Cà phê sữa đá: Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk
Vietnam grows more coffee than almost anywhere else in the world – and in Saigon, most of it seems to end up in a glass with ice.
Cà phê sữa đá is Vietnamese iced coffee: strong coffee dripped slowly through a small metal filter (phin), stirred into sweetened condensed milk and poured over ice. At a street café it usually costs 20,000–35,000 VND. Order with “Cho tôi một ly cà phê sữa đá, không lấy ống hút”.
At a glance
See it in 20 seconds
How to order
“Cho tôi một ly cà phê sữa đá.”
One iced coffee with milk. Say cà phê đen đá for black iced coffee, bạc xỉu for a milkier version, and không lấy ống hút for no straw.
How it’s made
Ground coffee goes into a small metal filter that sits on top of the glass. Hot water drips through slowly – it can take a few minutes. Stir it into the condensed milk, then pour over ice.
Order it your way
Too sweet? Ask for ít sữa (less milk). Too strong? Try bạc xỉu, a milky coffee that started in Saigon’s Chinese cafés.
Questions travellers ask
What coffee is used in cà phê sữa đá?
Usually robusta, often with some arabica, brewed strong through a phin filter.
How much is Vietnamese iced coffee?
Around 20,000–35,000 VND at street cafés.
What is bạc xỉu?
A milkier iced coffee with more condensed milk and a little coffee.
How do I say no straw in Vietnamese?
“Không lấy ống hút.”
Prices are typical ranges we’ve seen and change often; tourist areas can charge more. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Last updated 2026-09-30.
