Teens sell Vietnamese salt coffee in Finland

About a dozen customers were already waiting.

The 17-year-old boy from Da Nang was deeply moved the first time he saw people lining up outside in the snow to buy his coffee. "I sell Vietnamese coffee and brew it Vietnamese style so that Finns can better understand our culture," Uy said. "This is also a way for me to cope with homesickness."

Na Uy selling salted coffee in front of a supermarket in the town of Sulkava, Finland, November 2023. Photo courtesy of Na Uy

Uy went to Finland at the start of August for a high school program at Sulkava High School in the southern town of Sulkava.

To get used to the culture and adapt to the pace of life in this Northern European country, started selling salted coffee with two housemates instead of staying home on the weekends. His partners are Phung Gia Phat, 17 years old from Ho Chi Minh City, and Pham Minh Quan, 15 years old from Hanoi.

As for why he chose salt coffee, Uy realized that Fins likes to drink coffee, but only machine-made or bottled – with the taste being very light, devoid of any aroma. He thought if he could introduce this unique Vietnamese-style coffee to the Finns, it could be a success.

Determined to bring the trendy drink from Vietnam to Finland, Uy spent nearly a month testing four types of cream and milk and how to mix them. The 17-year-old boy realized that different types of whipped cream are only good for specific purposes, such as making cakes or tea, and his salt coffee needed a cream that is smooth, moderately sweet, and not too thick. Uy also chose lactose-free milk.

Na Uy, 17 years old (far right) with friends at his coffee counter. Photo courtesy of Na Uy

At the end of October, with three metal drip filters brought from Vietnam, Vietnamese coffee beans bought from an Asian market, old tables and chairs taken from a warehouse, and painted signs in Finnish, English, and Vietnamese, Uy, Phat, and Quan began selling coffee in the parking lot of a local supermarket 500 meters from their home.

Uy chose to open the shop 11am to 3pm because mid-day is the most popular time of day to be outside the house for Finns. Each cup of salt coffee costs 2 euros (VND53,000), milk coffee costs 1.8 euros (VND47,000) and black coffee costs 1.5 euros (VND39,000).

"Sulkava has just over 2,000 residents, and the city's two largest supermarkets are next to each other, so we decided to choose this place to get customers’ attention," Uy explained.

On the first day, Uy stood for nearly four hours with only 6-7 customers. Some potential customers did not like the idea of salty coffee, and others had difficulty communicating with the boys, despite their best efforts to demonstrate how each cup is made.

Winter in Finland is notoriously harsh, making it even more difficult for street vendors like Uy. On days when the temperature dropped to minus 4 degrees, even minus 14 degrees, the three boys spent nearly half an hour clearing the snow to make space for their little shop.

Every 5-10 minutes, dense layers of frost would harden over their table and equipment. There were days when even the pre-made coffee in their thermos froze, and the cream and milk curdled, leaving Uy helpless, forcing him to close the shop early.

"If it's too cold, the three of us light candles to warm up or soak our hands in warm water in the supermarket. Even though it's difficult, we don't give up, so customers can see that drinking a delicious cup of coffee in this weather is even more valuable," Uy said.

Because they sold little and provided a lot of free giveaways in their first couple days of business, they saw no profits. However, the shop began to experience a stable influx of customers beginning on the third and fourth days, fully recouping the initial investment of VND500,000 ($20.54). Most people who drank salt coffee were surprised at how sweet and flavorful the drink was.

Finnish customers waiting to buy salt coffee from Na Uy and his friends, November 2023. Photo courtesy of Na Uy

Korhonen, 60 years old, a regular customer, said he comes every day to drink salt coffee. He said the salted cream is what he is most addicted to, and now he wants to travel to Vietnam to experience more Vietnamese cuisine.

Having traveled more than 40km from Savollina to Sulkava just to drink salt coffee, Viet Hung, 30 years old, said he had not had a chance to visit his hometown in three years and wanted to support his fellow countrymen and enjoy Vietnamese coffee.

"I've heard about salted coffee online but haven't tried it yet. Talking with the boys makes me miss the days of drinking coffee on the sidewalk with my friends in Vietnam," Hung said.

The startup project has also received support from the principal of Uy’s school and the Sulkava City Council. Marttiina Sihvola, principal of Sulkava High School, said she very much encourages this activity because it helps students promote their culture and makes local life in Sulkava more exciting, allowing people to experience new things.

"I asked the city government to allow them to sell in front of supermarkets, as well as help them with advertising on social media," Marttiina said

In December, it snowed relentlessly, the wind was strong, and people rarely went out, so Uy only sold for 2-3 hours a day. But they still managed to retain several regulars. On better days, he sold more than 30 cups. "There are also days when I sell at a loss because I have to throw it away or drink it all myself, but I still feel happy hearing compliments about Vietnamese coffee," Uy said.

For more than two weeks now, videos of Uy and his friends selling salt coffee on the street have attracted millions of views on social media. In addition to words of support, some also contributed ideas such as opening a Vietnamese-style barbecue stall, and making egg coffee.

The encouragement has motivated Uy even more. For now, he dreams of having a small kiosk in the future to protect his shop from the weather.

"Next summer, maybe I will sell Vietnamese-style grilled meat sandwiches."