Since you've come all the way to Vietnam, you'll want to try a café chain that doesn't exist in Japan!
For travelers like that, we'd recommend Vietnam's leading national café chain,Highlands Coffee.
Often called "the Starbucks of Vietnam," Highlands Coffee has been expanding as a café chain where you can easily enjoy traditional Vietnamese coffee.
Japanese travelersI'm curious about Highlands Coffee, but I hesitate to walk in...
This article gives a thorough rundown of drinks that are easy to order even for first-timers, along with recommended souvenirs.
What Is Highlands Coffee, Vietnam's Largest Coffee Chain?
Highlands Coffee is Vietnam's largest café chain.
Here we introduce its history, atmosphere, and price range.
How Highlands Coffee Became Vietnam's Largest Coffee Chain
The story of Highlands Coffee begins with its founder, David Thai.
ハイランズコーヒーの創業は1999年。ベトナムのコーヒーと、人が集まる場所への思いから生まれたブランドです。路上の小さな店で親しまれてきたコーヒーを、現代的なカフェでも楽しめるように広げてきました。伝統的なフィンコーヒーが看板なのも、このブランドらしさです。
After the Philippine restaurant giant Jollibee Foods Corporation took a stake in the 2010s, store openings accelerated, and it has grown into the largest chain, with numerous locations across the country.
2026年9月23日のジョリビーグループの発表では、店舗数は1,000店を超えています。
In urban areas, you can sometimes spot two or three Highlands Coffee locations within a few hundred meters of each other.
Highlands Coffee's Menu and Price Range
カフェスアダー（コンデンスミルク入りコーヒー）は、公式メニューでは29,000ドン～。円換算は1万ドン＝約60円で計算すると約174円が目安です。サイズや店舗によって価格が異なるため、注文時の表示で確かめましょう。
Beyond Vietnamese-coffee-based drinks, the menu offers a wide variety, including matcha drinks, espresso-based options like Americano and lattes, and tea.
ベトナム人にとっての憩いの場であるハイランズコーヒー
Highlands Coffee is a café people use regularly for socializing, studying, or work. Visitors range widely in age from young people to middle-aged and older customers, and the interior is full of energy.
時間帯や店舗によりますが、談笑する人が増えると賑やかな雰囲気になることが多いです。街の普段の空気に触れたい休憩には向いていますが、静かに読書したいときは、注文前に席の様子を見て選ぶとよさそうです。
Recommended for Japanese Tourists Too
Highlands Coffee also works well as a rest stop for Japanese tourists.
- Wi-Fiを利用できる店舗がある
- Easier to try Vietnamese coffee than at a local shop
- Menu available in English (no Japanese menu)
- You can order just by pointing
- 屋内席ならエアコンの効いた空間で休憩しやすい
- Easy to find thanks to its many locations
If you want to enjoy coffee you can't get in Japan but feel uneasy about hygiene or aren't sure which café to choose, start by trying Highlands Coffee.
Order This First! Recommended Drinks at Highlands Coffee
From Highlands Coffee's extensive menu, here's a rundown of recommendations by category and who they suit.
- If you want to enjoy Vietnamese coffee: the Phin series
- If you want a dessert-like drink: the Freeze series
- If you want a familiar Americano or latte: the Espresso series
- If you're not a coffee person: the Tra (tea) series
Phin Series: Ca Phe Sua Da (Phin Sua Da)
At Highlands Coffee, you can enjoy drinks based on traditional Vietnamese coffee.
おすすめメニューはフィン・スア・ダー（Phin Sua Da）。ロブスタ種にアラビカ種を加えたコーヒーに、コンデンスミルク（練乳）と氷を合わせたものです。ベトナムらしい濃いコーヒーと甘さの組み合わせを試すなら、まずはこの一杯が選びやすいでしょう。
Since it's quite sweet, it's perfect for when you want an energy boost during your trip.
Here are the Vietnamese coffees you can enjoy at Highlands Coffee.
- Phin Sua Da: iced coffee with condensed milk
- Phin Den Da: Vietnamese-style iced coffee known for the bitterness of Robusta beans
- Phin Bac Xiu: condensed milk and milk mixed with a small amount of Vietnamese coffee
The Freeze Series
Popular among young Vietnamese people is "Freeze," a frozen drink blended with ice.
Here are the popular menu items.
- Green Tea Freeze: 緑茶ベースのフローズンドリンクに「お茶のゼリー」とクリームを合わせた一杯。公式説明ではコーヒーゼリーではなく、お茶のゼリーです。クリーミーな口当たりと、ゼリーの食感を一緒に楽しめます。
- Classic Café Freeze: フィンコーヒーにコーヒーゼリーと氷を合わせ、上にホイップクリームとココアパウダーを乗せたもの。コーヒーらしい風味もデザート感も欲しいときに向いています。
The Espresso Series
Highlands Coffee also offers Americano- and latte-style drinks, not just Vietnamese coffee and dessert-style beverages.
Some people find the richness of Vietnamese coffee too heavy, so ordering something familiar can be a safe choice.
お茶シリーズの推しは蓮の実入りティー（Tra Sen Vang）
If you're not a fan of coffee or want something refreshing, go for a tea-based drink.
"Golden Lotus Tea (Tra Sen Vang)"の蓮の実入りタイプは、ウーロン茶をベースに「蓮の実」とクリームを合わせたドリンクです。蓮の実入りの「Sen」と、クワイの食感が楽しめる「Củ Năng」があるので、名前の後半まで見て選んでみてください。
クリームのまろやかさと、お茶の香りを一緒に楽しめるのが特徴です。蓮の実のほくっとした食感もあるので、ストレートのお茶よりも、ちょっとしたおやつに近い感覚で選ぶとイメージしやすいでしょう。
It looks like it would be extremely sweet, which can make people hesitant, but it's actually a lighter, more refreshing drink than expected.
The Food Menu Is Great Too — Try the Banh Mi Que!
Highlands Coffee offers more than just drinks — its food menu, including bread and cakes, is substantial too.
Among them, the recommended "Banh Mi Que" is a classic Vietnamese snack made of pate and other fillings tucked into a long, slender roll.
It's smaller and easier to eat than a regular banh mi, making it a good pick even for newcomers to Vietnamese food. Try it as a light bite alongside your coffee.
Recommended Souvenirs From Highlands Coffee
ハイランズはお土産も充実しています。ロゴ入りのタンブラーや持ち帰り用のコーヒーなど、旅先のカフェの思い出を自宅でも楽しめるアイテムを選べます。
Highlands' Original Tumbler
Highlands Coffee also sells original tumblers with distinctly Vietnamese designs.
Some feature illustrations of non la (Vietnam's traditional conical hat), cityscapes, and other Vietnam-themed imagery, making them a great memento of your trip. Beyond simple logo designs, the patterns change seasonally, so check them out if you spot one you like.
Some designs are stylish enough to use easily back in Japan, too, making them handy as souvenirs.
Coffee Beans and Phin Filters
At Highlands Coffee, beyond the drinks you enjoy in-store,take-home products like ground coffee and instant coffeeare also sold.
Some locations also sell the phin, the metal filter used to brew Vietnamese coffee.
自宅でもベトナムコーヒーの味を楽しめるため、コーヒー好きへのお土産にもおすすめです。相手が器具を持っているか分からないときはインスタント、ゆっくり淹れる時間も贈りたいならコーヒー粉とフィン、という選び分けができます。
How to Order at Highlands Coffee: Tips for First-Timers
Here's how to order and what to keep in mind, so Japanese tourists can use the café with confidence.
How to order
It's basically a self-service system.
- Order and pay at the counter. There's no Japanese-language menu.
- Receive a call buzzer.
- When the buzzer rings, go to the counter to pick it up. * Food like banh mi may take a little time to prepare.
Handy points to remember
Some items can't be adjusted, but if you're not a fan of sweet drinks, say "Less Sugar" or order an Americano or café latte instead.
Many items in the Freeze series come topped with whipped cream, so if you'd rather skip it, say "No cream."
Highlands Coffee Is Also a Great Spot for Japanese Travelers
Highlands Coffee is a place where you can feel the energy of Vietnam's rapid growth while it still holds onto its traditional coffee culture.
As a relatively clean spot where you can casually enjoy coffee, it also works well as a rest stop for Japanese tourists.
Be sure to head to Highlands Coffee, a coffee chain you won't find in Japan, on your next visit to Vietnam. It offers a relaxing break while giving you an easy way to experience Vietnamese culture.
