23 Irresistible Vietnamese Desserts That Will Wow Your Taste Buds
Vietnamese desserts offer a perfect balance of sweetness and lightness, with fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors.
These 23 irresistible Vietnamese desserts will wow your taste buds with their refreshing, exotic tastes.
From creamy coconut-based sweets like chè ba màu to the chewy, sticky rice cakes of bánh chưng, Vietnamese desserts offer something unique.
These recipes incorporate ingredients like pandan, coconut milk, and tropical fruits, making them as beautiful as they are tasty.
Perfect for a hot day or a special occasion, these desserts are light, sweet, and sure to leave a lasting impression on everyone who tries them.
Deliciously Sweet: Exploring the World of Vietnamese Desserts
Vietnamese desserts are a perfect blend of sweet, savory, and refreshing flavors.
From fragrant coconut-infused treats to refreshing fruit-based delights, these desserts are sure to transport your taste buds to the heart of Vietnam.
Let’s dive into the rich, diverse world of traditional and modern Vietnamese sweets!
Bánh Bò
Bánh bò is a popular Vietnamese cake known for its spongy texture and mild sweetness.
This delightful treat gets its honeycomb-like appearance from the soft and airy batter, which is steamed to perfection.
Pandan leaves are used to infuse the cake with a distinct green color and a gentle nutty flavor, while coconut milk adds richness.
Each bite delivers a slight chewiness that complements the cake’s subtle sweetness.
Bánh bò is perfect for a light snack or dessert, often enjoyed with a cup of Vietnamese coffee or tea.
Its simplicity and charm make it a staple in Vietnamese sweet cuisine.
Chè Ba Màu
Chè ba màu, or "three-color dessert," is a refreshing Vietnamese treat made with three colorful layers of beans, mung beans, and pandan jelly.
The base layers consist of red beans, mung beans, and a beautiful green pandan jelly.
Sweetened coconut milk is poured over the top, bringing everything together.
This dessert is typically served cold, making it an ideal choice for hot days.
You can layer the vibrant ingredients in a glass to showcase the beautiful colors.
Chè ba màu offers a delightful balance of textures and flavors in every spoonful.
Bánh Chuối Hấp
Bánh chuối hấp is a beloved Vietnamese steamed banana cake that combines ripe bananas with a mixture of tapioca starch and rice flour.
The banana flavor shines through in this soft, chewy cake, making it a comforting treat.
Steamed to perfection, this dessert retains a moist texture that pairs beautifully with coconut milk.
Bánh chuối hấp offers a wonderful use of overripe bananas, turning them into a deliciously sweet dessert.
Whether served warm or chilled, it’s a delightful taste of traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
Bánh Da Lợn
Bánh da lợn is a colorful Vietnamese steamed layer cake made with green pandan leaves and yellow mung beans.
The distinct layers of this cake create a visually striking appearance, making it as pleasing to the eye as it is to the taste buds.
The texture is chewy and soft, with a slight gelatinous quality.
You’ll enjoy the mild sweetness that balances well with the chewy consistency.
Each layer is steamed separately, adding to its unique texture.
Bánh da lợn is a perfect snack or dessert, often served with tea to complement its flavors.
Chè Trôi Nước
Chè trôi nước is a traditional Vietnamese dessert featuring glutinous rice balls filled with mung bean paste.
These sweet rice balls are boiled in ginger syrup, which imparts a warming, spicy flavor.
The dessert is often served with a drizzle of coconut cream and topped with toasted sesame seeds.
It’s popular during festivals and special occasions in Vietnam, offering a unique taste experience with every bite.
The soft, chewy rice balls contrast beautifully with the smooth, aromatic syrup.
Chè trôi nước is a wonderful example of Vietnamese creativity in transforming simple ingredients into something special.
Bánh Pía
Bánh pía is a delicious Vietnamese mooncake filled with mung bean paste and durian fruit.
The flaky pastry adds an irresistible texture to the rich, sweet filling.
Durian, known for its strong aroma, gives bánh pía its distinctive flavor, which many love or find intriguing.
This treat is especially popular during the Mid-Autumn Festival, often shared among friends and family.
The small, round cakes are easy to carry and perfect for gifting.
Bánh pía offers a unique blend of flavors, making it a fun dessert for those looking to experience a traditional Vietnamese delicacy.
Bánh Cam
Bánh cam is a crispy and chewy sesame ball filled with sweet mung bean paste.
The dough is made from glutinous rice flour and coated with sesame seeds, giving it a crunchy exterior.
After deep frying, the sesame balls develop a golden, crispy texture, while the inside remains soft and sweet.
These treats are perfect for snacking or as a light dessert after a meal.
The delightful contrast between the crunchy shell and chewy filling makes bánh cam a satisfying bite.
Enjoy them warm for the best taste experience.
Chè Bắp
Chè bắp is a comforting Vietnamese corn pudding made with sweet corn kernels and sticky rice.
The dish combines the natural sweetness of corn with the chewy texture of glutinous rice.
A pandan leaf can be added to enhance the fragrance and flavor of the dessert.
The corn and rice mixture is simmered until tender, then served warm or cold, depending on your preference.
Chè bắp is a satisfying, homey dessert that is especially popular during the summer months.
It’s simple yet satisfying, making it an easy dessert to whip up for a crowd or enjoy on your own.
Bánh Chưng
Bánh chưng is a traditional Vietnamese sticky rice cake, symbolizing the earth during Lunar New Year.
The square-shaped cake is filled with glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork, offering a savory and rich flavor profile.
The ingredients are wrapped in dong or banana leaves, then boiled for several hours.
The result is a dense, flavorful cake with a soft yet firm texture.
Bánh chưng is often sliced and served during celebrations, adding a sense of festivity to the occasion.
This dish is an essential part of Vietnamese culture, representing the connection to the earth and ancestors.
Chè Thái
Chè Thái is a refreshing Vietnamese fruit cocktail dessert made with a variety of fruits like jackfruit, lychee, and longan.
The fruit mixture is paired with a sweet syrup and coconut milk, creating a creamy, flavorful treat.
For added texture, you can incorporate green ai yu jelly or other chewy ingredients.
Chè Thái is usually served cold, making it an excellent choice for a hot day.
The colorful fruits and creamy coconut milk make this dessert both beautiful and delicious.
This vibrant dessert brings a sweet, tropical flavor to any occasion.
Bánh Ít Trần
Bánh ít trần is a savory Vietnamese dumpling made from sticky rice flour and filled with a mixture of mung beans, pork, and shrimp.
These soft, chewy dumplings are shaped into small discs or balls and are typically served with a tangy dipping sauce made from fish sauce, lime, and chili.
Bánh ít trần is often enjoyed as a snack or appetizer, offering a rich, savory flavor in each bite.
The combination of flavors from the shrimp and pork filling contrasts nicely with the soft texture of the rice dough.
This dish is a staple in Vietnamese street food culture.
Chè Ẩu En
Chè đậu đen is a simple yet satisfying Vietnamese dessert made from black beans.
The beans are cooked until soft and tender, then sweetened with sugar and flavored with vanilla and almond extracts.
The dessert often includes tapioca pearls or coconut milk for added texture and creaminess.
Chè đậu đen is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed either hot or cold, making it perfect for any season.
It’s often served in bowls or cups, offering a comforting and delicious end to any meal.
This dessert embodies the simplicity and elegance of traditional Vietnamese sweets.
Bánh Khọt
Bánh khọt are small, crispy pancakes from Vietnam, often filled with shrimp and served with fresh herbs and lettuce.
The batter is made from rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric, giving these pancakes a golden color and delicate flavor.
Bánh khọt are typically topped with shrimp, and they’re often wrapped in lettuce leaves before being dipped into a savory fish sauce.
These mini pancakes are a popular snack in southern Vietnam, often served at food markets or made at home for special occasions.
They provide a delightful mix of textures and flavors in every bite.
Bánh Xèo
Bánh xèo is a savory Vietnamese crepe filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts.
The crepe is crispy and golden on the outside, with a soft, savory filling inside.
When served, it’s often wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves and dipped in nuoc cham, a Vietnamese dipping sauce made from fish sauce, lime juice, and chili.
Bánh xèo is a favorite street food in Vietnam, offering a unique balance of flavors and textures in every bite.
The combination of crispy crepe, fresh vegetables, and savory filling makes it a delicious and satisfying treat.
Chè Hạt Sen
Chè hạt sen is a light, refreshing Vietnamese dessert made from lotus seeds.
The lotus seeds are cooked to a soft, tender consistency, providing a subtle, natural sweetness.
Chè hạt sen is often combined with dried longan for added flavor and served either warm or cold.
This elegant dessert is popular throughout Vietnam, known for its soothing and delicate taste.
The soft lotus seeds and creamy coconut milk create a perfect balance of textures, making it a wonderful choice for a light and refreshing treat.
Bánh Gai
Bánh gai is a unique Vietnamese dessert made from dark-colored dough and filled with a sweet mixture of mung beans, coconut, sesame seeds, and sometimes pork fat.
The dough gets its color from thorn leaf powder, which also adds an earthy flavor.
The cake is wrapped in banana leaves, giving it a distinct appearance and flavor.
Bánh gai is especially popular in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam, where it’s considered a special treat.
The combination of sweet and savory ingredients makes it a dessert unlike any other.
Bánh Âu Xanh
Bánh đậu xanh is a classic Vietnamese dessert made from mung beans.
The mung beans are cooked and blended with sugar and oil or pork fat to create a smooth, fudge-like texture.
Bánh đậu xanh is often shaped into small cakes or bars and served with tea.
This simple dessert has a mild, creamy sweetness that pairs perfectly with the bitterness of tea.
It’s a treat that’s deeply ingrained in Vietnamese culture and history, making it a perfect example of traditional flavors.
Chè Bưởi
Chè bưởi is a Vietnamese pomelo dessert that’s both sweet and slightly tart.
The pomelo peel is carefully prepared, boiled to remove bitterness, and then mixed with sugar and tapioca starch to create a smooth, jelly-like texture.
Coconut milk adds richness and depth to the dish, making it a satisfying treat.
Chè bưởi can be enjoyed both hot and cold, providing a refreshing and unique flavor combination.
The pomelo’s soft texture blends well with the creamy coconut milk, offering an enjoyable dessert experience.
Bánh Flan
Bánh flan is a Vietnamese take on the French crème caramel, offering a silky custard topped with a layer of golden caramel.
The custard is made from eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla, creating a rich and smooth texture.
Once the caramel is poured into molds, the custard mixture is added on top before steaming or baking.
After cooling, the flan is inverted to reveal the golden caramel sauce dripping down the sides.
Bánh flan is a comforting and elegant dessert, perfect for any occasion.
Its smooth texture and rich flavor make it a favorite in Vietnamese households.
Bánh Tiêu
Bánh tiêu is a Vietnamese sesame donut that’s light, crunchy, and satisfying.
The dough is made from flour, sugar, and salt, creating a fluffy yet crispy exterior.
After frying, the donut puffs up to form a hollow center.
Some versions are filled with sticky rice, offering a unique twist on the traditional donut.
The sesame seeds add a subtle crunch and flavor to the outside, making each bite irresistible.
Bánh tiêu is a popular street food in Vietnam and a delightful dessert for any time of day.
Chè Dừa Non
Chè dừa non is a sweet Vietnamese dessert made from young coconut.
The soft, jelly-like flesh of the unripe coconut is mixed with a light coconut milk syrup and sugar, creating a refreshing treat.
The dessert can be served warm or chilled, making it a versatile option for different occasions.
Its chewy texture contrasts beautifully with the smooth syrup, offering a unique combination of flavors.
You can enjoy chè dừa non as a cooling dessert on a hot day, or simply as a satisfying, lightly sweet indulgence.
Bánh Tai Yên
Bánh tai yến is a crispy Vietnamese dessert that looks like a bird's nest.
The lacy pattern is created by pouring batter in circular motions into hot oil.
The dough includes a mix of rice flour and sticky rice flour, providing a light, crunchy texture.
The resulting treat is golden and slightly chewy in the center, with a delicate crispiness on the edges.
The sweet, crunchy texture of bánh tai yến makes it a fun snack or dessert, often enjoyed with coffee or tea.
It’s a delightful and creative treat that stands out for its unique appearance and texture.
Chè Khoai Môn
Chè khoai môn is a smooth and creamy Vietnamese dessert made with taro.
The taro is mashed and combined with sticky rice and coconut milk, creating a comforting pudding-like consistency.
The rich, creamy coconut sauce complements the subtle sweetness of the taro, resulting in a balanced, satisfying treat.
This dessert can be enjoyed warm or chilled, making it versatile for all seasons.
Chè khoai môn is a comforting dessert that’s perfect after a meal or as a special treat.
Its soft, purple hue adds to the visual appeal.