Sweet Stops on Hanoi Tours: Top Local Desserts (With Address)

Traditional Vietnamese Desserts You Must Try

1. Che Do Den (Sweet Black Bean Dessert)

Why you’ll love it: Simple, wholesome, and comforting, this traditional Hanoi sweet is just slow-simmered black beans till velvety soft, sweetened with rock sugar and served with a ribbon of coconut milk or a splash of condensed milk. It’s the type of dessert that sounds both familiar and nostalgically healthy, the perfect treat to end a meal and remind you that there are comforts to be found, even in the enormity of the natural world.

Taste & texture: Creamy but earthy; smooth beans against silken coconut; light without leaving you hungry.

Best for: Cooling down on a sticky Hanoi afternoon or getting a little sweetness with a healthier dose of protein and fiber.

• Price: 15,000-20,000 VND (~$0.60-$0.80)
• Where to try: Quan che Muoi Sau – 16 Ngo Thi Nham, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
• Local tip: Request additional coconut milk or a ladling of mung bean paste for something different!

2. Che Thap Cam (Mixed Sweet Soup)

Why you’ll love it:  This is the best of Vietnamese desserts. A rainbow of ingredients mung beans, red beans, jelly cubes, dried fruit, lotus seeds, tapioca pearls, and shredded coconut – were jumbled together in a glass or bowl over ice and crowned with condensed milk or coconut milk. You can mix and match it yourself or order the vendor’s special combo.

Taste & texture: Every spoonful is a surprise! Chewy and soft and creamy and crunchy and sweet and cool all at the same time.

Best for:  Newcomers who want to sample everything. This dish is a playful, joyful descent into the world of Hanoi dessert.

• Price: 20,000-25,000 VND (~$0.80-$1.00)
• Where to try: Che Thap Cam 1976 – 72G Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Local tip: Locals also love to include jackfruit and syrup-soaked water chestnuts for additional flavor!

3. Che Buoi (Pomelo Sweet Soup)

Why you’ll love it: This is the best of Vietnamese desserts. A rainbow of ingredients, mung beans, red beans, jelly cubes, dried fruit, lotus seeds, tapioca pearls, and shredded coconut, are jumbled together in a glass or bowl over ice and crowned with condensed milk or coconut milk. You can mix and match it yourself or order the vendor’s special combo.

Taste & texture: Every spoonful is a surprise! Chewy and soft and creamy and crunchy and sweet and cool all at the same time.

Best for: Newcomers who want to sample everything. This dish is a playful, joyful descent into the world of Hanoi dessert.

• Price: 20,000-25,000 VND (~$0.80-$1.00)
• Where to try: Che Loc Tai – 76 Hang Dieu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Local tip: Locals also love to include jackfruit and syrup-soaked water chestnuts for additional flavor!

4. Che Chuoi Nuong (Grilled Banana Dessert)

Why you’ll love it: Sticky rice filled with ripe banana, grilled over charcoal, and rolled in a sweet coconut milk, egg yolk, and sometimes pandan leaf bath. This rustic and hearty dessert is guaranteed to warm your soul.

Taste & texture:  The charcoal-flecked grilled banana tastes fabulous with the creamy, sweet coconut sauce – soft and sticky, warm with a hint of caramelisation.

Best for:  A cozy reward after a street food crawl or night stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake.

• Price: 20,000-30,000 VND (~$0.80-$1.20)
• Where to try: Che Loc Tai – 76 Hang Dieu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Local tip: Have your dish topped with the extra crunch of toasted sesame seeds or peanuts!

5. Che Sen Long Nhan (Lotus Seed & Longan Sweet Soup)

Why you’ll love it: Known as a “royal” dessert, this sophisticated gelatinous Hanoi dessert is created by boiling lotus seeds until they’re soft, then squeezing sweet, juicy longans into them. Chilled in jasmine syrup, it is aromatic, light, and faintly sweet.

Taste & texture:  Silk syrup, bouncy lotus, floppy longan floral, faintly herbal, and very refreshing.

Best for: Those afternoons when you’re sick of the heat and you want something elegant, healthful, and soul-soothing.

• Price: 25,000-35,000 VND (~$1.00-$1.40)
• Where to try: Che Loc Tai – 76 Hoang Dieu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Local tip: Goes very well with a Vietnamese coffee on the side, or an egg coffee.

Modern & Fusion Desserts in Hanoi

1. Matcha Parfait & Eggnog Matcha

Tea Pops adds a touch of Japanese refinement to Hanoi with this multilayered, multifaceted wonder. The Matcha Parfait combines jelly, matcha cream, whipped and chewy pearls for a balance of bitter and sweet, served with the right amount of creaminess. Eggnog Matcha, meanwhile, takes a Vietnamese turn with frothy egg yolk cream layered over rich green tea (in other words, the egg coffee of Japan).

• Price: 45,000-65,000 VND (~$1.80-$2.60)
• Where to try: Tea Pops – 31B Phan Dinh Phung, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
• Local tip: Enjoy it with a light banh flan or matcha cheesecake for a full East-meets-Vietnam dessert experience!

2. Passion Mango Pomelo

Based on Hong Kong’s favored dessert, this beloved tropical treat receives a Hanoi dessert mash-up at Tea Pops. Fresh mango chunks, tart passion fruit syrup, pomelo sacs, and ribbons of chill cream swirl into a bright, tangy, completely refreshing bowl. It’s an explosion of taste and color that Hanoi’s younger set is eating up (speaking literally).

• Price: 45,000-55,000 VND (~$1.80-$2.20)
• Where to try: Tea Pops – 31B Phan Dinh Phung, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
• Perfect after: An afternoon grub tour of Hanoi’s local food gold or a wander through nearby colonial streets.

3. Crème Brulée & Panna Cotta (Vietnamese Versions)

These European standards have been lovingly embraced and Vietnamese-ified by Hanoi cafés. The crème brulée is served with a burnt caramel crust, a crack across the top, and a touch of vanilla custard, on occasion, Vietnamese coffee or pandan flavoured mix. The panna cotta comes with a choice of fun flavors like coconut milk, passion fruit, or purple yam. All of them is a sly name for this delightfully supple dish.

• Price: 40,000-60,000 VND (~$1.60-$2.40)
• Where to try: Tea Pops or indie fusion cafés around Hoan Kiem and Tay Ho
• Best for: Dessert fans looking to sample the global-meets-local of Hanoi in one spoonful.

4. Kem Trang Tien (Iconic Hanoi Ice Cream)

It would be a crime to exclude this Hanoi dessert favorite. Kem Trang Tien has been feeding the locals since 1958, the perfect sweet treat after a wander around Hoan Kiem Lake. “Test out flavors like green rice, chocolate, or coconut in a crispy cone or chewy, mochi-style bar. Basic old school, and loved by some.

• Price: 12,000-20,000 VND (~$0.50-$0.80)
• Where to try: 35 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• When to go: Late afternoon or evening, when the lake is alive and the desire for something sweet strikes.

5. Hoa Qua Dam (Mixed Fruit Bowl with Condensed Milk)

Consider it Vietnam’s version of a fruit parfait. Fresh tropical fruits such as mango, papaya, watermelon, and avocado are diced and served with crushed ice, condensed milk, coconut milk, and sometimes a bit of creamy yogurt. One of the famous Vietnamese desserts in Hanoi, especially good on a hot day.

• Price: 25,000-35,000 VND (~$1.00-$1.40)
• Where to try: To Tich Street – the unofficial fruit dessert alley of Hoan Kiem
• Great with: A side of egg coffee, for ultimate contrast in flavor and texture.

Seasonal & Street Dessert Snacks

1. Banh Troi Nuoc (Floating Rice Balls with Sesame and Ginger)

These chewy rice balls represent harmony and togetherness, and they’re a Hanoi dessert tradition during the Tet Han Thuc festival. Sweet seasoned black sesame paste is enveloped in a soft, chewy glutinous rice flour dough and then boiled until it floats and served in a warm, lightly sweetened ginger syrup.

Flavor & texture: Creamy and chewy, perfumed, warm with spicy sweetness.

• Best time to try: Spring, particularly in April (lunar calendar festivals)
• Where to find it: Small dessert venues around Hoan Kiem or street food vendors in the Hanoi dessert Old Quarter
• Pair with: A glass of Vietnamese coffee for contrast or egg coffee, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous!

2. Suong Sao & Suong Sa Hat Luu (Grass Jelly & Mock Pomegranate Seeds)

This combo is among the coolest and refreshing of Hanoi sweet treats, best when the days are hot. Suong sao (grass jelly) imparts a mild, herbal flavor, suong sa hat luu (mock pomegranate seeds made from water chestnut and tapioca) add crunch and color. Shaved ice, with a few good sloshes of coconut milk and whatever handful of toppings you so desire.

Flavor & texture: Airy, slick, chewy, and oh so refreshing!

• Best time to try: Summer afternoons in Hanoi
• Where to find it: Street vendors along To Tich Street or weekend night markets near Hoan Kiem Lake
• Why try it: It’s a classic but light Hanoi dessert for any weary soul wanting to get away from the heat!

3. Chuoi Nep Nuong (Grilled Banana in Sticky Rice)

Among the most popular desserts in Hanoi Vietnam, this snack binds sweet banana in sticky rice and grills until crispy, and then it is soaked in hot coconut milk sauce. Vendors will often be spotted fanning charcoal grills while dishing this out in the cooler months.

Flavor & texture: Smoky, soft banana, crunchy rice crust, rich creamy sauce that tastes of proper egg yolk. 

• Best time to try: Fall to early spring (cooler months)
• Food stalls in the area of Hang Dieu, Doi Can, or the school gates on the bank of Hoan Kiem
• Highly recommend: It’s worth a shot if you’re doing your Hanoi dessert walk through local snacks.

4. Sinh To Bo (Avocado Smoothie with Coconut or Dried Coconut)

This creamy green drink is something of a sleeper hit among locals. When it is fully ripened, the avocado is mixed with condensed milk, crushed ice, and in some cases, additional ingredients such as dried coconut, jelly/even sweet syrup. It’s a fresh option among the trendy Hanoi dessert scene, light and nutrient-packed.

Flavor & texture: Rich, velvety, nutty, and a little sweet.

• Best time to try: All year, especially hot afternoons
• Where to find it: Juice spots and Hanoi sidewalk food vendors close to Hang Dao or Ngo Tam Thuong
• Perfect with: A salty snack or banh mi, well-suited to fronting any of the other Hanoi local food classics.

Dessert Tips from Hanoi Locals

When to Eat Dessert in Hanoi

You don’t save dessert for after dinner around here. In Hanoi, you’ll find people eating Vietnamese desserts all day long! In need of something sweet after the best breakfast in Hanoi? Order a glass of che thap cam or sinh to bo. Want a respite during your stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake? Nothing satisfies like Kem Trang Tien or egg coffee. 

Many of these dessert stalls open up from late morning and operate through to the evening, making them an adaptable option for your Hanoi street food adventures.

Local insight: Warm sweet soups such as che do den are ideal for the cooler months, and cool combinations like suong sa hat luu or hoa qua dam are popular in summertime.

How to Find Trustworthy Dessert Stalls

When uncertain, the way to go may be to follow the crowd. When you see locals lining up, that’s your green light! Longtime establishments in the vicinity of Hoan Kiem or beloved stalls in the Hanoi sweet old quarter are generally a safe bet for quality and cleanliness.

Trusted signs to look for:

• Transparent prep stations
• Clean utensils and ice
• Newcomers like actual mung beans, tapioca pearls, or homemade coconut milk
• Clear prices on the menu board

Dessert Language Tips You’ll Actually Use

You don’t have to be intimidated to order Hanoi dessert! Some basic Vietnamese phrases to help you talk like a local:

• “Che” = Sweet soup (common name for dessert such as black bean, pomelo, lotus seed, etc.)
• “It ngot” = Less sweet
• “Khong duong” = No sugar
• “Khong da” = No ice
• “Co sua dac khong?” = Does it come with condensed milk?

Pro tip: Here you want to ask what’s hot, just say: “Mon nao ngon nhat a?” (Which one is the best?). Works like magic!

Conclusion

Hanoi dessert isn’t just a sweet; it’s a tasty keyhole view into the lives, the history, and the community of local people. From steaming hot bowls of sweet soup to frozen fruit blends and rich coconut milk concoctions, every bite echoes the city’s rich ethnic tapestry. And for the ultimate experience, we strongly suggest going on a Hanoi local food tour with a local that includes both savories and sweets. From wandering the alleyways of the Hanoi dessert old quarter to lounging about the Hoan Kiem Lake, let your taste buds guide you to the yummiest corners of the capital.

FAQ

What is the famous dessert in Vietnam?

One of Vietnam’s most beloved soups is sweet soups known as che, a wide-reaching moniker for hefty, brothy sweet soups prepared with everything from mung beans, black beans, and tapioca pearls to coconut milk and tropical fruit. Types such as che do den (sweet black bean), che buoi (pomelo sweet soup), and che chuoi nuong (grilled banana in sticky rice) are particularly favored in Hanoi’s space of sweet soup.

What is Hanoi famous food?

Hanoi is most famous for its iconic dishes like pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli),  and ca phe trung (egg coffee). These Hanoi local foods are typical standards of Hanoi street food, and have a deep culinary tradition and history behind them – they are a must-try for anyone visiting Hanoi streets!