1. How to Say Drinks in Vietnamese
The Vietnamese word for drink is đồ uống or thức uống.
• Đồ uống - Drinks / Beverages
• Thức uống - Beverages (more formal)
• Nước - Water / Drink (commonly used in daily conversations)
For example:
• Cho tôi một cốc trà đá - Give me a glass of iced tea
• Cho tôi một chai nước. - Give me a bottle of water.
• Bạn muốn uống gì? - What would you like to drink?
• Tôi muốn uống cà phê. - I want to drink coffee.
• Cho tôi một ly cà phê sữa đá. - Give me an iced coffee with condensed milk.
• Nước này ngon quá. - This drink is very delicious.
In everyday Vietnamese, people often use nước before the name of a drink:
• Nước cam - Orange juice
• Nước dừa - Coconut water
• Nước chanh - Lemonade
2. Popular Drinks in Vietnamese
*Coffee - Cà phê
Coffee is one of the most famous drinks in Vietnam. Vietnamese coffee culture developed during the French colonial period and has become an important part of modern Vietnamese life. The most popular type is cà phê sữa đá, which means iced coffee with condensed milk. It is made with strong Vietnamese coffee, sweet condensed milk, and ice, creating a rich, sweet, and refreshing flavor that is loved by both locals and visitors.
Common coffee names in Vietnamese:
• Cà phê - Coffee
• Cà phê đen - Black coffee
• Cà phê sữa - Coffee with condensed milk
• Cà phê sữa đá - Iced coffee with condensed milk
• Cà phê đá - Iced black coffee
• Cà phê trứng - Egg coffee
Example:
• Tôi uống cà phê sữa đá mỗi sáng.
I drink iced coffee with condensed milk every morning.
*Tea - Trà
Tea has been part of Vietnamese culture for hundreds of years. Many Vietnamese families drink tea when welcoming guests, relaxing, or during traditional ceremonies.
Common types of tea in Vietnamese:
• Trà - Tea
• Trà xanh - Green tea
• Trà sen - Lotus tea
• Trà gừng - Ginger tea
• Trà đào - Peach tea
• Trà tắc - Kumquat tea
• Trà đá - Iced tea
Trà đá (Vietnamese iced tea) is one of the most common drinks in Vietnam. It is often served with meals at restaurants, street food stalls, and local drink shops. Simple, refreshing, and affordable, trà đá has become an important part of everyday Vietnamese dining culture. In contrast, trà sen (lotus tea) is a traditional Vietnamese tea known for its elegant fragrance and deep connection with Vietnamese culture. Made by infusing tea leaves with the natural scent of lotus flowers, it represents the refined and delicate tea culture of Vietnam.
Example:
• Người Việt thường uống trà khi trò chuyện.
Vietnamese people often drink tea while chatting.
*Water - Nước
Water is called nước in Vietnamese. It is the most basic and essential drink in daily life.
Common water-related words:
• Nước lọc - Filtered water / Drinking water
• Nước khoáng - Mineral water
• Nước đá - Ice
• Nước nóng - Hot water
• Nước lạnh - Cold water
In Vietnam, many restaurants provide free trà đá (iced tea) or drinking water for customers.
*Fruit Drinks - Nước Trái Cây
Because Vietnam has a tropical climate, many fresh fruits are available throughout the year. Fruit drinks are popular because they are refreshing and healthy.
Common fruit drinks in Vietnamese:
• Nước cam - Orange juice
• Nước chanh - Lemonade
• Nước mía - Sugarcane juice
• Nước dừa - Coconut water
• Nước ép trái cây - Fruit juice
• Sinh tố - Smoothie
• Nước ép xoài - Mango juice
• Nước ép dứa - Pineapple juice
• Nước ép dưa hấu - Watermelon juice
Sinh tố is a popular Vietnamese-style smoothie made by blending fresh fruits with ice, milk, or yogurt.
Example:
• Tôi thích uống sinh tố bơ.
I like drinking avocado smoothies.
*Soft Drinks - Nước Ngọt
Soft drinks are also common in Vietnam, especially among young people and in restaurants.
Common names:
• Nước ngọt - Soft drink
• Nước có ga - Carbonated drink
• Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola
• Pepsi - Pepsi
• Sting - Sting Energy
• 7 Up - 7 Up
• Bò húc - Red Bull
• Cà phê lon - Canned coffee
Example:
• Trẻ em thường thích nước ngọt có ga.
Children often like carbonated soft drinks.
*Milk and Dairy Drinks - Sữa
Milk is called sữa in Vietnamese. Milk drinks are popular among children and adults.
Common milk-related words:
• Sữa tươi - Fresh milk
• Sữa chua - Yogurt
• Sữa đậu nành - Soy milk
• Sữa bò - Cow's milk
• Sữa đặc - Condensed milk
Sữa đậu nành is a traditional plant-based drink that many Vietnamese people enjoy for breakfast or in the evening.
*Herbal Drinks - Nước Thảo Mộc
Traditional herbal drinks are common in Vietnam, especially during hot weather. Many people believe these drinks help cool the body and support health.
Popular herbal drinks include:
• Nước sâm - Herbal tea drink
• Nước atiso - Artichoke tea
• Trà gừng - Ginger tea
• Nước lá vối - Vối leaf tea
These drinks are often sold at local markets, street stalls, and small shops.
*Bubble Tea - Trà Sữa
Bubble tea, known as trà sữa in Vietnamese, has become extremely popular among young people in Vietnam.
Common words:
• Trà sữa - Milk tea
• Trà sữa - Milk tea
• Trân châu - Tapioca pearls
• Trà sữa trân châu - Bubble milk tea
Many Vietnamese cities have hundreds of tea shops selling different flavors of milk tea.
3. Traditional Vietnamese Drinks
Vietnam has many traditional beverages connected with local culture and history. These drinks are not only refreshing but also reflect the lifestyle, habits, and tastes of Vietnamese people.
Nước mía - Sugarcane Juice
Nước mía is a refreshing drink made by pressing sugarcane. It is especially popular during hot summer days. With its naturally sweet taste and cooling effect, sugarcane juice is a favorite street drink that can be found in many places across Vietnam.
Nước sấu - Dracontomelon Drink
Nước sấu is a sweet and sour drink made from sấu fruit, a fruit commonly found in northern Vietnam. It has a unique flavor and is often enjoyed during summer when the weather is hot. This drink is especially popular in Hanoi and other northern provinces.
Nước chanh - Vietnamese Lemonade
Nước chanh is a simple but popular drink made from fresh lime or lemon juice, sugar, and water. It is a refreshing beverage that can be found in many Vietnamese homes, restaurants, and street drink stalls.
Nước dừa - Coconut Water
Nước dừa is a natural drink made from fresh coconuts. It is especially popular in southern Vietnam, where coconut trees are widely grown. With its sweet and refreshing taste, coconut water is a popular choice for cooling down on hot days and is enjoyed by people of all ages.
Trà đá - Vietnamese Iced Tea
Trà đá is one of the most common drinks in Vietnam. It is usually made from green tea or black tea and served with ice. Many Vietnamese restaurants offer free iced tea to customers, making it an important part of everyday dining culture. A simple glass of iced tea is often enjoyed with meals and conversations with family or friends.
Cà phê - Vietnamese Coffee
Cà phê is one of Vietnam’s most famous beverages and has become an important part of Vietnamese culture. Vietnamese coffee is known for its strong flavor and traditional brewing method using a small metal filter called a phin. It is often enjoyed with condensed milk, creating the popular drink cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk), which is loved by both locals and international visitors.
4. Useful Vietnamese Drink Vocabulary
• Drink - Đồ uống / Thức uống
• Water - Nước
• Coffee - Cà phê
• Tea - Trà
• Milk - Sữa
• Juice - Nước ép
• Smoothie - Sinh tố
• Soft drink - Nước ngọt
• Beer - Bia
• Ice - Đá
• Sugar - Đường
• Sweet - Ngọt
• Cold - Lạnh
• Hot - Nóng
5. How to Order Drinks in Vietnamese
When ordering a drink in Vietnam, you can use these simple phrases:
• Cho tôi một ly cà phê.
Give me a coffee, please.
• Tôi muốn một cốc trà sữa.
I would like a cup of milk tea.
• Cho tôi một chai nước.
Give me a bottle of water.
• Không đá.
No ice.
• Ít đường.
Less sugar.
• Nhiều đá.
More ice.
6. Conclusion
Vietnamese drinks reflect the country's culture, climate, and lifestyle. From the strong flavor of cà phê sữa đá and the traditional elegance of trà sen to refreshing fruit juices and modern beverages like trà sữa, Vietnam offers a wide variety of drinks for both locals and visitors to enjoy. Learning the names of drinks in Vietnamese is a useful way to expand your vocabulary and gain a deeper understanding of everyday conversations and Vietnamese drinking culture.