Vietnam never fails to enchant travelers with its emerald rice terraces, lantern-lit ancient towns, and the chaotic symphony of motorbikes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. But beyond the stunning landscapes and rich history, there’s one thing that makes visitors extend their trips again and again: the desserts. Vietnamese sweets strike the perfect balance – not overly sugary, often coconut-based, refreshingly cold, and bursting with tropical flavors. From steaming bowls of chè on street corners to velvety egg coffee sipped on tiny stools, these are the 15 Vietnamese desserts tourists always fall in love with.
1. Chè – The Queen of Vietnamese Desserts
Chè is not just one dessert; it’s an entire universe of sweet soups and puddings. With over 50 regional varieties, you’ll find chè stalls on almost every corner. Popular choices:
- Chè ba màu (three-color dessert): red beans, mung bean paste, and pandan jelly in coconut milk
- Chè thái: tropical fruits, jackfruit, longan, and colorful jelly
- Chè bà ba: warm sweet soup with taro, sweet potato, and cassava in rich coconut milk Best spot: Chè Huong Binh or Chè Thái Nguyên in Hanoi Old Quarter.
2. Cà Phê Trứng (Egg Coffee) – Hanoi’s Liquid Tiramisu
Thick Vietnamese robusta coffee topped with a silky custard made from egg yolks, condensed milk, butter, and sometimes cheese. Invented in 1946 at Café Giang when milk was scarce, it’s now Instagram royalty. Tourists queue for hours just to climb the narrow alley stairs to the original hidden café.
3. Bánh Flan (Vietnamese Crème Caramel)
Silky smooth custard with a bittersweet caramel layer, often served with strong iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá) poured on top. You’ll find it everywhere, but the street-side versions in Saigon’s old apartments taste impossibly creamy for just 50 cents.
4. Kem Xôi – Sticky Rice Ice Cream
Warm, chewy coconut sticky rice topped with a scoop of young rice or coconut ice cream, sprinkled with roasted peanuts and sesame. Da Lat’s night market turns this into pure magic under chilly mountain air.
5. Chè Chuối Nướng (Grilled Banana Sweet Soup)
Ripe bananas grilled in banana leaves, then simmered in sweet coconut milk with tapioca pearls. Served warm, it smells like heaven and tastes like childhood comfort – even if you never grew up in Vietnam.
6. Rau Câu (Vietnamese Jelly)
Made from agar-agar (seaweed), these wobbly jellies come in pandan, coffee, coconut, or fruit layers. Rau câu dừa (coconut jelly) served inside a fresh young coconut is the ultimate refreshing treat on a hot Saigon afternoon.
7. Bánh Chuối Hấp (Steamed Banana Cake)
Soft, moist cake made from mashed ripe bananas, rice flour, and coconut milk, steamed in banana leaves. Slice it warm and drizzle with coconut cream – pure tropical bliss.
8. Sữa Chua Mít – Jackfruit Yogurt
Homemade fermented yogurt so thick you can stand a spoon in it, topped with fresh jackfruit chunks. The tangy-sweet combo is dangerously addictive. Look for “sữa chua mít nhà làm” signs in Hanoi.
9. Tàu Hũ (Silken Tofu Pudding)
Warm, melt-in-your-mouth tofu pudding bathed in ginger syrup. Sometimes served with black sesame or pandan. It’s lighter than it sounds and perfect after a spicy bún bò Huế meal.
10. Bánh Cam & Bánh Còng – Sesame Balls
Crispy deep-fried glutinous rice balls filled with sweet mung bean paste, coated in sesame seeds. Bánh cam (southern version) is round and orange-hued; bánh còng (northern) is donut-shaped. Both disappear in seconds.
11. Chè Bưởi – Pomelo Sweet Soup
Pomelo peel cooked until translucent and chewy, mixed with mung beans and coconut milk. The subtle bitterness with sweetness creates a flavor tourists describe as “life-changing.”
12. Sinh Tố (Vietnamese Fruit Smoothies)
Blended fresh mango, avocado, soursop (mãng cầu), dragon fruit, or durian with condensed milk and ice. Sinh tố bơ (avocado smoothie) with its creamy green color is the one that converts even avocado haters.
13. Xôi Lá Cẩm – Magenta Sticky Rice with Yogurt
Purple sticky rice dyed naturally with magenta plant leaves, served with sweetened yogurt or coconut milk. The vibrant color makes it one of the most photographed desserts in Hanoi.
14. Bánh Khoai Mì Nướng – Baked Cassava Cake
Grated cassava mixed with coconut milk and sugar, baked until golden and chewy on top, soft underneath. Cut into squares and sold by weight – perfect for snacking while wandering Hoi An’s lantern streets.
15. Sweet Corn & Sticky Rice Pudding (Chè Ngô)
Fresh corn kernels and sticky rice simmered in coconut milk, sometimes with pandan aroma. Simple, comforting, and the dessert that makes tourists whisper “I could eat this every single day.”
Where to Find the Best Desserts in Vietnam
- Hanoi: Old Quarter alleys around Hoan Kiem Lake & Tây Hồ for egg coffee
- Hoi An: Chè stalls along the Thu Bon River at night
- Ho Chi Minh City: District 5 (Chợ Lớn) for Chinese-Vietnamese sweets
- Da Lat: Night market for kem xôi and hot ginger tofu
- Hue: Dong Ba Market for royal-inspired chè varieties
Tips for Dessert Lovers
- Desserts are cheapest (and often best) on the street – rarely more than $1–2
- Ask for “ít ngọt” (less sweet) if you’re worried about sugar levels
- Many desserts are naturally vegan (just skip condensed milk)
- Evening is prime dessert time – stalls open from 6 p.m. until midnight or later
Vietnamese desserts are more than just something to end a meal with – they’re tiny love letters from a country that knows how to turn coconut, rice, and fruit into pure joy. Light enough to enjoy in the tropical heat, complex enough to surprise even the biggest sweet tooth, these treats are the reason so many tourists leave Vietnam with wider smiles and slightly tighter waistbands.
So which of these Vietnamese desserts tourists always fall in love with will you try first? The velvety egg coffee at a hidden Hanoi café? A rainbow bowl of chè under Da Lat’s starry sky? Save this guide, pack stretchy pants, and get ready to fall hard – Vietnam’s sweet side is waiting to steal your heart, one delicious spoonful at a time. 🥥🍌☕
