Buon Ma Thuot Named by National Geographic Among the World’s Best Food Destinations for 2026

Following a series of features by CNN, Bloomberg, Warner Bros. Discovery and other international media outlets highlighting Vietnam’s coffee capital as it steadily strengthens its position on the world map, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, has recently been named by renowned US magazine National Geographic as the only destination in Vietnam to feature among the world’s best destinations for 2026.

As the sole Vietnamese representative on the list of “Best of the World 2026: 15 of the Best Food Destinations,” Buon Ma Thuot has earned recognition from National Geographic for its position as the world’s Robusta capital, its distinctive coffee culture and its ecosystem of coffee experiences deeply rooted in the unique cultural identity of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

National Geographic is one of the leading American magazines covering science, exploration and travel. Renowned for its in-depth coverage of nature, culture, history and travel, it is also one of the most influential publications in the global tourism industry, reaching hundreds of millions of readers worldwide. Its “Best of the World 2026: 15 of the Best Food Destinations” list highlights places that offer more than exceptional food and drink, showcasing destinations where culinary experiences reveal local history, culture and identity.

From Vietnam’s Coffee Capital to a Distinctive Experiential Destination

In its feature on the world’s best destinations, National Geographic devotes considerable attention to explaining the appeal of Buon Ma Thuot, a region regarded as the “heart of Vietnam’s coffee industry.” The article also highlights the city’s remarkable transformation from a coffee-growing region into a distinctive destination for immersive experiences.

According to National Geographic, as climate change increasingly affects Arabica coffee production worldwide, Vietnam’s Central Highlands is emerging as an attractive destination for international travelers seeking new experiences away from the crowds of more familiar destinations such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The region’s natural conditions are particularly well suited to Robusta cultivation, while its distinctive coffee culture offers visitors a compelling reason to explore.

International ambassadors and guests explore the history and culture of coffee in Vietnam and around the world at the World Coffee Museum during the World Coffee Heritage Forum.

National Geographic notes that coffee, introduced to Vietnam during the French colonial period, has become an integral part of Vietnamese daily life and cultural identity. Buon Ma Thuot, in particular, is regarded as the capital of Vietnam’s coffee powerhouse and the home of some of the world’s finest Robusta coffee beans, supplying more than 70 countries worldwide. “These beans are known for their bold flavor, amber color, high caffeine content, low acidity, rich aroma and lingering sweet aftertaste,” National Geographic quotes Helen Le, author of Vegan Vietnamese and several other books on Vietnamese cuisine, as saying in the article.

Trung Nguyen Coffee Village, a distinctive destination in Buon Ma Thuot, is introduced by National Geographic as “a unique coffee experience space featuring architecture deeply influenced by the cultural heritage of the Central Highlands.”

The magazine recommends several special places in Buon Ma Thuot, a region with a deep passion for coffee, where visitors can discover the local coffee culture in greater depth. Among them, the World Coffee Museum is described as a place that houses thousands of artifacts related to the history of coffee around the world, alongside exhibition and interactive spaces exploring the world’s coffee civilizations. The museum also “showcases Vietnam’s role in the wider world of coffee.” This marks the second time National Geographic has introduced the World Coffee Museum to its global readership, further underscoring the appeal of this distinctive experiential destination, where visitors can immerse themselves in coffee culture.

Trung Nguyen Coffee Village is also featured as a distinctive coffee experience spanning approximately 20,000 square meters. Its architecture reflects the cultural identity of the Central Highlands, while visitors can enjoy a range of high-quality coffees from Buon Ma Thuot.

Buon Ma Thuot – The Coffee City of the World

Before National Geographic’s latest recognition, Buon Ma Thuot had been featured repeatedly by prominent international media organizations, including CNN, Bloomberg and Warner Bros. Discovery, as a distinctive coffee destination on the world map. In the films The Tao of Coffee, The Awakenings of Coffee and Trung Nguyen Legend’s Vision for Vietnamese Coffee – The Robusta Awakening, international media outlets have praised Buon Ma Thuot as “the capital of a world-renowned Robusta-growing region” and “the birthplace of high-quality coffee beans favored around the globe.” Beyond celebrating the quality of Buon Ma Thuot’s Robusta beans, these media organizations have also highlighted Vietnam’s distinctive coffee culture, artistic values and coffee philosophy, presenting Buon Ma Thuot as the “Coffee City of the World.” According to Bloomberg, “As Vietnam and the future of coffee become increasingly intertwined, your next cup of coffee will never be far removed from the Robusta beans of Buon Ma Thuot.”

Buon Ma Thuot’s inclusion in National Geographic’s latest list alongside globally renowned destinations such as Crete in Greece, Singapore, Rome in Italy, Cape Town in South Africa, London in the United Kingdom, Tasmania in Australia, Sonora in Mexico and Hawaii in the United States further reflects international recognition of the region. It highlights a place where distinctive natural landscapes, indigenous culture and coffee as a living heritage converge with a bold ambition to become the “Coffee City of the World.”

With its comprehensive coffee ecosystem encompassing indigenous knowledge, cultural landscapes and community livelihoods, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, is steadily establishing itself as the “Coffee City of the World.”

Alongside its position as one of the world’s leading Robusta-growing regions, Buon Ma Thuot has spent years developing a diverse ecosystem of coffee cultural experiences. From vast coffee plantations and processing facilities to distinctive coffee products, curated tasting experiences and a coffee lifestyle embraced by consumers worldwide, these offerings are helping transform Vietnamese coffee from an agricultural commodity into a vibrant center of global coffee culture.

At the heart of this development is the World Coffee Museum, an iconic landmark of Vietnam’s coffee industry located within the Coffee City urban area. It has become a must-visit attraction for travelers to Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak. Here, visitors can admire architecture inspired by the grandeur of the Central Highlands and explore the history and culture of coffee around the world through more than 10,000 artifacts, thematic exhibitions, distinctive coffee-related experiences and performances showcasing the three coffee civilizations of Ottoman, Roman and Zen traditions, enhanced by 3D mapping technology.

Immersive experiences exploring the three coffee civilizations of Ottoman, Roman and Zen traditions are among the distinctive highlights for visitors to the World Coffee Museum.

Notably, alongside its recognition by National Geographic, the World Coffee Museum has received repeated acclaim from international media. The Associated Press (AP) has described it as “the largest, most vibrant and unique living museum,” while Warner Bros. Discovery has called it “a one-of-a-kind museum.” It was also named one of Vietnam’s 19 best destinations by Wanderlust, a leading British travel magazine.

In addition to the World Coffee Museum, Buon Ma Thuot is home to Trung Nguyen Coffee Village, Trung Nguyen Legend Coffee World and Trung Nguyen E-Coffee. These coffee spaces within the Trung Nguyen Legend network have been recognized by the British Council as creative cultural spaces and as Vietnam’s No. 1 coffee spaces. They have also been described by the Financial Times as important “social hubs,” contributing to a rich and varied visitor experience.

Trung Nguyen Legend spaces have been recognized by the British Council as creative cultural spaces and attractive destinations for coffee lovers and enthusiasts.

Alongside journeys exploring the history of Vietnamese and global coffee through distinctive, immersive cultural and artistic experiences found only in Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, visitors can also admire the majestic Dray Nur–Gia Long waterfalls. The region offers experiential services that elevate coffee into culture and art, including distinctive coffee tourism products such as the Zen Coffee Tour, which combines Vietnam’s coffee heritage and coffee culture with practices that nurture physical and mental well-being.

Dray Nur Waterfall, a distinctive natural attraction embodying a philosophy of environmental conservation, was previously featured by Warner Bros. Discovery as one of the highlights of Buon Ma Thuot.

Beyond coffee and coffee culture, visitors can discover the richness of Vietnamese and indigenous cuisine at the Three Regions Culinary Cultural Center within the Coffee City complex. Bringing together signature dishes from across the country, the center offers visitors an opportunity to explore Vietnam’s diverse culinary traditions in Buon Ma Thuot.

From its position as a global Robusta production hub, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, is steadily affirming its standing as a distinctive cultural and tourism destination, where coffee serves not merely as an agricultural product but also as a bridge for sharing Vietnam’s history, culture and identity with the international community.

The successive recognition from CNN, Bloomberg, Warner Bros. Discovery and National Geographic further reinforces the position and image of Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, as the “Coffee City of the World,” while bringing Vietnam’s distinctive coffee cultural values into sharper focus on the global coffee map.