Vietnam, a popular destination for Koreans, has seen many of its local dishes gain fame among foreign visitors. Alongside iced milk coffee, sugarcane juice has become a favorite.
Michelle, a Korean travel blogger, shared her love for sugarcane juice during her trip to Nha Trang. She described the juice as “moderately sweet, refreshing, and a quintessential Vietnamese drink.” Despite the humble appearance of the juice stalls, which often lack air conditioning and have sugarcane remnants scattered around, Michelle found the flavor worth it. A glass of fresh sugarcane juice costs around 10,000 VND (500 won).
Last summer, YouTuber Honveler visited Da Nang and highlighted the affordability of meals that include sugarcane juice, costing only 2,000 won (nearly 40,000 VND). His video garnered many comments from Koreans curious about the inexpensive yet delicious food in Da Nang.
The Korean version of Veyond even dubbed sugarcane juice “the drink for your soul” of Vietnam. Since sugarcane thrives only in hot and humid tropical climates, it’s a novelty in Korea. In Vietnam, sugarcane is a common crop, easily grown and highly productive, leading to numerous juice shops across the streets. Sugarcane juice can also be mixed with pineapple, kumquat, or even durian.
“The green color might look a bit scary, but sugarcane juice is sweet and enjoyable, perfect for the hot Vietnamese weather,” noted Veyond’s article.
Vietnamese cuisine, including sugarcane juice, has also made its way to Korea. In Tongbok market, Gyeonggi city, a bustling Vietnamese restaurant offers sugarcane and coconut juice. A video by The Food Club showcased the restaurant, prompting viewers to ask for its location.
A Vietnamese sugarcane juice stall at Tongbok market, Pyeongtaek city, Gyeonggi province, South Korea. Photo: The Food Club
According to Yeogi Eottae, hotel bookings from Korean tourists in Vietnam tripled from June to August compared to the same period in 2023. Summer is the perfect time for tourists to enjoy Vietnamese specialties like sugarcane juice, fruit juice, and vegetable juice.