In the middle of Oosterpark in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, a small coffee cart has been turning heads with scenes you would expect to see on the streets of Vietnam - coffee slowly dripping from aluminum filters, customers chatting while sipping bac xiu (Vietnamese white coffee) while sitting on little red plastic stools.

The owner of this distinctly Vietnamese cart is not a Vietnamese expat but rather a 28-year-old Croatian man named Matko Kmezic who now lives in Amsterdam. 

His main job has nothing to do with coffee or food. From Monday to Thursday every week, Matko works as a physical therapist, helping patients recover from injuries. For the last three days of the week, he becomes a "cafe owner," bringing his small cart called "Viet Drip" to the park and serving coffee from around 10:30am to 4pm, weather permitting.

The menu features eight classic Vietnamese coffee drinks: hot black coffee, iced black coffee, hot coffee with condensed milk, iced coffee with condensed milk, bac xiu, salt coffee, coconut milk coffee, and egg coffee.

Recently, videos showcasing the Vietnamese coffee cart in the heart of Europe have gone viral on social media, attracting millions of views.

Captivated by Vietnam's coffee culture

Matko launched Viet Drip in August 2024. The coffee cart was converted from a bakfiets, a traditional Dutch cargo bicycle, with help from his father. Matko handles customer service himself, while his fiancée supports the business behind the scenes.

Matko said he first came to Vietnam in 2018 and spent nearly a year living there. The extended stay allowed him not only to visit tourist attractions but also to immerse himself in everyday Vietnamese life.

The memories that stayed with him were surprisingly simple: roadside eateries, shared meals, glasses of iced tea, and the ease with which people gathered to chat.

Coffee soon became one of the most memorable parts of that experience.

Before visiting Vietnam, Matko was not a regular coffee drinker. But he gradually fell in love with the country's strong coffee and its distinctive coffee culture.

He was particularly struck by the sight of people sitting on low plastic stools along the sidewalks, leisurely enjoying a cup of coffee alongside a glass of iced tea while talking with friends.

Having coffee in Vietnam felt like a way of connecting with people rather than simply drinking coffee.

After returning to Europe, Matko found it difficult to recreate that feeling. In the Netherlands, coffee culture is mainly about espresso or filter coffee.

That sense of nostalgia eventually inspired Viet Drip.

"I didn't just want to sell coffee. I wanted to share Vietnam's coffee culture, the culture I fell in love with while living there," he said.

His goal is for customers not only to taste Vietnamese coffee but also to slow down, sit on a small plastic stool and enjoy meaningful conversations.

Many Dutch customers, unfamiliar with sitting so close to the ground while drinking coffee, initially visit out of curiosity before embracing the uniquely Vietnamese experience.

Winning over Vietnamese expats, European customers

Matko uses 100 percent Robusta coffee from Buon Ma Thuot, imported from Vietnam, roasted in the Netherlands, and brewed according to Viet Drip's own recipes. To serve customers quickly, he prepares the coffee in advance using traditional phin filters and finishes each drink after an order is placed, taking just 30 to 60 seconds.

For Matko, the challenge extends beyond making a good cup of coffee.

He must introduce a flavor deeply familiar to Vietnamese people while adapting it to European palates without sacrificing its authenticity.

Vietnamese coffee is typically stronger and sweeter than the coffee most Dutch consumers are accustomed to. First-time customers are often surprised by the intense Robusta flavor and the use of sweetened condensed milk.

"I usually prepare the coffee while explaining the phin filter, Robusta beans, and why Vietnamese people can spend hours over a small cup of coffee," he said. "Fortunately, the flavor is quite approachable. After trying it, most Western customers respond very positively."

The customers who matter most to Matko, however, are Vietnamese people living abroad.

"They know exactly what authentic Vietnamese coffee should taste like," he said. Positive feedback from Vietnamese customers gives him the greatest satisfaction.

Others have never been to Vietnam, but after trying a cup of coffee, they begin asking Matko about the country's people, culture, and daily life.

Linh Trang