Starbucks opens first store in coffee-loving Vietnam
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Starbucks president for China and Asia Pacific John Culver, speaks during the opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A Vietnamese Starbucks employee waits for customers during the opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Vietnamese Starbucks employees wait for customers during the opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A Vietnamese Starbucks employee (centre), attends to a customer browsing souvenir mugs during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A Vietnamese Starbucks employee takes an order for a customer during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A Vietnamese Starbucks employee (centre), takes an order from a customer during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A Vietnamese Starbucks employee (right), takes an order for a customer during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Vietnamese Starbucks employees prepare drinks for customers during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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First customers consume purchased drinks during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A customer (right), takes a picture of himself as he consumes a drink during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
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This picture taken on Jan 31, 2013, shows the outside of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City, prior to its opening on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
Starbucks president for China and Asia Pacific John Culver, speaks during the opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Vietnamese Starbucks employee waits for customers during the opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
Vietnamese Starbucks employees wait for customers during the opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Vietnamese Starbucks employee (centre), attends to a customer browsing souvenir mugs during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Vietnamese Starbucks employee takes an order for a customer during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Vietnamese Starbucks employee (centre), takes an order from a customer during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Vietnamese Starbucks employee (right), takes an order for a customer during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
Vietnamese Starbucks employees prepare drinks for customers during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
First customers consume purchased drinks during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
A customer (right), takes a picture of himself as he consumes a drink during the grand opening ceremony of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
This picture taken on Jan 31, 2013, shows the outside of the first Starbucks store in Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City, prior to its opening on Friday, Feb 1, 2013. Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture. -- PHOTO: AFP
HO CHI MINH CITY (AFP) - Starbucks opened its first store in coffee-loving Vietnam on Friday, seeking to compete with local rivals in a country known for its strong cafe culture.
Vietnam - the world's second-largest coffee producer - has dozens of local chains as well as small coffee shops on nearly every street corner, presenting a major challenge for Starbucks to break into the crowded market.
Around 100 people queued up in southern Ho Chi Minh City for the opening, but the US giant's coffee was not to everybody's taste.
"I prefer Vietnamese coffee, which is stronger than Starbucks. As a Vietnamese, I love local coffee," said Nguyen Tien Tam, 35.
