Vietnamese Coffee With Benefits: Finding Connection in Da Nang, Vietnam

Trí, Cafe Owner, Classical Guitarists, International Performer, Welcoming Barista

For four weeks, I saw my neighbor daily. Sitting outside. Smoking. Relaxing. He presented as a quiet, poised man, always observing.

Then one morning, while walking through the park on my way home, I noticed him standing in his doorway, where the entire front entrance of his home had changed. What was once a plain platform had transformed into a welcoming sidewalk café.

And I was eager to step inside.

What Makes Vietnamese Coffee So Different

Vietnamese coffee isn’t just a beverage—it’s a ritual that sets your pace of living.

At Bon Café in Da Nang, specialty beans are roasted in-house where Tri, the owner, shapes every detail: sourcing, roasting, and creating a space designed for slow, mindful sipping.

Unlike Western coffee culture, which often prizes speed and convenience, Vietnamese coffee invites pause. It’s brewed strong, balanced with condensed milk or served black, and almost always accompanied by conversation.

Tri invited me to smell the beans before and after roasting. He showed me his setup, which he carefully assembled piece by piece. The result in my cup was a rich, smooth Americano with gentle nut and stone-fruit notes.

This is coffee in Vietnam at its most authentic: personal, crafted, and unforgettable.

Watch the video for richer context.

Coffee in Vietnam Meets My Own Story

As I sipped, I remembered how coffee has been part of my story, too. During grad school, I operated a coffee cart, pulling shots at concerts, professional soccer and football games, and even at the ferry dock in Seattle.

Once a barista, always a barista. So, when I meet someone who lives for the craft, I feel a connection.

Trí served more than coffee. He made me a pot of herbal tea and prepared me a plate of fruit—gestures that don’t appear on a menu but define the entire experience.

Solo Travel Lessons Brewed in a Cup

During our conversation, I mentioned how Thich Nhat Hanh had influenced my travel to Vietnam. Tri smiled, then revealed that he had once met this great peace activist—and that he, too, was a student.

Then he reached for my hand and said: “You are my sister.”

If you’re just getting started in solo travel, this is what you should know: connection shows up when you least expect it.

Traveling as a solo woman doesn’t mean being alone. It’s comforting—and inspiring—to meet others whose paths align with yours. Whether that’s through coffee, a hobby, your profession, or values you treasure.

The Secret Sauce of Coffee With Benefits

Bon Café isn’t on a tourist map. It doesn’t have neon lights. But it is proof that true benefits reveal themselves in connection, not transactions.

Stepping into Bon Café opened the door to more than coffee. Each detail added its own reward:

• Belonging by the cup—a neighbor who became family

• Quiet vibe, loud kindness—atmosphere humming with more than music

• Observing community growth—grit and progress visible right from my seat

• Herbal tea on the house—generosity poured, not priced

• Custom brew, made with care—coffee crafted just for me

• A day unhurried—the final gift, calm that I carried with me

Getting Started in Solo Travel? Traveling as a Solo Woman?

You’re not alone.

Travel leaves you with more than photos or souvenirs. It leaves you with moments of kindness that connect you on a deeper human level.

If you find this post inspiring, you can support my work with a coffee😊