1. Che Chuoi
Although this sweet is a type of pudding, it is served slightly warm, unlike usual puddings. It is an amalgamation of perfectly ripened bananas of a special variety (known as chuoi su), coconut cream and tapioca pearls. The pandan leaves add the extra flavour and aroma in this dessert. This creamy and not-excessively-sweet dessert is garnished with crushed peanuts or sesame seeds to give it a slight crunch.
2. Chè Trôi Nước
This unique dish consists of balls made of sticky rice with sweet mung bean paste centres. The balls are soaked in a clear or light brown sugar syrup flavoured with shredded ginger root. Coconut milk and sesame seeds are used to garnish this delectable sweet dish. This dessert is usually served during the Lunar New Year or the Cold-eating festival.3. Bò Bía Ngọt
Found on the streets of Hanoi, this dessert is not heavy like the other sweets found in Vietnam. This simple dish consists of a honeycomb sheet and desiccated coconut and sesame seeds sprinkled on it, all wrapped into a roll in thin rice papers. The moist rice papers, with the chewy texture of the coconut coupled with the sweetness and crunch from the honeycomb will leave you licking your fingers!
4. Banh Chuoi Chien
Also found commonly on Vietnam streets, this is a very simple dish. Perfectly ripe bananas dipped in slightly sweetened batter and deep-fried to make delicious fritters. It is crispy on the outside and sweet and mushy on the inside makes this sweet a popular snack in all of Vietnam.
5. Che Bap
Similar to the banana pudding or Che Chuoi, this dessert is also a pudding but it has corn in it. Coconut cream and Tapioca pearls add creaminess and chewiness to the texture of this pudding. This dessert is not as thick as Che Chuoi and is almost like a soup. Some versions of the recipe also include mung bean paste and sticky rice. It is served both hot and cold.
6. Banh Dau Xanh
The mung bean pastries are visually appealing due to their beautiful patterns. These pastries are not overly sweet and consist of mung beans, sugar, oil and fat in the right proportions. While the texture of the beans may not be easy to get accustomed to, these pastries along with hot tea are sure to leave you wanting for more!
7. Xi Ma
The black colour of this soup might not be very appealing but the flavour can only be relished if you give it a try. The colour of the soup comes from its main ingredient - Black sesame. It has a thick texture with a strong flavour of the roasted sesame seeds and is not overly sweet. Usually served hot on the streets of Hoi An, it also contains a herb called pennywort which is believed to have certain healing properties.8. Banh Xoai
It is sometimes also called Mango sweet cakes but names can be misleading. Unlike what one would think, this sweet dish is not made of mangoes, but it derives its name from its shape resembling a mango. It consists of a sweet mixture of peanuts and sesame seeds stuffed inside a shell made with sticky rice. These treats can be found on the streets in Vietnam.
9. Che Ba Mau
This is perhaps the most colourful Vietnamese dessert. Layers of yellow coloured mung bean paste, red beans and green pandan jelly topped with thick coconut cream makes it look like an ice-cream sundae and it tastes no less! It is served in a tall glass and is served in all street food markets and restaurants in Vietnam.
10. Banh Tieu
Dubbed as the Vietnamese doughnut, this street delicacy is supposed to have chinese origins. It is usually made out of wheat flour and is hollow on the inside topped with generous amounts of sesame seeds. These doughnuts have a crispy exterior and are a perfect combination of sweet and savoury. They are best eaten freshly prepared, so when you see a vendor selling banh tieu, grab a bag and savour these hollow breads!
11. Kem
This is the traditional vietnamese ice-cream and is a must try if you have had enough of normal ice-creams and frozen yoghurts. Available in exotic flavours like Avocado, Durian, Soursop or coconut, the most famous traditional ice-cream is the Vietnamese Coffee Ice-cream. The best experience is sought when you have kem from a local street vendor after a tiring trip in the heat of Vietnam.
12. Banh Tra Xan
This dish is available in most bakeries in Vietnam. These are soft coffee buns which have a crispy exterior. Like most other Vietnamese desserts, these buns have a rich texture but not overly sweet. The buns are available in flavours like chocolate, vanilla or matcha.