The results of Vietnam's specialty coffee competition "Vietnam Amazing Cup 2026" were announced on April 26, 2026. This eighth edition, held in Dak Lak Province, saw 182 samples entered from 81 producers, of which 83% reached specialty standards. Lam Dong Province took the most awards, sweeping the top two prizes in the Robusta category. It's a result that further raises the quality benchmark of the country's specialty coffee industry.
A competition gathering 7 growing regions and 348 tons
The organizer is the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association, placed under the guidance of the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee. The contest began in 2019 and reached its eighth edition this time. Entries spanned seven growing regions (Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Son La, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Dong Nai), with covered production reaching a total of 348 tons—86 tons of Arabica and 262 tons of Robusta. With a wide range of regions participating, it became a place to evaluate the quality levels of various parts of Vietnam across the board.
Lam Dong Province sweeps the top Robusta spots
In the awards, Lam Dong Province showed a standout presence. In the Robusta category, Ant Bee Tea & Coffee and Nguyen Son Tung tied for first at 85.94 points, and Bui Coffee Supply came third at 85.88, with Lam Dong entries taking the top spots. First in the Arabica category was Gia Lai Province's Tamba Production and Services (85.3 points). Judging was handled by 13 domestic and international experts in the preliminaries and a jury of 12 centered on international judges in the finals, evaluated in line with the standards of the Specialty Coffee Association and the Coffee Quality Institute.
Key data (no prize money in yen equivalent)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Contest name and edition | Vietnam Amazing Cup 2026 (8th, since 2019) |
| Results announcement date and venue | April 26, 2026 / Dak Lak Province |
| Number of entries and producers | 182 samples / 81 producers |
| Participating regions | 7 regions (Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, and others) |
| Covered production | 348 tons total (86 t Arabica / 262 t Robusta) |
| Specialty attainment rate | 83% |
| Robusta 1st (tied) | Ant Bee Tea & Coffee / Nguyen Son Tung (85.94 points each) |
| Arabica 1st | Tamba (Gia Lai Province, 85.3 points) |
How locals see it
The association's chairman said, "The greatest value of this contest isn't the rankings, but strengthening producers' confidence to take on making high-quality coffee," positioning it as a move showing the industry's maturity. Winning producers from Lam Dong Province spoke of a real sense of quality improvement, and for the participating companies it became a valuable chance to earn the evaluation of international judges. The high 83% attainment rate backs up the quality lift across Vietnam as a whole.
Impact on Vietnam fans and travelers
That more producers are reaching specialty standards ties directly to a rise in the quality of the cup you can drink locally. Highland areas like Dak Lak and Lam Dong are also drawing attention as coffee-region tourism destinations, and travelers can now visit the regions and have the experience of savoring award-winning beans. Those who want to know the latest trends in Vietnamese coffee should seethe explanation of the five major café trends of 2026.is a useful reference too.
Ripple effects on the industry
A high attainment rate in the domestic competition pushes forward the flow of Vietnam shifting from a raw-material supplier to a specialty producer. Award-winning regions and producers gain a foothold toward earning recognition in the international market, tying into branding for export too. Sales pitches in Europe and proof of domestic quality are in a two-pronged relationship, a move that also resonates withthe specialty appeal at Berlin's Kaffee Campus 2026.a move that resonates with it.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association |
| Region with the most awards | Lam Dong Province (sweeping the top Robusta spots) |
| Judging criteria | Specialty Coffee Association／Coffee Quality Institute |
| Notable coffee-region tourism destinations | Highland areas such as Dak Lak Province and Lam Dong Province |
Summary
Vietnam Amazing Cup 2026, with 83% of entries reaching specialty standards, showed at a high level that the quality of Vietnam's coffee industry is being steadily lifted. The surge of regions centered on Lam Dong Province is a tailwind on both fronts—earning recognition in the international market and energizing coffee-region tourism. You could call it a contest symbolizing Vietnamese coffee's evolution toward "quality."
Source:Vietnam Plus
