Coffee troubles

I think you all know I like my Starbucks. Well, there is no such thing as a Starbucks in Vietnam. It's one part of the world they have not conquered. I wonder what's taking them so long? Speaking of American fast foods in Vietnam...Kentucky Fried Chicken is here (but not McDonald's). I think KFC is here, because Colonel Sanders looks vaguely like Ho Chi Minh. Just an observation.

Anyways, back to coffee. You'd think it would be simple to get a regular cup of coffee here. After all, it is the single most popular drink in the world (I heard that somewhere). It's more popular than beer, tea or water. But here in Vietnam, they have their own special version, appropriately called 'Vietnamese Coffee'. Clever. This version of coffee is a super thick espresso-type coffee that takes about 10 minutes to seep through a sieve into the cup. You add sweet condensed milk and ice if you want it, and then drink. So, when you order a black coffee, that's what you get.

When I try to explain that I want a 'regular' coffee, I am met with a lot of puzzled looks and need to give long explanations. They just don't brew coffee here. It's either Vietnamese coffee, or if you're lucky, espresso. Today, I was in a small cafe that seemed pretty westernized. Nice, trendy place - with lots of smokers, of course. I ordered a black coffee, and got the Vietnamese coffee. Send it back, and ask for a 'regular black drip coffee'. No such thing. Americano? No to that, too. I can have a latte or cappuccino, but not espresso with water. So strange.

I found one coffee shop that understands the western version of coffee. It's called Highlands Coffee, and it's popular with the Tourist Set. They make Americanos here, and have free WiFi (which is where I am writing this from). I realize that I am not in Canada anymore. And I should adapt to the way things are done 'over here'. But, when it comes to coffee, I think Vietnam stands alone. Of all the other countries I've been to in Asia, getting a regular cup of coffee is pretty easy.