HÀ NỘI — Egg coffee, a signature beverage of Hà Nội, is among the food and drink items being served to at least 3,500 local and international journalists covering the second Trump-Kim summit this week.

“Several groups of international tourists and journalists have come to our coffee shop this week,” said Vũ Khắc Sơn, manager of Giảng coffee shop where egg coffee was invented in 1946.

“Hà Nội City ordered some 3,000 cups of egg coffee for three days [from Tuesday to Thursday]. Our staff will serve 300 cups three times a day. It is an honour for us to serve at such an important summit. This is also an opportunity for this made-in-Việt Nam beverage to be promoted to international friends.”

Egg coffee was invented in 1946 by Nguyễn Văn Giảng who worked as a bartender for the five-star Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel. Given the scarcity of condensed milk at the time, Giảng used egg yolk as an alternative and created this special dish.

The hot egg coffee, often served on a dish of hot water to maintain its temperature, is characterised by its thick texture and creamy taste.

Giảng café is one of the oldest coffee shops in Hà Nội and has been a favourite for both local and international visitors.

Other dishes including nem (spring rolls), phở (noodle soup with beef or chicken) and xôi khúc (sticky rice with mung bean and pork) will be available at the summit’s International Media Centre at Trần Hưng Đạo Street.

“Very, very, very important! Official says PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc requested journalists at summit press centre be fed all of Việt Nam’s culinary specialties: nem (spring rolls), phở, xôi (sticky rice) and barbeque,” Bhavan Jaipragas, a journalist from South China Morning Post wrote on twitter on Monday.

“The Vietnamese are taking food very seriously – just like the Singaporeans last year. The works of several ‘culinary artisans of Hà Nội’ will be featured at the international press centre, an official emphasises,” he added in a subsequent tweet.

Must try food

Egg coffee shouldn’t be just for for summit’s journalists, it is among the five dishes that "every Hà Nội visitors – not just world leaders – needs to try", according to CNN.

It is described as "a Hanoi specialty in which a creamy soft, meringue-like egg white foam is perched on dense Vietnamese coffee."

Other dishes recommended include chả cá (fish cooked with turmeric and dill), bánh tôm (shrimp cake), bún cá (noodle soup with fried fish) and bún riêu cua (noodle soup with freshwater crab).

There are some 3,000 international journalists and more than 500 local journalists covering the summit. — VNS