Tran Trong An, a tourist from Hanoi, said he visited Me Linh Coffee Garden in Ta Nung, Cam Ly Ward, Da Lat on 2/8 at the suggestion of a taxi driver. An's group ordered eight drinks, including coffee, milk tea, and fruit tea, for a total of 870,000 VND. According to An, the cafe clearly listed the prices, but they were too high compared to the quality.
He compared it to good milk tea in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which costs only 60,000-70,000 VND per cup – the cafe charged double. An Americano at a globally renowned coffee chain is only 60,000 VND, but the cafe charged 110,000 VND.
"The prices were public, I accepted them, but I also feel bad for Da Lat. The climate is wonderful, so they charge exorbitant prices," he said.
On the morning of 3/8, An also drank an Americano at a cafe overlooking Xuan Huong Lake, where the quality was comparable but the price was only 60,000 VND per cup.
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The 120,000 VND cup of coffee. Photo: NVCC |
An's story about the 120,000 VND cup of coffee attracted more than 3,000 comments on his personal page. Most agreed that the prices were too high, especially the 120,000 VND milk tea. Some shared that they left the cafe immediately after seeing the menu because the prices were much higher than the average in Da Lat.
"I also sell coffee in Da Lat, and people complain that 25,000 VND is expensive," Trang Anh commented.
"Truly shocked when I saw the price," was Phan Huong's opinion.
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An's bill. Photo: NVCC |
Meanwhile, some of the cafe's regulars emphasized that the price included the entrance fee to the coffee farm and photo opportunities. "They've been around for more than a decade for a reason," Tran Hung said.
A representative of Me Linh Coffee Garden said they were aware of An's post and confirmed this was the first time they encountered such an incident. The representative explained that many customers who inquired about the high prices were told that the cafe uses Arabica weasel coffee beans, which sell for about 4.8 million VND per kilogram; milk tea and fruit tea are "made with fresh, carefully selected ingredients."
The price includes the cost of visiting the weasel farm and weasel coffee production area, as well as photo opportunities. In addition, the cafe has live music performed by local artists from morning to evening for customers.
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The cafe's weasel farm. Photo: Me Linh Coffee Garden |
The cafe representative also said that all customers are clearly informed about the prices and included services, which is why they have been supported by customers for the past 15 years.
However, An said he did not receive any consultation and commented that overall the cafe "has nothing worth visiting" and the restroom "smelled a bit."
According to a specialty coffee expert in Hanoi, weasel coffee is classified as "special coffee" due to its unique production process. The expert has tried it but didn't find the flavor particularly special. However, the high price of this type of coffee – even from caged weasels – is still acceptable if it's publicly listed.
Tu Nguyen
