Iconic Beverages to Try in Saigon

The scorching heat in Saigon has become a familiar companion, and the image of pushcarts or sidewalk cafes with beverages that speak volumes without uttering a word has become a distinctive pleasure.

Sidewalk Cafes

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that coffee, standing second only to beer, is a staple in Saigon. Enjoy a morning cup, and leisurely chat with friends over another at noon. The sweet and robust flavor of milk coffee, coupled with its bitterness and a hint of spice, renders this drink truly special. Coffee enthusiasts believe that the bitterness of coffee embodies the flavor of life, making it irresistibly attractive to drinkers.

Sugarcane Juice

Sugarcane juice is a popular choice for its cooling properties and affordability. Fresh sugarcane is juiced, often accompanied by squeezed tangerine, creating a refreshing blend of sweetness with a light touch of acidity. In some places, vendors even offer a small bowl of tangerine slices and a pinch of salt, allowing consumers to customize their sugarcane juice to suit their taste preferences. Unfortunately, the fantastic sugarcane juice stall on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, once accompanied by enticing snacks like beef salad and fish balls, has seen a decline in ingredient quality over time, depriving the people of Saigon of a truly delicious glass of sugarcane juice.

Memorable Sugarcane Moments in Saigon

Coconut Bliss

Strolling through the streets, you'll find coconut vendors and carriers easily. Particularly, coconut carriers are often spotted in the city center, offering various drinks to tourists. With competitive prices compared to established shops, thanks to saving on rent, this beverage remains the top choice for diners.

Meanwhile, coconut tapioca delights are commonly found in refreshment stalls. Fresh coconut water and coconut meat, with a dash of salt and fresh tapioca, create a refreshing drink with the sweet taste of coconut water, combined with the sourness, fragrance, and saltiness of fresh tapioca, delivering a very satisfying quench.

Pennywort and Coconut Leaf Pennywort Elixir

The renowned pennywort shops that once lined Nguyen Bieu Street, near the foot of the Y-shaped bridge, are etched in memory. Freshly ground pennywort water is a familiar and down-to-earth thirst-quencher, cool and beneficial for health. In Saigon, this dish becomes even more unique as pennywort water is ground together with mung beans or fresh coconut water. The slightly chewy texture of pennywort, combined with the refreshing sweetness of coconut water or the aroma of mung beans, creates a new, delightful, and attractive flavor.

Refreshing Saigon Elixirs: Sam Water, Flower Tea, and Seaweed Drink

There's nothing more invigorating than a cool glass of Sam water in the midst of Saigon's sunny noon. Sam water is brewed from a blend of leaves, roots, and cool-natured plants like sugarcane, corn silk, lemongrass roots, and brown eye, sweetened with rock sugar. The natural sweetness from the leaves, combined with the cool taste of rock sugar, creates an incredibly delightful thirst-quencher.

Metal carts with multiple compartments containing Sam water, flower tea, seaweed drink, may no longer seem unfamiliar to Saigon locals. However, with the emergence of a variety of new refreshing drinks, these carts are gradually becoming less common. Nowadays, the highest concentration of Sam water carts is probably in District 5, also the main source of ingredients for preparing this refreshing beverage.

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice and Salted Lemonade

Freshly squeezed orange juice is perhaps the most common beverage at refreshment stalls for Saigon tourists. With high vitamin C content, it is very beneficial for boosting the immune system. Therefore, orange juice is often the choice of many. Especially, it is an easy-to-find drink, as almost all establishments from budget to upscale have orange juice on their menu.

In addition to its refreshing properties, salted lemonade is also an effective weight loss remedy. Combining daily consumption of salted lemonade with physical exercise helps eliminate excess fat throughout the body. The salted lemonade's effect in burning fat and breaking down body fat is faster. However, it's worth noting that salted lemonade is not a widely popular drink, so you may find it available in some refreshment stalls and not others.

By Huy Bân

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Reference: Travel Guide on Mytour