Walk around Vietnam and the red-and-brown signs quickly catch your eye: Highlands Coffee is the country's largest coffee chain. Found in nearly every major mall and landmark, it is a dependable go-to where even travelers hesitant to step into local shops can casually enjoy Vietnamese coffee.
| Genre | Coffee |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999年（ハノイ） |
| Origin | Hanoi, Vietnam |
| Coverage area | Ho Chi Minh City・Hanoi・Da Nang・Hai Phong・Da Lat |
| Number of locations | 928 stores |
| Signature menu | The standard signature drink is the Vietnamese-style phin sua da |
| Official site | https://highlandscoffee.com.vn/ |
What is Highlands Coffee | Vietnam's largest national chain
The founding story
Highlands Coffeeは1999年、ベトナム系アメリカ人のデビッド・タイ氏がハノイで立ち上げたコーヒーブランド。2002年にはホーチミンで1号店をオープンし、そこから全国展開が本格化した。母国ベトナムのコーヒー文化を、誰もが入りやすいモダンなチェーンの形に整え直したのが原点だ。
When Jollibee Foods Group, a major Philippine restaurant company, invested in the 2010s, expansion accelerated, and it has since grown into the country's largest chain with numerous stores. It has become a brand inseparable from everyday life in Vietnam.
Why it is easy for travelers to use
Highlands' strength is that it is everywhere and easy to walk into. With a wide presence in malls, office buildings, and tourist spots across major cities, and support for English menus and picture-based ordering, you can order with confidence even without knowing Vietnamese.
The clean interior in red and brown is uniform in the way you'd expect from a chain, making it handy for everything from your first cup to a work break. It is also ideal as an introductory step before trying the coffee at local street stalls.
Highlands Coffee's signature drinks and their flavors
The signature drink is traditional Vietnamese-style phin coffee. It also offers the frozen "Freeze" series popular with younger customers, plus light snacks, so it works on a hot day or as a meal substitute.
Phin Sữa Đá
The face of Highlands. Strong coffee brewed with a phin (metal filter) combined with condensed milk, this is the classic Vietnamese-style iced coffee. With a good balance of deep richness, the sweetness of condensed milk, and the cool refreshment of ice, it is easy to recommend to travelers as an introduction to Vietnamese coffee.
The Freeze series
House-made frozen drinks blended with ice. The signature item is the matcha-like green tea frozen "Freeze Tra Xanh," perfect for the hot climate. With a lineup that includes caramel, chocolate, and cookies and cream and lets you choose coffee or no coffee, it is highly popular with sweet-tooths and younger customers.
Other popular drinks
| Drink | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Phin Den Da | Black iced coffee with no condensed milk. For those who want to enjoy the coffee's natural bitterness |
| phindi | A new-generation phin coffee made creamy. Mild and easy to drink |
| Lotus tea (Tra Sen) drinks | Lotus-scented tea drinks. An option for those who aren't fond of coffee |
Food and sweets
For snacks, the standard is "Banh Mi Que," a long, thin bread filled with pate. Easy to grab and eat, it goes well with coffee or as a light bite.
Cups that win over reviewers
We have rounded up the well-reviewed items that come up again and again in travel and food-site reviews (focusing on dishes praised across multiple reviews).
| Menu | Why reviewers rate it |
|---|---|
| Phin Sữa Đá | The signature. A rich, sweet cup that many reviews call "perfect as an introduction to Vietnamese coffee" |
| Freeze Tra Xanh (green tea frozen) | A frozen drink praised on hot days, repeatedly named as the standard of the Freeze series |
| Caramel Phin Freeze | A highly popular frozen drink combining coffee and caramel |
| Banh Mi Que | A long, thin bread filled with pate that often comes up in reviews as a snack |
Highlands Coffee's store network and recommended ways to drop by
Scale and coverage area
The country's largest chain, with a wide presence in major cities nationwide, including Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. It is in nearly every large mall, office building, and tourist landmark.
In urban areas you may spot one every few hundred meters, and its appeal is the reassurance that you can just grab a cup between destinations.
Main cities where you can enjoy this store:Ho Chi Minh City・Hanoi・Da Nang・Hai Phong・Da Lat. You can check each city's tourist information from its city page.
Stores easy to visit while sightseeing
There are stores in central tourist areas too, such as along Nguyen Hue Street in Ho Chi Minh City and around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, and many have terrace seats with good views or scenic vantage points.
The atmosphere at Highlands Coffee and how to spend your time
Features of the interior and design
A clean, casual space unified in the brand colors of red and brown. Often bustling with local customers, it is a place you can use freely for anything from chatting with friends to a meeting.
Stores in tourist areas and major malls have English menus and staff who can assist, so foreigners can order without getting lost.
Wi-Fi, power outlets, and how easy it is to linger
Wi-Fi and power outlets are available at many stores, and you'll often see people working on laptops. Avoiding the busy hours of 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and around 3 p.m. makes for a calmer stay.
Highlands Coffee's price guide and payment
| Menu | Price guide |
|---|---|
| Phin sua da | 45,000-65,000 VND (about 300-450 yen) |
| Freeze (frozen) drinks | 65,000–85,000 dong (about 450–580 yen) |
| Banh Mi Que | 45,000–55,000 dong (about 300–380 yen) |
You order and pay at the counter first, receive a number tag, and pick up your drink when your number is called. Most stores accept cash as well as cards and QR payment.
Prices can change by store and season. Check the latest at the counter or on the official menu.
Highlands Coffee's takeout and souvenirs
In-store you'll also find packaged products such as drip bags, ground beans, and instant items, making them easy to pick up as Vietnamese coffee souvenirs.
Highlands Coffee's map, access, and ordering tips
There are stores in nearly every major mall, landmark, and tourist spot, and they are easy to find even in the heart of sightseeing areas, such as along Nguyen Hue Street in Ho Chi Minh City and around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.
Vietnamese phrases for ordering
Here are the basic phrases that come in handy locally. Pointing works, but adding a word makes ordering smoother.
| Vietnamese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cho tôi một … | One [drink], please |
| nóng / đá | Hot / iced |
| ít đường | Less sweet |
| không đường | No sugar |
| ít đá | Less ice |
| mang đi | Takeout |
| ở đây | For here |
| tính tiền | The check, please |
You can check the latest menu, prices, hours, and store listOfficial sitehere.
What to know before visiting Highlands Coffee
How to enjoy it smartly
Start with the signature phin sua da to experience the strength of Vietnamese coffee, and on a hot day or if you like sweet drinks, try the Freeze green tea frozen to get a feel for what makes Highlands distinctive.
Since there is nearly always one along your sightseeing route, it's easy to work into your itinerary as a base for a Wi-Fi break, a meeting point, or a light bite.
Points to note
The phin sua da is quite sweet with condensed milk, so if you don't like sweetness, choose the black "Phin Den Da" or ask for less condensed milk.
Popular hours tend to bring lines and a shortage of seats. If you want a relaxed stay, it's best to avoid the busy periods.
For the history, background, and how to enjoy Highlands Coffee, see the reading column "Learn more about Highlands Coffee.”
🗺️ If you also want to compare it with other cafés,Vietnam's 30 Popular Cafés: A Thorough Comparison Guidelets you browse from a single list.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of chain is Highlands Coffee?
-
1999年にハノイで創業し、2002年にホーチミンで1号店を出したベトナム最大手のコーヒーチェーン。全国の主要都市・モール・観光地に幅広く展開し、旅行者でも気軽にベトナムコーヒーを楽しめる定番店。
- What is the signature menu item?
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The condensed-milk iced coffee "Phin Sua Da," brewed with a phin. The "Freeze" series, such as the green tea frozen, and the snack Banh Mi Que are also popular.
- Does English get through?
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Stores in tourist areas and major malls have English menus and staff support, and you can order with a picture menu or by pointing.
- Is it expensive?
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About 300 to 450 yen for a phin sua da, and about 450 to 580 yen for a Freeze drink. Slightly pricier than local street stalls, but reasonable given the quality and ease of access.
- Which cities is it in?
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Present across Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hai Phong, and Da Lat. You can find one in nearly every major mall and tourist landmark.
