{"id":2685,"date":"2026-05-11T19:02:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T10:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/news\/daklak-coffee-unesco\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T19:02:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T10:02:59","slug":"daklak-coffee-unesco","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/daklak-coffee-unesco\/","title":{"rendered":"Dak Lak Province\u2019s coffee cultivation heads toward UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage\u2014the \u201cWorld Coffee Heritage Forum\u201d gets underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

From April 17 to 19, 2026, the \u201cWorld Coffee Heritage Forum\u201d was held in Buon Ma Thuot, the capital of Dak Lak Province in Vietnam\u2019s Central Highlands. The theme was \u201cFrom diverse traditions to a living global heritage.\u201d Representatives from UNESCO, the FAO, Thailand, and other countries gathered, and a concrete path was discussed for nominating knowledge related to Dak Lak Province\u2019s coffee cultivation and processing to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.<\/p>\n

Vietnam is the world\u2019s second-largest coffee-producing country after Brazil, with Dak Lak Province at its core. Centered on the Robusta variety, the province alone accounts for about 30% of the country\u2019s output. In March 2025, Vietnam\u2019s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism officially recognized \u201cthe knowledge of coffee cultivation and processing in Dak Lak\u201d as a national intangible cultural heritage, and this forum served as international groundwork toward the application to UNESCO.<\/p>\n

What was discussed at the forum<\/h2>\n

About 40 research papers and presentations were delivered at the forum. The themes are structured around four pillars.<\/p>\n

The first is \u201cthe history and cultural heritage of the world\u2019s coffee.\u201d It reported on the transmission routes of coffee\u2014spreading from Ethiopia through the Arabian Peninsula and Europe to Asia\u2014and the drinking cultures that developed independently in each region.<\/p>\n

The second is \u201cthe knowledge system of cultivation and processing techniques.\u201d It emphasized that the cultivation know-how handed down over many generations by Dak Lak\u2019s ethnic minorities, the Ede and Jarai peoples, is not mere agricultural technique but \u201ca living knowledge heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n

The third is \u201ccoffee as a consumption culture.\u201d It analyzed Vietnam\u2019s distinctive drip culture using the phin (metal filter) and the social role of condensed-milk coffee (ca phe sua da).<\/p>\n

The fourth is \u201cheritage preservation and sustainable development.\u201d A discussion was held on how to reconcile growth as an industry with preservation as cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

Vietnam\u2019s coffee industry in numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Indicator<\/th>\nFigure<\/th>\nNotes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
World production ranking<\/td>\n2nd<\/td>\nAfter Brazil<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World share of the Robusta variety<\/td>\n1st<\/td>\nAbout 40% of the world\u2019s Robusta production<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dak Lak Province\u2019s domestic share<\/td>\nAbout 30%<\/td>\nVietnam\u2019s largest production area<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coffee export value to Germany (2025)<\/td>\nUS$1.22 billion (about 185 billion yen)<\/td>\nThe second-largest supplier after Brazil<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National intangible cultural heritage recognition<\/td>\nMarch 2025<\/td>\nBy the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UNESCO application<\/td>\nIn preparation<\/td>\nConcrete discussion at this forum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Voices of participants and stakeholders<\/h2>\n
\n

\u201cThis initiative raises the added value of Vietnam\u2019s coffee industry and strengthens our country\u2019s standing on the world coffee map.\u201d\u2014Nguyen Minh Vu, Deputy Foreign Minister<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

\u201cCoffee is not a mere agricultural product but a ”living heritage” embodying knowledge, customs, and spiritual value.\u201d\u2014a shared view of forum participants<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

\u201cWe position Buon Ma Thuot as a global coffee hub and promote building a brand with a production-area identity.\u201d\u2014Dak Lak Province People\u2019s Committee<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The impact on Japanese coffee lovers<\/h2>\n

Japan is one of the major importers of Vietnamese coffee. Much of the Robusta used in convenience-store coffee and instant coffee is from Vietnam, and many people are drinking Dak Lak coffee without knowing it.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the awareness and brand value of Vietnamese coffee will surely rise. In the specialty coffee market, Dak Lak-grown Arabica has already begun to attract attention.The egg coffee served at Hanoi\u2019s Cafe Giang<\/a>\u2014as with this, the trend of Vietnam\u2019s unique drinking styles being internationally valued will likely accelerate too.<\/p>\n

The industrial transformation that turning coffee culture into heritage brings<\/h2>\n

UNESCO registration is also significant as a tourism resource.The Da Nang fireworks festival DIFF 2026<\/a>\u2014in addition to event tourism like this, there\u2019s potential for Dak Lak Province\u2019s \u201ccoffee-plantation tours\u201d to grow as a new tourism product. Buon Ma Thuot already has the World Coffee Museum, which also served as the forum venue.<\/p>\n

On the industrial side, the branding of \u201cheritage coffee\u201d is expected to raise the price of the Robusta variety. Robusta, currently traded cheaper than Arabica, could realistically shift into a premium price range as a cultural story is added.It\u2019s the same structure as the case where Phu Quoc Island\u2019s nuoc mam raised its value with a GI (geographical indication).<\/a>The same structure as this case.<\/p>\n

A guide to visiting Buon Ma Thuot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nDetails<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Access<\/td>\nAbout one hour by domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Buon Ma Thuot Airport (BMV)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best season<\/td>\nNovember\u2013April (dry season). The coffee harvest season is October\u2013January<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World Coffee Museum<\/td>\nIn Buon Ma Thuot. Exhibits the history of coffee and various countries\u2019 drinking cultures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coffee-plantation tour<\/td>\nHalf-day to one-day tours can be arranged through local travel agencies. Harvest and roasting experiences included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Signature coffee<\/td>\nCa phe phin (iced coffee with condensed milk). 15,000\u201330,000 VND a cup (about 90\u2013180 yen)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lodging<\/td>\nAbout 3,000\u20138,000 yen a night for a hotel in the city<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Summary<\/h2>\n

Whether Dak Lak Province\u2019s coffee culture will be formally registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage rests on the application process over the coming years. But the fact that it has already been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, and that UNESCO and experts from various countries took their seats at the discussion table at an international forum, is significant. The day when Vietnam\u2019s cultural diversity is recognized by the world through coffee is surely drawing near.<\/p>\n

Citations and references<\/h2>\n