes flavoured with fruit or other natural ingredients. You will see various brands of Bird’s Nest Drink ranging in price from the super cheap to very expensive. It is a very popular drink as it is regarded to be very healthy, being believed to boost the immune system and enhance skin health.
Read more: 23 BEST Vietnamese Snacks You Should Try
Grass Jelly Drink (Sương Sáo)
Grass jelly drink has chewable chunks suspended in the liquid
Grass jelly, or sương sáo, is a common ingredient in Vietnamese desserts and drinks. This herbal jelly is made from the leaves of the Mesona chinensis plant and has a mildly bitter taste. The grass jelly drink usually combines chunks of the jelly with a sweet syrup or coconut milk, making it a slightly chewy beverage and something that expats may need time to adjust to as we are accustomed to only smooth drinks.
Basil Seed Drink
Basil seeds – like chia seeds are very good for your health
Another unusual but popular drink in Vietnam is the Basil Seed Drink. These tiny seeds swell into a gelatinous coating when soaked in liquid, creating a texture similar to chia seeds. Like chia, basil seeds are known for their health benefits, including aiding digestion and hydration. This drink comes in a wide range of flavours and although being quite bitty instead of smooth, the strong flavours make this a nice healthy drink.
Read more: Traditional Breakfast Foods in Vietnam
Salty Lemonade (Nước Chanh Muối)
Salty Lemonade, or nước chanh muối, is a traditional Vietnamese drink that combines preserved lemons with salt and sugar. The lemons are typically fermented in salt for weeks or even months, resulting in a deeply savoury and tangy flavour. Mixed with water and sometimes soda, this drink tastes a combination of salty, sweet, and sour! It is believed to be very good for you – especially in the very hot seasons as it replenishes electrolytes as well as being good for digestion.
Pennywort Drink (Nước Rau Má)
Pennywort is a Vietnamese herb used in traditional medicine
Pennywort, or rau má, is a leafy herb used in traditional Vietnamese medicine and is believed to be very good for detoxifying the body and improving skin health. The Pennywort Drink is made by blending the leaves with water which results in an earthy, slightly bitter taste although depending on the brand it is sometimes sweetened with sugar or honey which improves the overall taste.
Corn Milk (Sữa Bắp)
Using corn in other foods is an unusual concept for Westerners but works in corn milk
Corn Milk, or sữa bắp, is a popular street beverage in Vietnam, especially in the southern regions. Corn is used in a wide range of ways in Vietnam from corn sweets and chips to drinks – which is a very unusual concept for Westerners! This drink is very creamy and is made by blending sweet corn kernels with water and sometimes adding milk and sugar. The result is a slightly savoury drink which tastes just like corn but with a twist!
Read more: 12+ Spots to Get BEST Banh Mi in Hanoi, Vietnam (Updated 2024)
Rice Water (Nước Gạo)
Rice water is exactly as it states – the drained water from rice
Rice Water, or nước gạo, is a milky, slightly sweet drink made from the water used to rinse or cook rice. To add to the flavour, sugar is often added and sometimes it is flavoured with vanilla or pandan leaves. This drink tastes of rice and is a bit of an acquired taste, however is believed to have hydrating properties so worth trying on a hot day.
Coffee
Various brands and types of coffee are available in cans or glass containers
While not as unusual as some other drinks on this list, the coffee available in cans is a lovely twist on traditional Vietnamese coffee. This drink combines strong Vietnamese coffee with coconut milk or cream, creating a rich, creamy beverage.
Mung Bean Drink (Sữa Đậu Xanh)
Beans in drink form make up the Mung Bean Drink
Like corn, Vietnamese use savoury foods like beans for drinks which takes some getting used to for the Western palate! Mung Bean Drink, or sữa đậu xanh, is a smooth, creamy beverage made from mung beans, water, and sugar. It is very filling and more like a liquid meal than a drink! It can be drunk plain or various brands flavour it with pandan leaves for extra taste.
Kumquat Juice (Nước Tắc)
Kumquat Juice, known as nước tắc, is a tangy and refreshing drink made from the small, citrusy kumquat fruit. The juice is typically mixed with water and sweetened with sugar, creating a sharp, citrus flavour.
Soursop Juice (Nước Mãng Cầu Xiêm)
Soursop Juice, known locally as nước mãng cầu xiêm, is a tropical fruit drink made from the pulp of the soursop fruit. This juice is thick, creamy, and has a unique flavour that blends sweet and tangy flavours. Like most traditional drinks in Vietnam it is believed to have health-boosting qualities.
Overall, Vietnam’s beverage culture is as diverse and rich as its cuisine, offering a wide array of unusual and intriguing bottled and canned drinks. From the luxurious Bird’s Nest Drink to the earthy Pennywort Drink, each beverage offers a new experience and allows you to cheaply and easily experiment with new and exciting taste experiences.
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