Top 10 Must-Try Vietnamese Cakes by Region in Vietnam Package Tours

Northern Vietnam Delights with Vietnamese cake

Banh Chung – Square Sticky Rice Cake

Of all the different types of Vietnamese cakes, banh chung is a national gem, square, green, and rich in heritage. Its origin is said to have occurred according to the ancient Hung Kings’ dynasty legend surrounding Lang Lieu, when the dish was made as a humble tribute to the Earth.

Crafted with glutinous rice, seasoned pork belly, and rich mung beans, it is painstakingly stacked and wrapped in fresh dong leaves and boiled 8-12 hours to bring out its distinctive sticky, rich center. Satisfyingly dense and chewy in texture, its scent reminds migrants and visitors alike of home-made holidays.

Cultural significance: They are invariably displayed on family altars during Te t to reflect family unity, plenty, and respect for the values embedded in traditional food in Vietnam.

Perfect Pairing: Slice and accompany with pickled onions or dip in fish sauce to experience a complementary savory flavor contrast.

Where to Buy in Hanoi:

• banh chung Tran Kim – 69 Hang Than, Ba Dinh
• Cua hang banh chung Ba Kieu – 52A Phan Dinh Phung
  Price: 60,000-120,000 VND per piece

Banh Chung (Source: vinwonders)

Banh Com – Green Sticky Rice Cake

A delicate, refined Vietnamese cake reminiscent of Hanoi’s autumn breeze, banh com is a chewy, soft treat composed of young green rice flakes (com) and mung bean paste sweetened with sugar. It is nutty and soft and green with the fragrance of the scent, the delicate fragrance of banana leaves, or the aroma of the smell of lotus leaves.

Originally presented at weddings to symbolize sincerity and fidelity, this Vietnam banh is presently adored as a seasonal snack and as a significant memento.

Flavor Profile: A bit sticky outside and very sweet and earthy inside, with floral undertones, absolute harmonious delight on the palate!

Where to Try It:

• Banh Com Nguyen Ninh – 11 Hang Than (established 1865!)
• Banh Com Ba Hoan – 20 Hang Than, Ba Dinh
  Price: 6,000-8,000 VND/piece or ~60,000 VND/box of 10

Cultural Use: Served as part of ceremonies and gifts when seeking engagement, and commonly served with hot green tea, a staple part of traditional food in Vietnam during autumn.

Banh Com (Source: keepupcooking)

Banh Gai – Thorn Leaf Cake

Don’t be fooled if banh gai appears dark in color, this is one of the more elaborate and rich Vietnamese cakes available. Its dark coloring is achieved using the ground and incorporated ramie leaf (la gai) in glutinous rice flour. Not just providing the cake with its distinctive presentation, this also adds a hint of herbal flavor to the mix that perfectly offsets its rich and sweet contents.

Inside is the taste combination of mung bean paste, shredded coconut, candied lotus seeds, and sometimes a touch of peanut or winter melon, depending on regional variations. Steaming is done through wheat-starch batter-dough wrapping in uniform stacks in dried banana leaves, imparting rustic aroma and appeal to it.

Texture & Taste: Soft and sticky and aromatic and unforgettable. The cake dissolves slowly in your mouth with lingering sweetness.

Where to Find It:

• Banh Gai Ba Thi – 27 Nguyen Du, TP. Hải Dương
• Cho Rong, Nam Dinh (traditional market)
  Price: 5,000-15,000 VND per piece

Cultural Note: Frequently utilized in ancestor veneration, village celebrations, and ceremonial offerings, this Vietnam banh is a taste of remembrance and deference.

Banh Gai (Source: tasteatlas)

Central Vietnam Treasures with Vietnamese cake

Banh Beo – Water Fern Cake

If there were a crown jewel among Vietnamese traditional appetizers, it would be banh beo, a Hue specialty that looks simple but delivers extraordinary flavor. Shaped like a water fern leaf and served in petite porcelain cups, each soft rice cake is topped with finely minced shrimp, crunchy pork cracklings, scallion oil, and a drizzle of sweet-savory fish sauce.

They are the perfect one-bite wonder, soft and chewy and bursting with texture!

Flavor Tip: Sprinkle a spoonful of chili paste and a splash of fish sauce onto this royal dish to increase its depth of flavor!

Where to Try It:

• Banh Beo Ba Cu – 23 Nguyen Hue, Hue
• Quan Suong – 14 Nguyen Hue, Hue
  Price: ~20,000-40,000 VND per tray (~10-15 cups)

Cultural Note: While originally served only in imperial banquets, banh beo is today a popular street food to share with your pals over tea in the poetic streets of Hue.

Banh Beo (Source: dailong)

Banh Nam – Flat Steamed Rice Cake

Refined and understated, banh nam is yet another jewel in the Huế tradition of Vietnamese cake making. Thin and smooth rice flour batter forms the foundation, spread out over a banana leaf and topped with ground pork, ground shrimp, and seasonings spread finely over the two sides. After wrapping and steaming, the result is a delicate and aromatic melt-in-your-mouth treat.

Texture & Flavor: Silky smooth and rich with a just-right dose of umami.

Cultural Insight: Served in family reunions and on vegetarian days with fillings made from mushrooms, banh nam illustrates the soft character of traditional food in Vietnam.

Where to Try It:

• Banh Nam Ba Do – 71 Nguyen Truong To, Hue
  Price: ~8,000-12,000 VND per piece

Pair it with other Vietnam banh like banh loc for a full imperial platter!

Banh Nam (Source: theworldofstreetfood)

Banh It La Gai – Ramie Leaf Cake

A darker, sweeter treasure arrives from the province of Binh Dinh: banh it la gai, a chewy, sticky treat composed of glutinous rice flour and flavored with the herbal scent of ramie leaves. This Vietnamese cake is presented as a gift as a mark of respect and sincerity during a wedding or Tet celebration.

Tightly wrapped in banana leaves, the cake holds a sweet mung bean or grated coconut core inside. Its black and shiny finish is distinctive, but it is the distinctive flavor, earthly, nutty, and aromatic, that leaves a haunting impression.

Texture: Firm yet yielding, a classic example of soft chewy brilliance.

Where to Try It:

• Cho Lon Quy Nhon – Binh Dinh’s central market
• Co so Banh It Ba Duong – Quoc lo 1A, Phuoc Loc, Tuy Phuoc, Binh Dinh
  Price: 5,000-8,000 VND per piece

Fun Fact: Locals also refer to it as the “Bahh cua long hieu thao" (cake of filial piety), and it is thus a moving part of traditional food in Vietnam.

Banh It La Gai (Source: ar1group)

Southern Vietnam Favorites with Vietnamese cake

Banh Tet – Cylindrical Sticky Rice Cake of Vietnamese cake

A favorite South Vietnamese Tet treat, banh tet is the southern cousin in round form to the northern banh chung but with a zesty southern flair. Tied and wrapped in banana leaves in tall cylindrical rolls, this Vietnamese cake is packed with smooth mung beans and pork belly for savory ones, or banana or black beans for dessert treats.

Flavor Highlight: The aroma from the banana leaf gently infuses the rice, while the filling adds a wonderful contrast between richness and creaminess.

Where to Try It:

• Cai Rang Floating Market, Can Tho – experience it fresh from boat-side kitchens
• Cho Vinh Long – known for Tet-special banh tet nhan chuoi
  Price: 60,000-120,000 VND/roll, depending on size and ingredients

Cultural Insight: Symbolizing fertility and good fortune, the traditional Vietnamese cake is a key part of the offerings during Tet in southern Vietnam.

Banh Tet (Source: dienmayxanh)

Banh Chuoi Hap – Steamed Banana Cake of Vietnamese cake

Hello to comfort food on a plate! Banh chuoi hap is a sticky and warm Vietnamese cake composed of overripe bananas, glutinous flour, and coconut milk. Having a pudding-like consistency and naturally sweet, the dessert hugs your soul.

Generally steaming in trays, cut up into golden slabs and served with a drizzle of coconut sauce, the snack can be spotted in homes, market stalls, and street food stalls across Southern Vietnam.

Taste Profile: A soft and creamy take on tropical pudding meets moist banana bread, truly irresistible.

Where to Try It:

• Cho Ben Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City
• Solar Food – Vo Van Tan, District 3, HCMC
  Price: ~10,000-20,000 VND/slice

Banh Chuoi Hap (Source: helenrecipes)

Banh Da Lon – Pig Skin Layer Cake of Vietnamese cake

Don’t let the name fool you, banh da lon (which means “pig skin cake”) is a stunning layer cake, jiggly in texture and pork-free! Its bouncy, stretchy texture earned the dish its misleading name, and the ingredients are tapioca starch, rice flour and coconut, pandan extract, and mung bean paste. This festival favorite is a hit based on presentation and its sticky, gooey layers.

Texture Tip: Peel the cake layer by layer so you can experience its soft, chewy texture and distinctive flavor

Where to Try It:

• Banh Da Lon Ut Van – 156 Nguyen Thien Thuat, District 3, HCMC
• Quan A Muoi – known for their pandan and taro layered cakes
  Price: ~15,000-25,000 VND/slice

Popular at the Mid-Autumn and Vu Lan celebrations, this treat is a lighthearted and nostalgic part of the southern confectionery scene alongside the likes of sesame balls and mung bean tarts, and more.

Banh Da Lon (Source: dienmayxanh)

Across Vietnam-Banh Phu The – Husband and Wife Cake with Vietnamese cake

Let us conclude our travels through Vietnam’s regions with a romantic and significant treat, banh phu the or the Husband and Wife Cake. Out of all the cakes, this one is the epitome of love!

A venerable sign of love, togetherness, and affection, this adorable cake is the staple at historic Vietnamese weddings. It’s more than a dessert, it’s a blessing wrapped in traditions. Made with a delicate chewy tapioca skin, perfumed with the scent of pandan or essence of flowers, the cake holds within it a lush layering of sweet mung bean and shredded milk-soaked coconut. Now and then, even lotus seeds or sesame seeds make it to the mix to add a bit of crunch and distinctive taste.

Symbolism: The soft yet sticky texture is representative of the bond of marriage, tender yet strong, and sweet bite after bite. No surprise then that it qualifies as an edible vow of love in the Vietnamese traditional.

Where to Try It:

• Hang Than Street, Hanoi – where the city’s finest handcrafted wedding cakes are made
• Lang Dinh Bang, Bac Ninh – the birthplace of the art of banh phu the centuries ago
• Traditional markets in Hue, Da Nang, and HCMC often stock these during the wedding season
  Price: 10,000-20,000 VND/piece or 60,000-100,000 VND/box (depending on packaging and size)

Serving Tip: Enjoy warm green tea or jasmine beverages best. It is often served with other ceremonial foods such as banh bao, fried sesame treats, or stir-fried vegetable trays in celebration feasts.

Banh Phu The (Source: dienmayxanh)

Conclusion

From North to South, every cake we have discovered is a taste-fect celebration of culture layered in heritage, packed with significance, and carefully crafted. Savoring the banh da lon, taking a bite of the warm banh tet, or sharing a delicate banh phu the as a gift are all testimonies to the essence of the traditional food in Vietnam and the essence of the traditional food in vietnam​. Hungry to taste more? Begin your cultural adventure with our entire Vietnamese Culture collection and let your taste buds experience the magic of Vietnam banh!