Saigon Street Food: Che (Vietnamese Sweet Soup)

When it comes to Asian desserts, most Westerners find it difficult to conjure up something ... traditional. And by traditional I mean everything that does not contain kit kats with fruit taste (smoothies) and / or green tea. Asian desserts have been misunderstood for far too long, which is why my curiosity was awakened when I was given the opportunity to try Chè, which the Vietnamese call "sweet soup" in English.best vietnamese restaurant in hanoi

What is Che?
Vietnamese che saigon
What kind of che is that?
Che is the generic term for any type of sweet drink (sweet soup) that is in the form of a pudding or a sugary soup. There is no strict version of che. In fact, you could spend a whole day eating all the different types of sweet soup, and chances are that after half the mission you will get sick of all the excessive enjoyment. Forget puff pastry and decadent icing and everything that is typical of western desserts.
best restaurants near me
Che is thoroughly Southeast Asian; You may find beans, fruit, vegetables, sticky rice and tapioca balls in one serving, as well as flan pieces and various jellies. You can't forget the addition of coconut milk, the glue that brings all of these unrelated parts together and makes them what they are. The coconut milk is either poured into a bowl like milk in a cereal bowl or layered between the ingredients in a tall glass like a parfait, making it the most striking of all Vietnamese desserts.

Some sweet soup desserts are served warm, but mostly cold, with a scoop of shaved ice, making it a popular treat during the dry, hot season of Saigon between November and May. It's a treat that may seem bizarre to a non-Vietnamese person at first, but there is no doubt that you will ask for more afterwards.
hanoi restaurants old quarter

Here is a list of the most popular versions of che:
fine dining hanoi
Che Ba Mau - tri-color dessert
Che Bap - Vietnamese sweet corn pudding
Che Chuoi - banana with sago pearls and sweet coconut milk soup
Che Troi Nuoc - sweet sticky rice dumplings
Che Buoi - Vietnamese grapefruit sweet soup dessert
Che Dau Den - black bean soup with coconut syrup
Where to find Che in Saigon
best vietnamese sweet soup che
The selection is plentiful!
You can find Che in outdoor markets, although there are some stores that specialize exclusively. If you don't have the time to come across it by chance, you should visit one of Saigon's many markets to reduce the chance of missing this sweet tooth! Here are some honorable mentions, but keep scrolling to find the BEST Che in town!
vegetarian restaurant hanoi
Khanh Vy Che Tray Shop, (street corner Su Van Hanh) Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, District 5
Xoi Che Bui Thi Xuan, 111 Bui Thi Xuan, District 1
Che Ky Dong, 153/7 Ky Dong Road, District 9, District 3
Hot Che Shop, 50 Ly Chinh Thang, District 7, District 3
The best che in Saigon
What is Che Vietnam?
Amazing Che can be found at street vendors!
Most locals know the Ho Thi Ky market on the border between District 10 and District 1 as the largest flower market in Ho Chi Minh City. Did you know, however, that this area is also Saigon's unofficial city in Cambodia? In the narrow streets of the former Cambodian refugee camp there is a small outside stand, which is operated by a mother-daughter team. For over 60 years, this house has conjured up the best Che Campuchia, a Cambodian-style dessert, in town.

For over 60 years, this house has conjured up the best Che Campuchia, a Cambodian-style dessert, in town.

Cambodian Che is made from shaved ice, coconut milk with durian sauce, egg noodle strands, palm fruits, salted egg with mung bean paste, baby tamarind and pumpkin flan. If you've ever heard of durian, you might make this "oh-oh" face, but the durian has been cooked so fine that the pungent smell is completely eliminated. The pumpkin flan is truly an unforgettable sight. Egg pudding is cooked in a hollowed-out pumpkin imported from Cambodia. The Cambodian pumpkin variety is small, but tastes sweeter than pumpkins in Vietnam. Just make sure you don't eat the bark! The egg noodles will blow your socks off too! These deceptive egg noodle ribbons look like cheese, taste like cheese, but are actually all eggs! For all bastards, don't be afraid! It is not a real cheese!

This is just one of 20 flavor combinations on offer, but it's the hallmark. If you want to try more than one flavor, here are two advantages. 1) A bowl costs 12,000 VND (about $ 0.50), so you don't go bankrupt here. 2) You use palm sugar instead of processed