Choi Jong-rak, a Korean YouTuber living in Ho Chi Minh City for over five years, runs a YouTube channel with his brother Sungrak and another friend. They frequently share videos about culture, lifestyle, and culinary experiences in Vietnam and Korea.

The trio's YouTube channel has amassed over 924,000 followers, with each video garnering tens of thousands to millions of views.

Jong-rak, passionate about Vietnamese cuisine, often travels to explore and enjoy various delicacies across the country. He is willing to try dishes ranging from street food to high-end restaurant fare, and from super cheap to very expensive options.

Recently, Jong-rak visited a café on Pasteur Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, to try a coffee priced at 500,000 VND. He was curious to see how this expensive version of a common Vietnamese beverage would taste.

The café offers a range of coffees priced between 110,000 VND and 500,000 VND per cup.

The high cost of the coffee is due to the premium beans used, harvested from famous farms in countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Ethiopia.

After reviewing the menu, Jong-rak chose a coffee made from Sudan Rume beans, harvested from the renowned Las Margaritas farm in the Valle del Cauca valley of Colombia.

This coffee features a blend of eucalyptus, jasmine, and lemon peel aromas. On the market, these beans sell for about $120 per kilogram.

While tasting, Jong-rak remarked that the coffee had a slight acidity and a rich aroma from the roasted beans. "It feels like I'm in Colombia," he joked.

This was Jong-rak's first time tasting such an expensive coffee in Vietnam. For a more affordable option, he has previously enjoyed black iced coffee without sugar for 13,000 VND per cup, finding it fresh and flavorful.

Jong-rak noted that different types of coffee have distinct flavors depending on the ingredients and preparation methods. Robusta coffee tends to be bitter, while Arabica coffee is notable for its acidity.

Depending on their preferences, visitors can choose and enjoy various types of coffee.

Beneath Jong-rak’s video about his experience with "the most expensive coffee in Vietnam," many netizens shared their opinions on this familiar beverage.

Some argued that the high-priced coffee is of a different quality and worth trying at least once in a lifetime.

"Those who truly appreciate coffee flavors won't mind the price, as long as they find it delicious and satisfying," commented user Dung Pham.

"Foreign tourists seem to prefer this type of coffee over Vietnamese coffee. The price includes both the ambiance and the service; you get what you pay for," added Ngoc Nga.

"The 500,000 VND coffee uses specialty beans from around the world, imported from countries in the Americas and Africa, with rich flavors ranging from tea and vanilla to various fruits. To prepare this type of coffee, staff need extensive knowledge and modern equipment," noted user @VoBrista.

Café culture is famous in Vietnam, beloved by both domestic and international tourists. Many find Vietnamese coffee more appealing due to its affordability and variety, such as black coffee, milk coffee, and egg coffee.

"If you're used to Vietnamese coffee, you might not like imported varieties. Plus, the price is much cheaper; about 30,000 VND can get you a generous cup of milk coffee," suggested Tai Tran.

"It's no wonder foreign tourists love Vietnamese coffee. Those with a strong palate will enjoy black coffee, while those who prefer a milder taste can try milk coffee, egg coffee, or white coffee," shared Thuy Linh.

"Everyone has their own taste and preferences, so opinions on coffee types are personal. If you can, try both expensive and cheap coffee; if not, try the street coffee in Vietnam for about 10,000 – 15,000 VND per cup," recommended Ninh Anh.