CHÈ – VIETNAMESE SWEET SOUP THAT YOU SHOULD TRY WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT SAIGON

Vietnamese cuisine is well known for its vivid flavors and distinctive textures, but one dish in particular, Chè, sticks out as a delicious and soothing treat among the many culinary gems. There are many different versions of this sweet soup, also known as dessert soup, that are made using local ingredients and suit different preferences around Vietnam. Chè in Saigon is as varied as it is mouthwatering. Continue reading to discover the top 6 delicious sweet soups you should try when visiting Vietnam.

There are numerous types of Vietnamese Chè

What is Vietnamese Sweet Soup?

From puddings to cool drinks, there are countless ways to enjoy Vietnamese sweet soup, a beloved and adaptable delicacy. It typically has coconut milk as one of its ingredients, among many others, including beans, fruits, seeds, and tapioca. Modern adaptations of time-honored recipes have resulted in an array of delicious new options. On hot summer days, people often opt for sweet soups served with ice, and on cold days, they warm themselves with hot sweet soups. Vietnamese sweet soup, whether served hot or cold, is a hit with both natives and visitors.

Chè has a fragrant, sweet, fatty, and chewy flavor.

All six of these fantastic Saigon chè joints are open until into the night, so you may enjoy your meal whenever you like. To learn more about any of the names on the list, just click on it. These locations are experts in the field of offering chè since they have done it for a long time. You won’t believe the variety of chè—menus often feature more than 30 varieties.

Chè is the most underappreciated part of Vietnamese food among tourists and foreigners living in the country. Most people associate chè with their school lunches because of their unpleasant texture, which may be described as unctuous, sticky, sloppy, soggy, and slimy.

 However, if you can overcome this, you will uncover yet another facet of Vietnamese cuisine. Everything about Chè is a good time: the ingredients, the recipes, the names.

1. Chè Thái Ý Phương

Chè Thái Ý Phương is located in District 10, and with 30 years old. Thai sweet soup is Y Phuong’s most famous dessert. It is well-known for its Thai sweet soup “Chè Thái”, which is highly praised by customers. People who have a sweet tooth will only need a single cup of the restaurant’s sweet soup because it is scooped so generously. Thai coconut ice cream, sticky rice with jackfruit ice cream, white jelly sweet soup, three-color sweet soup, palm sugar sweet soup with durian and longan, durian pomegranate sweet soup, Italian ice cream, and many more varieties of sweet soup and ice cream are available at this restaurant.

Chè Thái Ý Phương – one of the top Chè restaurants attracts many locals and tourists in Saigon

Chè Thái – The dish that sells the most here is this one, and make the reputation of Ý Phương

I also called “Chè Mít”, a dessert featuring chewy jackfruit pieces in a sweet, creamy coconut base, offering a tropical twist on traditional chè. Overall, this place is spacious and airy, with enthusiastic and cheerful staff. Besides, with a diverse menu of sweet soups, you have many choices, each dish will have a pre-printed listed price.

Y Phuong’s innovative approach makes it a standout destination for those looking to explore new flavors while enjoying the familiar comfort of Chè. I recommend you this eatery when you have time during your trip to Saigon.

Address: No. 382, Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 10.

Opening Hours: 10:30 AM to 1:30 AM

Prices: 25.000 to 35.000 VND (1 to 1.4 USD)

2. Chè Cô Điệp

Co Diep sweet soup, while many refer to it as “Vo Van Tan sidewalk sweet soup”. She has been selling for over 30 years. Although it may seem unassuming, this hot and sweet soup stand is a well-known dining destination in District 3, drawing crowds of patrons from afternoon to night. Starting at the beginning of alley 241 Vo Van Tan, there are large pots of sweet soup neatly arranged in a corner. Customers are seated in little plastic seats so they may eat. While some choose to take a seat directly at the sweet soup booth, others look for a comfortable spot to relax.

My two favorites are the banana cake and soft steamed banana here. It includes rich, creamy coconut milk and wonderful, non-bitter banana chunks.

A popular delicacy is the soft steamed banana, which is made with coconut milk, tapioca pearls, crushed peanuts, and fresh bananas from the market every morning. It’s simple to understand why this is a fan favorite—the flavors are expertly balanced and the textures.

In addition, Co Diep Sweet Soup in Saigon offers taro sweet soup, white bean sweet soup, maize sweet soup, Bà Ba sweet soup, mung bean sweet soup, sticky rice, and sponge cake in addition to banana cake and banana sweet soup. She served Chè very fast to out of stock, so you should try to arrive early in the evening. When I first visited, around 9 p.m., she had already run out of stock.

Co Diep sweet soup’s low cost is one of its advantages. Here, a serving of sweet soup just costs 15,000 VND. Two bowls of sweet soup can be ordered at once by those who are really hungry. Being a well-known pavement eatery, some customers find it a little awkward to drop by for a meal.

Address: No. 241, Vo Van Tan Street, District 3.

Opening Hours: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Prices: 15.000 to 20.000 VND (0.6 to 0.8 USD)

3. Chè Lâm Vinh Mậu

Lâm Vinh Mậu sweet soup, despite being simple in the center of the busy downtown area, continues to draw a large number of customers from nearby and beyond who come to experience the taste of sweet soup, which has been served in Saigon for more than 50 years. At the sweet soup cart, diners will observe the proprietor carefully transferring each dish into a glass, adding a little ice, pouring water, and arranging the meal’s flavour right in front of them.

Around 7 p.m., it is always packed with people arriving to eat or buy to go since Lam Vinh Mau sweet soup has such an amazing taste.

Every day, each step of the complicated and precise preparation of the sweet soup takes six or seven hours only to “keep the fire” going for each pot of soup. It’s odd how the scent of wood burners warms Saigon’s vintage sweet soup carts, even in modern times. This recipe for almond sweet soup, dubbed a “treasure” of Lam Vinh Mau sweet soup, is a family secret that not many people are aware of.

I make an order for Chè Đậu Hủ Hạnh Nhân, the restaurant specialty—a gelatinous almond flan drenched in a sweet, transparent syrup. The flavor of almonds is detected as a nutty aftertaste. Subsequently, I try the most peculiar chè I spot on list: Chè Trứng Gà Hồng Trà, which translates to “chicken’s egg in pink tea.” As strange as it may sound, I think I enjoyed this chè the most out of all of them. The egg is boiled, the tea is steaming, and they all work well together somehow.

Chè Trứng Gà Hồng Trà translates to Chicken’s egg in pink tea

Address: No. 31, Nguyen Thai Binh Street, District 1.

Opening Hours: 6:30 to 11:30 PM daily

Prices: 20.000 to 50.000 VND (0.8 to 2 USD)

4. Chè Mỹ

Chè Mỹ is similar to Thai Che, except instead of using durian to create a cool sweetness, it uses strawberry syrup. Thai Che employs side foods such as jackfruit, coconut, jelly. It is not monotonous and is refreshing to eat. I was taken aback when I saw the eatery’s menu because it seemed to have every form of Vietnamese cuisine available.

The eatery is large, and bright, and has a glass cabinet with a variety of vibrant jellies that I adore on display. I and my friend had incredibly chilled Chè Ván Đậu—a dish of large, round, fatty beans served with delectable, light coconut water—because the che was so good. The coconut water was so good that I had to tilt the glass up to get a drink. The cooked beans were not at all firm; instead, they melted softly in my tongue.

Chè Thập Cẩm – Vietnamese mixed sweet soup, which is the best dish of Chè Mỹ

Chè Thập Cẩm, flavored with a delightful blend of green and soft beans and coconut water. All in all, I think this dessert shop’s coconut water is really great. This item alone lends a naturally excellent flavour to the dish.

Address: No.168A, Nguyen Van Dau Street, Binh Thanh District.

Opening Hours: 3:00 to 9:00 PM

Prices: 15.000 to 30.000 VND (0.6 to 1.2 USD)

5. Quán Chè Kỳ Đồng

With almost 30 years of operation, the well-known Chè Kỳ Đồng in District 3 is likewise quite ancient. The restaurant boasts an expansive, airy layout in addition to a varied menu featuring over 20 varieties of desserts, including green bean jelly sweet soup, water chestnut sweet soup, and Thai sweet soup. In addition, the store offers a variety of snacks to accommodate the various tastes of customers, including bread, fried noodles, and fried dough.

Chè Kỳ Đồng – One of the top delicious Vietnamese Sweet Soup in Saigon

It’s a casual, no-frills place, which is common for many local dessert shops in Vietnam. The focus is more on the food than on a fancy setting.

The menu offers a variety of chè, which are Vietnamese sweet soups. Popular choices include Chè Ba Màu (three-color sweet soup), Chè Đậu Xanh (mung bean sweet soup), and Chè Bà Ba (a combination of ingredients like coconut milk, beans, and tapioca). Their offerings are typically made fresh and with high-quality ingredients.

The flavors are generally well-balanced, with a good mix of sweetness and texture. The ingredients are often praised for their freshness and the desserts are typically not overly sweet, which is a plus if you prefer a more subtle sweetness.

It’s quite affordable, making it a great option if you’re looking for a tasty treat without breaking the bank.

The owner always meets the customers’ favorite sweet soup types

If you enjoy trying out local desserts and want an authentic experience, Chè Kỳ Đồng is worth a visit.

Address: No. 16C, Ky Dong Street, District 3.

Opening Hours: 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM daily.

Prices: 15.000 to 60.000 VND (0.6 to 2.4 USD)

6. Chè Khánh Vy

Given the lengthy history of the restaurant, anyone who has lived in Saigon for any length of time has probably eaten there, heard of it, or known about it. It’s true that I’ve been eating Chè Khánh Vy since I was in school, back when a bowl only cost 5.000 VND, but it’s been a long time since I went back.

I think it’s great that this restaurant offers a range of menu options so I can try a lot of different kinds of food. The bowls are small enough to accommodate multiple sorts of food, and the price is reasonable. I think most of the sweet soups are really good. However, it appears that sticky rice or thick sweet soups have less sweetness. Regarding the liquid varieties—my goodness—those who aren’t used to sweets will need to sip water to lessen the intensity. It tastes great and is fragrant thanks to the coconut milk.

However, this flan is really good, so if you come here with a group of two to three and find that you can’t finish a tray, just get another plate to share. Going with a group of four or more people is recommended because sharing will make the experience less dull.

Chè Mâm 16 món, a specialty consisting of 16 little bowls of chè, is great to share with others. Bánh flan, basically a crème caramel, and a starchy concoction of sweet potato, cassava, and taro in a thick sauce made with coconut milk are also served.

Chè Khánh Vy – 16 types of Vietnamese sweet soup, which is known of this restaurant

Address: No. 032, Block H, Su Van Hanh Street, District 10.

Opening Hours: 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Prices: 10.000 to 50.000 VND (0.4 to 2 USD)