If you’ve fallen in love with Vietnamese coffee culture—that bold, fragrant flavor tied to the local rhythm of life—you absolutely need to try one of the country’s most ingenious creations: Vietnamese Egg Cream Coffee (or Cà Phê Trứng).
This isn’t just a drink; it’s a delightful mashup, a truly exquisite culinary experience that anyone visiting Vietnam should seek out.
And when you’re looking for a perfectly made cup, especially here in bustling Saigon, allow TonKin Coffee to introduce you to the ideal version of this timeless classic.
1. How Egg Cream Coffee Came to Be
This unique coffee beverage first appeared in Hanoi back in the 1940s. The story goes that the creator was a man named Nguyễn Văn Giảng, who was working at a major hotel at the time.
A Clever, Unexpected Solution
During that period, fresh milk was scarce and expensive. Determined to create a rich, creamy coffee drink, Mr. Giảng had a stroke of genius: he decided to use whipped egg yolks blended with sweetened condensed milk as a brilliant substitute.
What started as a creative workaround quickly gained popularity and became a signature item in Hanoi’s coffee scene. Even though milk is easily available today, this original recipe remains untouched, celebrated as a beautiful part of Vietnam’s culinary memory.
2. Why Egg Cream Coffee is So Unique
Vietnamese Egg coffee is distinct from your usual creamy lattes or cappuccinos. Its special appeal lies in the perfect harmony between two contrasting textures and flavors.
Rich, Bold, and Cloud-Like
- The Experience: The most exciting part is the texture. The top layer is smooth, velvety, sweet egg cream. Beneath it is a shot of strong, rich Vietnamese coffee brewed using the traditional phin filter. With every sip, you feel that wonderful blend—from the sweet, melting cream to the dark, deep coffee base.
- The Flavor: The taste is complex and satisfying: the sweetness, richness, and aroma of the cream are perfectly balanced by the bitterness and bold profile of the coffee. It wakes you up while totally spoiling your palate.
- The Difference: This egg cream is much thicker and richer than milk foam and has a distinct flavor that sets it completely apart from other creamy coffee drinks.
3. The Traditional Preparation
To make a truly great cup of Egg Cream Coffee, the preparation requires attention and care.
The Key Ingredients
- Egg Yolks: The crucial element that gives the drink its signature richness and smooth texture.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Essential for the right level of sweetness and viscosity.
- Strong Vietnamese Coffee: Primarily Robusta beans, drip-brewed for that intense, authentic Vietnamese flavor.
The Method
- Brew the Coffee: A strong cup of black coffee (hot or iced) is prepared.
- Whip the Cream: Egg yolks are whisked with condensed milk until the mixture is thick, smooth, and fluffy. This step is key to ensuring the cream is light and doesn’t taste ‘eggy.’
- The Finishing Touch: The cream is gently spooned or poured onto the coffee base.
- Serving: Hot Egg Coffee is traditionally placed in a small bowl of warm water to keep the cream layer warm and airy throughout your enjoyment.
4. Modern Takes on a Classic
While the traditional recipe is absolutely perfect, Egg Cream Coffee is constantly inspiring adaptations to suit modern tastes and different climates.
The most popular variation is The Iced Version; in warmer areas, Iced Egg Coffee is incredibly popular, delivering the same rich, decadent flavor but with a refreshing coolness. Beyond that, many contemporary cafés love to experiment. They incorporate the egg cream into other desserts like cakes or ice creams, or try new flavor notes. This commitment to innovation even extends to tweaking the core ingredients, with some places exploring alternatives like making Vietnamese egg coffee without condensed milk (using other natural sweeteners or creams), and even venturing into concepts like vegan Vietnamese egg coffee to ensure everyone can enjoy this beloved treat.
5. Experience Great Egg Coffee at TonKin Coffee
You don’t need to travel far to find an excellent Egg Cream Coffee. Right here in Saigon, TonKin Coffee is the place we recommend you visit.
TonKin Coffee: The Soul of Vietnamese Coffee
At TonKin Coffee, we are proud to serve Egg Cream Coffee with authentic flavor and meticulous care in every cup.
- Cultural Vibe: Our café is designed to evoke Vietnamese folk culture, from the architecture to decorative elements like traditional hats. Everything is set up so you can not only drink coffee but also feel connected to the story of Vietnamese heritage.
- Quality Promise: We are very particular about our beans. We use only high-quality Robusta sourced from a long-standing farm in the Central Highlands of Tây Nguyên, ensuring the strong, characteristic flavor of Vietnamese coffee.
Visit Us at TonKin
You can visit our locations to enjoy this signature drink:
- Our Main Store: 91 Ly Tu Trong, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Other Branches: You can also find TonKin Egg Coffee at 1 Le Thi Rieng or the beautiful TonKin Garden Cafe at 135/50 Tran Hung Dao.
More Than Just Egg Coffee: Explore Our Menu
What makes TonKin special is that we offer much more than just the classic. Tonkin menu is diverse and built to please many different preferences:
- Herbal Fruit Teas: For those who prefer something cool and light, we have natural fruit and herbal teas that are incredibly refreshing.
- Modern Coffee: Popular drinks like Americano and Latte are available, but they are all made using our quality Robusta beans to preserve that rich Vietnamese taste.
- Exclusive Signature Drinks: Don’t hesitate to try our seasonal or creative signature beverages, which always carry a Vietnamese spirit with a modern twist.
TonKin Coffee is where we proudly showcase the brilliance of traditional Egg Cream Coffee, combined with a modern and welcoming atmosphere. We invite you to visit us and experience the richness of Vietnamese coffee culture for yourself!
Visit Tonkin Coffee Today!
Tonkin Specialty Coffee
- Add: 91 Ly Tu Trong St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- Hotline: 086 799 0125
Tonkin Garden Cafe
- Add: 135/50 Tran Hung Dao St, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- Hotline: 087 992 4691
Tonkin Egg Coffee
- Add: 1 Le Thi Rieng, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- Hotline: 0815 841 909
Nestled in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Tonkin Specialty Coffee is one of the best coffee shops to experience authentic Vietnamese flavors. From the iconic egg coffee and refreshing coconut coffee to bold Vietnamese coffee and the unique salt coffee, every sip is a journey into tradition. For non-coffee lovers, our Vietnamese matcha offers a gentle alternative. Pair your drink with a freshly baked banh mi or a buttery croissant, and savor the true taste of Vietnam in a setting inspired by folk culture and Indochine charm.