On March 27-28, 2026, Robusta green bean prices dropped sharply across the major coffee trading areas of Vietnam's Central Highlands (Tay Nguyen) coffee-growing region — Dak Lak and Gia Lai provinces, along with the former Dak Nong and former Lam Dong areas that were merged into the new Lam Dong Province in the July 2025 administrative restructuring. Dak Lak and Gia Lai recorded 92,500 dong/kg, down 700 dong/kg from the previous day, a sharp drop from the 94,000 dong/kg range in mid-month. The decline reflects three overlapping factors: profit-taking on the global market, a recovery in Arabica stockpiles, and a stronger US dollar.
News overview—the background to the plunge and market trends
Prices as of March 28 at the major coffee trading areas of the Central Highlands (including the new Lam Dong Province, which covers the former Dak Nong and former Lam Dong areas) are as follows.
| Province | Price (VND/kg) | Change from previous day |
|---|---|---|
| Dak Lak Province | 92,500 | ▲700 |
| Gia Lai Province | 92,500 | ▲700 |
| Dak Nong Province | 92,700 | ▲500 |
| Lam Dong Province | 91,700 | ▲500 |
*Following the July 2025 administrative restructuring (National Assembly Resolution 202/2025/QH15), Dak Nong and Lam Dong provinces have now been merged into a single new "Lam Dong Province." The province names in the table above refer to the customary names used in the coffee trading market (the former administrative divisions).
There were three main factors behind this decline.
1. Accelerated profit-taking: Against a Robusta market that had risen for four straight days through March 20, overseas traders concentrated their profit-taking at the high end.
2. Recovery in Arabica stocks: In Brazil, the world's largest Arabica producer, forecasts of a bumper crop strengthened, and Arabica fell 1.30-1.92% on New York futures. With price linkage between Robusta and Arabica at work, domestic Vietnamese prices were pushed down as well.
3. A stronger US dollar: For Vietnam, which exports coffee priced in dollars, a stronger dollar tends to erode the local-currency conversion price. Movements in foreign exchange added to the selling pressure.
Note that from March 20-25, prices had recovered to around 94,000 VND/kg on tightening Robusta supply and demand, so the recent decline is largely a rebound correction from that.
Reactions from Vietnamese readers—voices of farmers and traders
A variety of voices have appeared on social media and in local media over the price swings.
"It was still in the 94,000-dong range last week, but it dropped sharply again all at once. I completely misjudged the timing to sell."
—A farmer in Dak Lak Province (Facebook comment)
"Even if Central Highlands prices fall, shipping prices to coffee processors don't fall in step. This gap hits farmers' incomes directly."
—Comment from a person connected with the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association (VICOFA)
"When Brazil's bumper-crop outlook and a stronger dollar coincide, Robusta gets dragged along too. This is a temporary correction, and I expect it to return to an uptrend from April onward."
—A coffee trader in Ho Chi Minh City (interview with VietnamPlus)
"The structure in which smallholders lose the most every time prices plunge hasn't changed. I'd like the government to expand the price-stabilization fund."
—A forum post related to the Ministry of Agriculture
Impact and key points for Japanese tourists
For travelers visiting coffee-producing regions, these price swings carry several practical implications.
The best timing to buy souvenirs: With green-bean prices in a downward phase now, a slight discount effect can sometimes be reflected in retail prices at local coffee shops and markets. At Central Highlands markets such as Pleiku and Buon Ma Thuot, visiting farmers' direct-sales outlets can let you buy at prices closer to the actual market rate.
The experience value of origin tours: In Gia Lai Province, coffee-farm experience tours are gaining popularity. With prices swinging wildly now, it's a prime chance to hear farmers' voices firsthand. For details, seethe article on Gia Lai Province coffee-farm experience toursas well.
Limited impact on café culture: At popular cafés in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, even when bean-procurement costs fall, it isn't immediately reflected in drink prices. That said, at local cafés (such as cóc cafés), you may enjoy a sense of value linked to green-bean prices.
The global coffee market and Vietnam: As the world's second-largest coffee exporter, Vietnam's price trends also have a medium- to long-term impact on coffee import prices to Japan. Seeing the coffee industry up close during a trip to Vietnam can be a valuable experience for understanding specialty coffee more deeply.
