In Vietnam, chè means a sweet, tapioca (a starch extracted from the tubers of the cassava), coconut cream, or sweetened condensed milk-based dessert. To the Vietnamese, chè refers to any traditional sweet soups, drinks, or puddings that can be served hot or with crushed ice, and it could be eaten as snack or dessert.
Vendors selling such a dish often prepare countless variations for us to choose from, and will create the combination we like best. It could be lotus seeds or pearls, mung bean or taro, tropical fruits with yoghurt or condensed milk, and so many other options that always takes us sometimes to decide.
There’s always room for dessert, especially in Hanoi. And for someone with sweet teeth like me, the decadent flavors always make a lasting impression.
If you’re in Hanoi and like sweet, these are our favorite traditional Vietnamese desserts and where to eat them.
1. Chè đỗ đen (Sweet black bean drink)
Cooked from black bean which is often cooked at homes, chè đỗ đen is one of the most eaten desserts in Vietnam. Most Vietnamese was growing up eating chè đỗ đen on different special occasions or on hot summer days, as its good protein and fiver content help cool down our body.
To cook the dessert, black bean is soaked and boiled until tender, then brown rock sugar and banana extract are added. The dessert could be served hot, or over crushed ice, with endless toppings. With this dessert, we can enjoy the sweet while still be able to take advantage of the nutritional benefits.
Where to try it
- Quán Chè Mười Sáu, 16 Ngo Thi Nham Street, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi.
2. Chè Thập Cẩm (Mixed sweet soup)
Beside the chè đỗ đen listed above, chè thập cẩm is among the most popular desserts in Vietnam. This traditional sweet soup is versatile; it may include bean syrup, coconut cream, sticky rice, tapioca pearls, lotus seeds, sweet beans, water chestnuts, or agar jelly with dried and fresh shredded coconut toppings. The dish is often served with shaved ice.
Where to try it
- Chè Thập Cẩm 1976, 72G Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
3. Chè bưởi (Pomelo sweet soup)
Chè bưởi, or pomelo sweet soup, is one of the most well-known traditional Vietnamese desserts in Hanoi. It’s so popular that almost every family that serve chè have it on their menu, and chè bưởi eaten all year around but most popularly ordered during the summer due to its cooling effects.
The sweet soup consists of pomelo (the white spongy parts underneath the green skin were cut into cubes, soaked and washed in salted water, boiled, then mixed with tapioca and cookedagain), mung beans, coconut and rock sugar. The combination of those ingredients was boiled until it creates a eye catching golden color and thick consistency.
Where to try it
- Chè Lộc Tài, 76 Hang Dieu Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
4. Chè Chuối Nướng (Grilled banana and tapioca sweet soup)
For those who fancy tapioca or banana, this traditional Vietnamese dessert would be an ideal ending for a Hanoi food tour. The sweetened consistent soup consists of baked sliced bananas, tapioca pearls, coconut and tapioca cream, and some pandan leaves’ extract to flavor it. The dessert is served hot.
Where to try it
- Chè Lộc Tài, 76 Hang Dieu Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
5. Chè Sen Long Nhãn (Longan and lotus seed sweet soup)
This is a famous Hanoi’s style dessert, it’s our favorite summer desserts as it features pleasant aroma and refreshing taste. The lotus seeds, with the green germ removed, are boiled then stuffed inside the fresh longan flesh. The syrup used for the dish is infused with jasmine flowers, giving the dish an interesting relaxing fragrance.
Many Vietnamese refer to longan as the “king of the fruits” while the lotus as the “queen of the flowers”, hence this flavorful and fresh dessert is an such interesting combination. The sweetness and fragrant of this dish will definitely slake our thirst.
Where to try it
- Chè Lộc Tài, 76 Hang Dieu Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
We hope that the list of some of the best traditional Vietnamese dessert will inspire you to taste for yourself, and discover the most traditional Vietnamese food in Hanoi. To explore our city and sample its authentic street food, book your private walking food tour with us today.
