Vietnamese coffee chains emerge among Southeast Asia’s largest
Vietnam’s chain coffee has secured a position among Southeast Asia’s leading market, ranking third by value at an estimated US$725 million and posting one of the region’s fastest growth rates at 27%.
A recent report by Momentum Works shows that Southeast Asia’s modern tea and coffee market expanded to US$9.9 billion in 2025, marking a 52% increase from US$6.5 billion in 2021.
The study highlights a shift in the industry, with beverage chains increasingly adopting industrial-scale operating models rather than competing primarily through products or brand recognition alone.
Over the four-year period since 2021, the regional modern tea and beverage market has grown rapidly, with 11 brands surpassing the 1,000-outlet milestone. Notably, eight of these brands originated within Southeast Asia.
In the coffee segment, Indonesia remains the region’s largest modern coffee chain market, with its market value exceeding US$1 billion in 2025.
According to the report, strong growth reflects both rapid network expansion and consumers’ rising willingness to spend on branded coffee. Competitive advantage, however, is increasingly defined by operational capacity.
Weihan Chen, head of market research at Momentum Works, noted that success now hinges less on having the best beverages or the largest store network, and more on building robust operational systems spanning supply chains, store management processes and digital infrastructure.
As of February 2026, Southeast Asia counted seven coffee chains operating more than 1,000 outlets each. Regional giants Café Amazon and Starbucks run more than 4,400 and over 2,000 stores respectively across the region.
Vietnam is represented by two brands, namely Milano Coffee and Highlands Coffee. Highlands Coffee, controlled by Jollibee Foods Corporation, operated approximately 928 outlets by the end of 2025, mainly in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Milano Coffee states on its official website that it has developed a nationwide network of more than 2,500 stores and points of sale, largely based on a franchise agency model.
Measures sought to build high-quality Vietnamese coffee chain
A workshop seeking ways to build a high-quality Vietnamese coffee chain associated with green growth and sustainable development was held in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on March 12 within the framework of the eighth Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival.
