Vietnamese cuisine is famous worldwide for its balance of flavors, fresh ingredients, and regional diversity. While savory dishes like pho and banh mi often steal the spotlight, Vietnam’s dessert scene is just as rich and fascinating. Vietnamese desserts are typically less sweet than Western treats and rely heavily on natural ingredients such as rice, beans, coconut milk, tropical fruits, and herbs. For travelers visiting Vietnam, sampling local desserts is a wonderful way to understand the country’s culture, climate, and culinary traditions.
From colorful street snacks to comforting bowls of warm sweet soup, here are ten Vietnamese desserts you absolutely need to try during your journey.
1. Chè – Vietnamese Sweet Soup
Chè is not just one dessert but an entire category of Vietnamese sweets. It can be served hot or cold and includes countless variations depending on the region. Common ingredients include mung beans, red beans, black beans, tapioca pearls, lotus seeds, jelly, coconut milk, and fresh fruit.
In southern Vietnam, chè is often sweeter and topped generously with creamy coconut sauce and crushed ice. In the north, it tends to be lighter and less sugary. You’ll find chè sold everywhere—from street vendors pushing carts to small dessert shops. Trying different types of chè across Vietnam is a delicious adventure in itself.
2. Bánh Flan – Vietnamese Caramel Custard
Bánh flan is Vietnam’s take on caramel custard, influenced by French colonial cuisine. It has a silky-smooth texture, a rich eggy flavor, and a layer of amber caramel sauce on top. What makes the Vietnamese version special is how it’s often served with crushed ice and sometimes paired with strong Vietnamese coffee.
This dessert is refreshing in Vietnam’s tropical climate and widely available at street stalls and cafés. Its familiar taste makes it a great introduction to Vietnamese desserts for first-time visitors.
3. Bánh Chè Trôi Nước – Glutinous Rice Balls in Ginger Syrup
This traditional dessert consists of soft glutinous rice balls filled with sweet mung bean paste, served in a warm ginger-infused syrup and topped with coconut milk and sesame seeds. The contrast between the chewy rice exterior, creamy filling, spicy ginger syrup, and rich coconut milk creates a complex yet comforting flavor.
Bánh trôi nước is often eaten during special occasions and festivals, particularly around the Lunar New Year. For travelers, it offers a taste of Vietnam’s deep-rooted culinary traditions and symbolic foods.
4. Bánh Chuối – Vietnamese Banana Cake
Bananas are abundant in Vietnam, and bánh chuối is one of the most popular ways to enjoy them as dessert. This cake can be steamed or baked, combining ripe bananas with rice flour, coconut milk, and sometimes tapioca pearls.
The result is a soft, moist dessert with a natural sweetness and a subtle coconut aroma. It’s often topped with coconut cream and toasted sesame seeds or peanuts. Bánh chuối is easy to find at local markets and makes for a satisfying yet not overly sweet treat.
5. Xôi Ngọt – Sweet Sticky Rice
Xôi ngọt refers to sweet sticky rice dishes, which are commonly eaten for breakfast or as a dessert. Made from glutinous rice, these dishes are colorful, filling, and visually appealing. Popular versions include sticky rice with mung beans, corn, coconut, or black beans.
Sweet sticky rice is often topped with coconut flakes, coconut sauce, or roasted peanuts. For travelers, xôi ngọt offers a glimpse into how rice—the heart of Vietnamese cuisine—appears in every form, including desserts.
6. Bánh Da Lợn – Steamed Layer Cake
Despite its unusual name, bánh da lợn is a beloved Vietnamese dessert. It’s a steamed cake made of multiple thin layers, typically alternating between pandan-flavored green layers and mung bean layers. The cake has a chewy, slightly bouncy texture thanks to tapioca starch.
Each bite delivers a gentle sweetness and fragrant pandan aroma. Bánh da lợn is commonly sold at markets and family-run bakeries. Its bright colors and unique texture make it especially appealing to curious travelers.
7. Kem Xôi – Sticky Rice Ice Cream
Kem xôi is a creative Vietnamese dessert that combines warm sticky rice with cold ice cream, usually coconut-flavored. The contrast in temperature and texture makes this dessert memorable and fun.
It’s often topped with shredded coconut, roasted peanuts, or coconut sauce. Kem xôi is a popular street food in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, especially among young locals. Travelers looking for something unexpected will enjoy this playful dessert.
8. Sương Sa Hạt Lựu – Jelly and Pomegranate Seed Dessert
This refreshing dessert features colorful tapioca cubes that resemble pomegranate seeds, served in coconut milk and crushed ice. It often includes agar jelly, basil seeds, and sweet syrup.
Light, cooling, and visually striking, sương sa hạt lựu is perfect for hot afternoons. It’s commonly found at street stalls and dessert shops in southern Vietnam. For foreign visitors, it offers a refreshing break from sightseeing while showcasing Vietnam’s love for texture and color in food.
9. Bánh Ít Trần – Glutinous Rice Dumplings
Bánh ít trần are small, chewy dumplings made from glutinous rice flour and filled with sweet mung bean paste or coconut. They are usually steamed and lightly coated with oil, then topped with shredded coconut or sesame.
Although they can be savory or sweet, the sweet version is popular as a dessert. These dumplings are often associated with central Vietnam and are enjoyed during family gatherings and celebrations. Trying bánh ít trần allows travelers to experience regional dessert traditions.
10. Trái Cây Dầm – Vietnamese Fruit Salad
Vietnam is home to an incredible variety of tropical fruits, and trái cây dầm is a simple yet delicious way to enjoy them. This dessert combines fresh fruits such as mango, papaya, jackfruit, banana, and avocado, mixed with condensed milk, coconut milk, or yogurt, and sometimes ice.
Sweet, creamy, and refreshing, trái cây dầm highlights the natural flavors of Vietnam’s fruits. It’s widely available in cities and coastal towns, making it an easy and healthy dessert choice for travelers.
Final Thoughts
Vietnamese desserts reflect the country’s geography, climate, and cultural influences. They are often light, balanced, and focused on natural flavors rather than heavy sugar. Coconut milk, rice, beans, and fresh fruit play starring roles, creating desserts that are both comforting and refreshing.
For foreign tourists traveling to Vietnam, trying local desserts is more than just satisfying a sweet tooth—it’s a way to connect with daily life, traditions, and regional diversity. Whether you’re enjoying a bowl of chè on a busy street corner or savoring a slice of banana cake at a local market, Vietnamese desserts offer memorable flavors that stay with you long after your trip ends.
