Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is not only famous for its vibrant street food scene but also for its incredible array of traditional desserts. From layered cakes to sweet soups, these desserts reflect the rich culture and flavors of Vietnam. We will explore top 10+ must-try traditional desserts that you absolutely can’t miss when visiting Ho Chi Minh City.
Must-try Traditional Cakes in Ho Chi Minh City
Bánh Da Lợn (Steamed Layer Cake)
Bánh Da Lợn, or Steamed Layer Cake, is one of the most unique and flavorful traditional cakes you’ll find in Ho Chi Minh City. The cake consists of alternating green layers made from pandan leaf extract and yellow layers made from mung beans. The layers are steamed to perfection, creating a smooth, chewy texture. The combination of pandan's aromatic fragrance and mung beans' subtle sweetness makes Bánh Da Lợn a beloved dessert among locals and tourists alike. You’ll find it in many local bakeries and sweet shops throughout the city, and it’s often enjoyed with a cup of Vietnamese tea.
Bánh Bò (Honeycomb Cake)
Bánh Bò is a popular traditional Vietnamese dessert made from rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar. This sweet treat is known for its light sweetness, chewy texture, and distinct aroma. The cake is often naturally colored with ingredients like pandan leaves or food-safe coloring, giving it a vibrant and eye-catching appearance.
What sets Bánh Bò apart is its unique spongy texture, which resembles a cow’s stomach – the inspiration behind its unusual name, “Bánh Bò” (literally translating to “cow cake”). Each piece is typically cut into small, bite-sized portions, making it perfect as a dessert or a midday snack.
Visitors can easily find Bánh Bò at street food stalls or local markets across Vietnam. More than just a simple dish, it embodies the essence of Vietnamese culinary tradition, offering a taste of home and cultural heritage.
Bánh Tiêu (Vietnamese Donut)
Bánh Tiêu, often called the "Vietnamese donut," is a popular deep-fried pastry that locals and visitors in Ho Chi Minh City adore. This golden-brown snack features a crispy exterior, making it irresistibly crunchy with every bite. It's a street food, easily spotted at bustling markets and roadside streets.
What sets Bánh Tiêu apart is its unique filling. Inside the crispy shell lies a smooth mung bean paste that combines sweetness with a little of saltiness, creating a perfect balance of flavors. The contrast between the soft, creamy interior and the crunchy outer layer makes it a favorite choice for dessert lovers exploring the vibrant food scene of Ho Chi Minh City. In addition, to enhance the flavor when eating, you can also combine Bánh Tiêu with other ingredients such as sticky rice, green beans or durian...
Bánh Cam (Sesame Balls)
Bánh Cam, a signature dish of Vietnamese street food, wins over food lovers with its crispy outer shell and sweet mung bean filling. This is one of the most popular snacks, loved not only by locals but also by international visitors exploring Saigon's culinary scene. With its rich flavor and satisfying crunch, Bánh Cam has become an essential part of the street food experience.
The highlight of Bánh Cam lies in the sesame seeds generously coating its exterior. These golden sesame seeds not only add a delightful crunch but also bring a nutty, buttery flavor that enhances the appeal of the dish. When you bite into it, the crispy shell perfectly complements the mildly sweet mung bean filling, creating a harmonious balance of texture and taste. This subtle sophistication has made Bánh Cam a must-try dessert in Ho Chi Minh City. Bánh Cam can be found at most street food stalls and traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City
Bánh Pía (Pia Cake)
Bánh Pía is a traditional delicacy that is famous in the Southern region, loved not only by the locals in the Mekong Delta but also by tourists from all over. With its thin, crispy outer layer, Bánh Pía’s filling typically combines ingredients such as lotus seeds, coconut, mung beans, and especially durian, creating a rich and delicious flavor. This cake is often enjoyed during holidays, Lunar New Year celebrations, or as a special gift from the Southern region.
Bánh Pía is not only attractive because of its flavor but also because of the meticulous and careful preparation process. The outer layer is made from wheat flour, oil, a bit of salt, and sugar. Once baked, the crust turns golden and crispy, perfectly complementing the filling inside. The filling can be customized based on individual preferences, but the durian filling is the most popular due to its distinctive aroma and creamy texture that is unmistakable. In addition to its delicious taste, Bánh Pía also carries deep cultural significance for the people of the Southern region. It is not only a simple treat but also a wonderful souvenir for visitors to bring back after a trip to Ho Chi Minh City.
Famous Delicious Sweet Soup in Ho Chi Minh City
Chè Ba Màu (Three-Color Dessert)
Chè Ba Màu, also known as "three-colored dessert," is a traditional Vietnamese treat that captivates not only the taste buds but also the eyes with its vibrant, layered colors. True to its name, the dessert features three main layers: the green from silky pandan jelly, the red from sweetened red beans, and the golden-yellow from smooth mung bean paste. Each layer brings a unique flavor and texture, combining into a visually stunning dessert. A beloved specialty of Southern Vietnam, Chè Ba Màu is often served in tall glasses, resembling a small masterpiece that enchants anyone who tries it.
What truly makes Chè Ba Màu special is the harmonious combination of its traditional ingredients with crushed ice and creamy coconut milk. When served, the rich coconut milk is generously poured over the layers, adding a subtle sweetness and a luscious aroma. This perfectly complements the chewy jelly, the nutty sweetness of the beans, and the velvety mung bean paste. The refreshing touch of the ice makes it an ideal dessert to beat the heat in bustling Ho Chi Minh City, offering a delightful experience with every spoonful.
Chè Chuối (Banana and Tapioca Pudding)
Chè Chuối is a unique dessert that you must try when visiting Ho Chi Minh City, offering a traditional flavor with a perfect blend of simple yet delicious ingredients. The main ingredient, ripe bananas, is cooked with creamy coconut milk, combined with tapioca pearls, and sweetened with rock sugar to create a dish that is both sweet and refreshing. This dessert is suitable for all ages and is beloved by many for its easy-to-eat nature, commonly found at street-side chè stalls or traditional restaurants throughout the city.
Not only is Chè Chuối an ideal dessert to cool off on hot summer days, but it also serves as a symbol of the local spirit of the people of Saigon, showcasing the city's rich and diverse culinary culture. The dish is often varied, with additions like tapioca pearls, mung beans, or sweet potatoes, which enhance its flavor and make it even more distinctive. Popular banana chè spots in the city offer their own versions of this delicious treat, serving customers day and night.
Chè Trôi Nước (Glutinous Rice Dumplings)
Chè Trôi Nước is one of the standout and beloved desserts in Ho Chi Minh City. With soft glutinous rice balls filled with rich mung bean paste, this dessert not only captivates with its flavor but also carries deep cultural significance in Vietnamese culinary tradition. Chè Trôi Nước is often enjoyed during festive seasons, but nowadays, you can easily find this dish at street-side dessert stalls across Saigon, especially at District 1, District 5. Each ball of Chè Trôi Nước is handmade, creating a perfect harmony between the chewy outer layer and the sweet filling, offering a delightful culinary experience.
To enhance the dish’s unique taste, a rich coconut milk sauce is poured over the top, along with crispy roasted sesame seeds, making an exquisite combination of ingredients. When eaten, you will experience the subtle sweetness of the syrup, the chewy texture of the rice ball, and the creamy richness of the coconut milk, resulting in a refreshing and comforting dessert. Chè Trôi Nước also holds special meaning in Vietnamese culture, symbolizing unity and family reunion. Therefore, this dessert is not just a treat but an essential part of family gatherings and festive occasions.
Chè Đậu Xanh (Myung Bean Sweet Soup)
Chè Đậu Xanh, or myung bean sweet soup, is a popular and distinctive dessert loved by many for its subtle sweetness, ease of eating, and high nutritional value. Made primarily with green beans, this dessert offers a refreshing, cool sensation, perfect for hot summer days. The soft and smooth green beans, combined with rich coconut milk and rock sugar, create a perfect blend, bringing balance in every spoonful.
When enjoyed, you can taste the natural sweetness of the green beans, which is just right—not too sweet—combined with the creamy richness of the coconut milk, making it a simple yet incredibly delicious dessert. This is a dish that captures the heart of anyone who tries it for the first time.
If you're looking for a simple yet traditional Vietnamese dessert, Chè Đậu Xanh is an excellent choice. Not only is it easy to enjoy, but it is also good for health, helping to cool the body, detoxify, and provide essential nutrients from green beans.
Chè Khúc Bạch ( Almond Panna Cotta Jelly With Lychee)
Che Khuc Bach is a modern twist on traditional Vietnamese sweet soup, consisting of soft, smooth Khuc Bach cubes, typically made from gelatin, combined with fresh fruits like longan, lychee, or rambutan. Served cold, this dessert is perfect for cooling down on the hot summer days of Ho Chi Minh City, offering a fresh and soothing sensation. The blend of Khuc Bach with a light, creamy coconut milk syrup creates a memorable culinary experience. Che Khuc Bach is often enhanced with ingredients like pomegranate seeds, jelly, or tapioca pearls, adding variety and attractiveness to the dish. Unlike traditional desserts, Che Khuc Bach has a unique smooth texture, making each bite melt in your mouth, providing a delightful sensation.
Other Traditional Desserts in Ho Chi Minh City
Mixed fruit bowl
The mixed fruit bowl is an essential dessert on the list of must-try dishes in Ho Chi Minh City. This dish is made from fresh, tropical fruits such as mango, watermelon, papaya, and dragon fruit, combined with a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk or coconut milk to create a deliciously sweet and refreshing flavor. With the perfect blend of fresh fruits, the mixed fruit bowl offers a delightful experience for those who enjoy a refreshing dessert.
In addition to being a refreshing treat on hot summer days, the mixed fruit bowl is also an ideal choice for those seeking a dessert that is not too sweet but still packed with nutrients. With its combination of fruits rich in vitamins and minerals, this dish is not only tasty but also beneficial to your health. It is a popular dessert in snack shops and small eateries, offering diners a sense of enjoyment after a meal.
Tàu Hũ (Tofu Pudding)
Tàu hũ (tofu pudding) is a unique and beloved dessert in Ho Chi Minh City. Made from fresh soybeans, tàu hũ has a smooth and cool texture, offering a refreshing and soothing sensation to those who enjoy it. It is typically served with a layer of sweet syrup, creating the perfect combination of the creamy tofu flavor and the sweetness of the syrup.
One of the special features of Tofu Pudding is the blend of the natural taste of soybeans with the sweet, refreshing syrup. This makes the dessert an ideal choice for those who want to enjoy a treat that is not overly sweet, light yet still full of flavor. Tofu Pudding can also be topped with ingredients like mung beans, red beans, or fresh coconut, adding variety in taste and color, making the dish even more enticing.
Kem Xôi (Sticky Rice Ice Cream)
Sticky rice ice cream is one of the most unique desserts found in Ho Chi Minh City, often appearing in bustling markets and street food stalls. This dessert brings a delightful combination of the sweet, creamy ice cream and the chewy, fragrant sticky rice. The sticky rice is made from high-quality glutinous rice, and when paired with smooth, cold ice cream, it creates an exciting contrast between hot and cold, soft and chewy. Not only is this dessert memorable for its distinctive taste, but its beautiful presentation, with layers of sticky rice topped with creamy ice cream, also makes it visually appealing.
In the vibrant and lively atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City, sticky rice ice cream has become a beloved snack among locals and tourists alike. Often served with toppings like shredded coconut, roasted peanuts, or sweetened condensed milk, this dessert offers an added richness and complexity in flavor.
Rau Câu Dừa (Coconut Jelly)
Coconut Jelly, one of the famous and unique desserts in Ho Chi Minh City, has captured the hearts of many diners thanks to its refreshing taste and eye-catching presentation. This dish is made from fresh coconut water combined with agar-agar, creating a transparent, smooth jelly with a light crunch that isn't greasy. Coconut Jelly is often served in small coconut shells, enhancing its appeal and offering a cool, refreshing experience for those enjoying it.
What makes Coconut Jelly special is the perfect combination of the sweet, light flavor of fresh coconut water and the crisp, chewy texture of the jelly, providing a delightful and novel eating experience. This dessert is not only visually appealing but also light and easy to eat, making it suitable for all ages.
Bánh Flan (Vietnamese Caramel Custard)
Bánh Flan is one of the most famous desserts in Ho Chi Minh City, loved not only for its rich flavor but also for its smooth and creamy texture, which easily wins over any diner. This Vietnamese flan is made from eggs, milk, sugar, and a touch of vanilla, resulting in a silky, fragrant custard. One special feature of Bánh Flan is its rich caramel layer, creating a perfect combination of the sweet creaminess and the light bitterness of the caramel, offering an unforgettable culinary experience.
When visiting Ho Chi Minh City, you can't miss the chance to enjoy bánh flan at street food stalls or dessert shops. With its distinctive flavor, the flan here is often made with a unique recipe, giving it a different taste compared to other regions. Some places even add ingredients like fresh coconut water, coffee, or chocolate, enhancing the richness and appeal of this delightful dessert.
