Did you know that Vietnam is the second biggest exporter of coffee in the entire world, just after Brazil? That’s right, this Southeast Asian country has become a huge exporter and is incredibly important for the coffee industry. In Vietnam, it’s mostly Robusta that’s being grown and exported, but you also have some Arabica. It’s estimated that 2 ½ million people are working in the coffee industry in Vietnam, which gives you a bit of an idea of how big it is.
The coffee culture in Vietnam is strong too, and you’ll notice it as soon as you land in the country. Everywhere you go, you’ll see people sitting on the street, sipping on a dark brew or a classic drip coffee with condensed milk. You can also find tons of cafés that serves this delicious drink. You have everything from the traditional smaller places where you sit on plastic chairs, to the more hip, modern cafés where the trendy kids go. The café scene in Vietnam is one of the most fascinating and delicious, so if you’re a coffee fan, you’ve definitely come to the right place.
But if you wanna go a step further and know where your coffee is sourced, why not consider visiting a coffee plantation? There’s a few spread out in the country, but most of them are in Da Lat. If you’re still not sure, check out this list of why you should visit a coffee plantation in Vietnam.
You’ll get to learn more about coffee
The first thing you’ll do at a coffee plantation is to get information about coffee. Usually people go on tours where the tour guide or the coffee plantation owner talks about the coffee they’re growing, how it started, how you grow coffee, what kind of coffee it is, etc. This type of experience is unbeatable and you simply can’t get it in a normal café. So if you wanna know where your delicious coffee comes from, go to a coffee plantation to find out more!
You’ll get a more personal experience
Imagine going to a coffee plantation and actually learning how your cup of coffee has ended up in your hands. Not only will you meet the people who works with coffee daily, you’ll probably also get to taste their coffee that they have grown. You’ll get to see how it goes from farm to cup. It’s not just a cup of coffee anymore – it’s an entire process that you’ve been part of!
The coffee plantations are beautiful
Not only will you be enjoying coffee, you’ll also be surrounded by beautiful sceneries. If you, for example, go to Da Lat, you’ll see coffee plants as far as the eye can see, rolling hills and mountains. There’s not many places as beautiful as Da Lat, so even if you’re not interested in coffee, make sure that you visit Da Lat. It’s absolutely stunning and has some of Vietnam’s best climates.
You’ll support small businesses
One of the most important things to do when traveling is to support the local communities and the economy. Unfortunately, a lot of money is going out of the country, so-called “money leakage”. This means that foreigners start up a business, let’s say hostel, and most of that money goes to the foreign owner. That person then moves out from Vietnam but still gets revenue from this hostel. That’s what’s meant with money leakage, when nothing stays in the country. Therefore, many small, local businesses are struggling to survive. If we want to travel in a more sustainable way, we need to consider the locals too. So if you have the chance to visit a coffee plantation, do it! The small amount of money you’re investing into visiting and tasting their coffee probably means much more to them than you. Besides, you’ll also get a great experience out of it!
Get off the beaten track
Most of the coffee plantations are situated further out of town, so if you wanna get a bit off the beaten track, why not go check out a coffee plantation. Along the way, you’ll be able to get a glimpse into the rural life in Vietnam and see the magnificent natural sceneries. And this is exactly why you should visit a coffee plantation in Vietnam.
There’s an abundance of things to do in Vietnam and usually travelers who visit, stays for at least one month. No matter what, most visitors need to obtain a Vietnam visa before entering. Depending on your nationality, you can either apply for a Visa on Arrival or an E-Visa (only available for 80 countries). These two options are online visas and are the most convenient way to obtain a visa. However, you can also go to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate and apply with them. You’ll have to book an appointment and bring all your documents though. With the online visas, everything can be done from the comfort of your home.
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