We didn't really know what to expect. Our Vietnamese friend had told us about a family-run business in Pleiku that we should definitely check out. Here we would find a coffee partner who shared our philosophy and vision, he said. We were excited and were not disappointed.
Our journey begins in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). My friend who lives there assures us that it is only a short flight to Pleiku. "You'll be there for lunch." Unfortunately, he didn't take the weather into account. A storm is raging across the whole of southern Vietnam. So we are stuck at the airport. What a start to our adventure.
But in the late afternoon, we can finally get going. We are allowed to board the Vietnam Airlines plane. Barely an hour later, we are already heading for the airport in Pleiku. From the window of the plane, we are greeted by a sublime view. High mountains, jungle in between and a small town surrounded by coniferous forests. Fairy lights as far as the eye can see. Arriving at dusk also has its advantages. We are met at the airport by Hiếu. He leads the way together with his big brother Thanh Coffee24, our new coffee partner. While Thanh concentrates more on the business and logistics behind the small family business, Hiếu is the practical man in the team. He takes care of everything to do with the bean. My friend affectionately calls him "the coffee bean whisperer". Hiếu laughs a lot and immediately sweeps us along with his enthusiasm. The tiredness of the turbulent journey has evaporated. He wants to show us a bit of the city and invite us to dinner. Of course we happily agree.
Pleiku is heavily influenced by agriculture, Hiếu tells us on the way. Due to its geographical location on the central volcanic highland plateau in Vietnam, numerous other products are grown here in addition to coffee. Pepper, tea, peanuts and sweet potatoes are just a few examples he gives us. "I'll show you more of them tomorrow," he promises us. We immediately notice how different Pleiku is compared to the larger cities in Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. There is hardly any western influence here. Fast food, such as the ever-popular burger chains, is nowhere to be found.
Instead, you can find the typical small street food stalls everywhere, which offer all kinds of regional delicacies. We are now heading to one of these stalls. There is seafood and chicken. Simple but delicious food. While we eat, Hiếu tells us what he has planned for us in the next few days. He wants to show us his own coffee shops in Pleiku first and then take us to the coffee mountains. It can be quite exhausting, he warns us. He seems to be eager to show us more of his company. But that has to be enough for today. Tomorrow we have to start early and it will be a long day, so we need our restful sleep. You will soon find out how our journey in Pleiku continues in part 2!
