A Guide to Vietnamese Desserts: 10+ Sweet Treats for Every Occasion
Did you know that Vietnamese desserts are a delightful fusion of tradition, culture, and flavor? From the vibrant streets of Hanoi to the bustling markets of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam offers a tantalizing array of sweet treats that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Whether you’re a dessert lover or simply looking to indulge your sweet tooth, Lua Viet Tours will guide you through exploring the world of Vietnamese desserts.
What Makes Vietnamese Desserts Unique?
Vietnamese desserts stand out due to their creative use of local ingredients, cultural significance, and balance of textures. Unlike many desserts in Western or East Asian cuisines that focus on heavy sweetness, Vietnamese sweets often emphasize natural sweetness from ingredients like coconut, palm sugar, or ripe tropical fruits.
Vietnamese desserts with a lot of unique ingredients (Image Source: Internet)
Additionally, Vietnamese desserts carry strong regional influences. Northern Vietnamese desserts are often less sweet, incorporating mung beans, black sesame, and herbal ingredients. While Central Vietnam favors sticky rice-based desserts that require intricate preparation. Southern Vietnam is known for richer, coconut milk-based sweets, featuring tropical fruits and bold flavors.
Beyond flavor, many Vietnamese desserts are deeply connected to tradition and celebrations, such as chè trôi nước (Vietnamese rice balls sweet soup) for family reunions and bánh chưng, bánh tét (sticky rice cake) for the Lunar New Year.
Bánh chưng, bánh tét – traditional Vietnamese desserts during Tet (Image Source: Internet)
Traditional Vietnamese Desserts You Must Try Once
Vietnamese desserts boast a delightful array of traditional types, including refreshing chè (sweet soups), comforting sticky rice and coconut-based treats, and visually appealing cakes, puddings, and jellies. These must-try sweets offer a taste of the country’s rich culinary heritage and are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Chè (Vietnamese Sweet Soups)
Vietnamese chè (sweet soups) is one of the most popular and diverse dessert categories, often made with beans, jellies, fruit, and coconut milk.
Chè – sweet Vietnamese desserts (Image Source: Internet)
Chè ba màu (Three-color cocktail)
This colorful dessert consists of red beans, mung bean paste, and pandan jelly, layered with crushed ice and coconut milk. It is both refreshing and visually appealing.
Chè Thái (Vietnamese fruit cocktail)
Inspired by Thai cuisine, this dessert features tropical fruits like jackfruit, lychee, and longan, mixed with jelly, coconut milk, and sweetened condensed milk. It is a perfect choice for hot summer days.
Chè sâm bổ lượng
A cooling herbal sweet soup made with lotus seeds, dried longan, seaweed, and goji berries. This dessert is believed to restore energy and improve digestion, making it a popular choice in hot weather.
Chè trôi nước (Vietnamese rice balls sweet soup)
Chè trôi nước is a traditional Vietnamese dessert made of glutinous rice balls filled with sweet mung bean paste, served in a fragrant ginger-infused syrup, and topped with coconut milk and toasted sesame seeds. This dish is loved for its chewy texture, warm sweetness, and comforting aroma.
Vietnamese rice balls sweet soup (Image Source: Internet)
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Sticky rice & Coconut-based desserts
Bánh chưng, bánh tét
Bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake) and bánh tét (cylindrical sticky rice cake) are essential desserts during Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). Made from glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork, these cakes are wrapped in dong leaves (for bánh chưng) or banana leaves (for bánh tét) and boiled for hours.
Bánh chưng, bánh tét – traditional Vietnamese desserts during Tet (Image Source: Internet)
Both cakes are best served with pickled onions and fish sauce, though some variations include sweet fillings like banana or red bean paste. These sticky rice cakes are not just desserts but symbols of gratitude and family unity during Tết.
Bánh cốm (Green young rice cake)
Bánh cốm, one of the must-have Hanoi souvenirs, consists of young green rice (cốm), mung bean paste, and sugar, then wrapped in green lotus leaves. The plate is soft and chewy, with a subtle sweetness and the aroma of fresh rice. Traditionally, bánh cốm is a symbol of purity and appreciation, commonly presented as a gift during weddings or other celebrations. Its brilliant green hue and mild flavor distinguish it as a particularly Northern Vietnamese treat.
Bánh cốm, a Hanoi specialty (Image Source: Internet)
Bánh chuối nướng (Baked banana cake)
A favorite dessert among Southern Vietnamese people, it is known for its natural sweetness with local ingredients like ripe bananas, coconut milk, condensed milk, and sticky rice. Everything is baked until it turns golden brown. The final cake has a chewy and caramelized texture. It is usually topped with toasted sesame seeds or drizzled with coconut cream. This Southern cake is widely popular in street markets and local bakeries.
Bánh chuối nướng, southern specialty cake (Image Source: Internet)
Cakes, Puddings & Jellies
Bánh flan (Vietnamese creme caramel)
As a classic French-Vietnamese dessert, bánh flan is widely loved by a huge number of Vietnamese people from all generations thanks to its simple cooking method and its deliciousness. You can try to make this dessert at home! It is made from the custard base of eggs, condensed milk and sugar (to make the caramel at the bottom layer). Flan in Vietnamese style is often served with dark chocolate or/and coconut milk.
Vietnamese creme caramel (Image Source: Internet)
Tào phớ (Vietnamese tofu pudding)
Tào phớ, a go-to Hanoi street food, is a soft and wobbly tofu pudding. It is mainly made from boiled soybeans to form a smooth, jelly-like texture. Tào phớ is typically served in a small bowl with a sweet syrup made from sugar and ginger. The pudding has a delicate, slightly sweet flavor and a silky texture. It is often garnished with crushed peanuts or sesame seeds for added crunch and flavor. Tào phớ is a refreshing and light dessert, perfect for a hot day.
Vietnamese tofu pudding (Image Source: Internet)
Bánh tiêu (Vietnamese hollow donut)
Bánh tiêu is a traditional Vietnamese-Chinese donut that is crispy on the outside and hollow on the inside; you can easily find it in Saigon’s Chinatown. It is made from a dough of flour, sugar, and butter, which is shaped into a ring and deep-fried until golden brown. Bánh tiêu has a sweet, buttery flavor and a satisfying crunch. It is often enjoyed as a snack or dessert, sometimes paired with a cup of coffee or tea.
Vietnamese hollow donut (Image Source: Internet)
Essential Tips for Best Enjoying Vietnamese Desserts
- Pair with traditional Vietnamese drinks: Vietnamese desserts go well with local beverages that complement their flavors. For example, Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá) enhances the richness of bánh flan. Lotus or jasmine tea balances the sweetness of sticky rice desserts.
- Try them fresh for the best flavor: Many Vietnamese desserts, especially chè (sweet soups) and sticky rice-based treats, taste best when they are freshly made. Look for vendors who prepare their desserts daily to ensure the best quality and taste.
- Enjoy at local street food stalls or cafes: Many of the best Vietnamese desserts can be found at local street food stalls or small cafes. These places often offer authentic and traditional recipes, and the atmosphere is lively and bustling. Eating at local spots can also give you a chance to interact with locals and learn more about the culture.
- Share with friends or family: Vietnamese desserts are often meant to be shared. Many desserts are served in larger portions, and it’s common to see people sharing a plate of desserts with friends or family. Sharing not only allows you to try more varieties but also adds a social element to the experience.
Visitors eating chè at Ben Thanh Market (Image Source: Internet)
FAQs about Vietnamese Desserts
When is the best time to eat Vietnamese desserts?
Vietnamese desserts can be enjoyed at any time of the day, but they are especially popular as midday snacks or after meals. Many desserts, such as chè (sweet soup), are often eaten to cool down during hot weather, making them a refreshing choice in the summer. Some desserts, like xôi (sticky rice), can also be enjoyed for breakfast.
Where can I find the best Vietnamese desserts in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City?
In Hanoi, visitors should reach Hanoi Old Quarter. This area is famous for traditional desserts like chè, xôi, and bánh flan. Look for street vendors and small shops like Chè Lộc Tài, known for its delicious chè bưởi (pomelo sweet soup) and chè sen long nhãn (lotus and longan sweet soup).
In Ho Chi Minh City:
- District 1: This area has numerous dessert shops and street vendors offering chè, bánh flan, and other treats. Visit places like Chè 1976 at 72G Tran Hung Dao for authentic chè thập cẩm (mixed sweet soup) .
- Ben Thanh Market: You’ll find numerous stalls offering a variety of chè, ranging from refreshing, coconut-based sweet soups to warm, comforting bowls filled with beans and sticky rice.
Conclusion
Vietnamese desserts offer a unique blend of flavors, textures, and cultural significance, making them an essential part of the country’s rich culinary heritage. If you’re planning your next Vietnam trip, be sure to indulge in these authentic sweets and discover why Vietnamese desserts continue to captivate both locals and visitors alike.
