The city scored 66.8 points in the 2026 Holafly Coffee Travel Index, ranking behind Colombia's Eje Cafetero coffee region, which topped the list with 71.4 points. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ranked third with 64.1 points.

A barista makes coffee at at coffee shop in HCMC in 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Holafly assessed 18 coffee destinations worldwide across five categories: coffee origin heritage, cafe density, coffee tourism infrastructure, specialty coffee affordability and global demand. Each category accounted for 20% of the overall score.

It described the index as a guide for travelers interested in combining coffee experiences with tourism.

For visitors to Ho Chi Minh City, the report suggests the city's appeal lies not only in the price of its coffee but also in the variety of experiences available, from traditional sidewalk stalls to contemporary specialty cafes.

"The contrast here is what makes exploring so fun: you can sip a strong brew sitting on a tiny plastic stool at a sidewalk stall, then walk two blocks to a quiet, air-conditioned third-wave roaster," it said.

A specialty pour-over coffee or traditional sweet iced coffee costs around $2 on average, it added.

Vietnam's distinctive Robusta beans were also cited as a key factor behind the city's high ranking.

The country is the largest exporter of Robusta coffee in the world, accounting for about 40% of the global market share, according to official sources.

One of the defining features of Ho Chi Minh City's coffee culture is ca phe sua da.

Made with strong, dark-roasted coffee traditionally brewed through a filter and mixed with sweetened condensed milk before being poured over ice, the drink is closely associated with the city's vibrant sidewalk cafe culture.

From plastic stools on busy streets to modern specialty coffee shops, the signature drink remains a popular choice among both locals and visitors.

Colombia's Eje Cafetero took the top spot with 71.4 points, helped by its coffee-growing heritage, farm tourism opportunities and affordability. A specialty coffee in the region costs around $1.50 on average, according to Holafly.

Addis Ababa followed HCMC with 64.1 points. The Ethiopian capital was highlighted for its connection to the origins of Arabica coffee, traditional coffee ceremonies and low prices, with single-origin cups averaging around $1.20.

Melbourne ranked fourth with 62.5 points, followed by Rome at 58.9, Brazil's Minas Gerais at 57.3, Antigua in Guatemala at 54.2, Havana at 52.8, Kigali at 49.1, and Yemen's Sana'a and Haraz region at 46.5.

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