Healthy Vietnamese desserts
Trying to lose weight may be challenging because of all the delicious food here in Vietnam, but by no means do you have to skip snacks or desserts to shed a few kilos.
If you’re looking for a happy medium between satisfying your sweet tooth and getting trim, here are several traditional Vietnamese desserts that help you reach your weight loss goals.
1. Vietnamese bean curd (Tào phớ)
Image credit: @vy_princess312
A no-frills bowl of bean curd is one of the cheapest natural fat-burning Vietnamese desserts you can find. Silky soft and natural-looking, bean curd is one of our best-selling local snacks considering how its exhilarating taste can beat the heat of Saigon and refresh all your senses.
Basically a condensed version of soybean milk, bean curd is served simply with syrup on top – though you can choose to go without syrup and toppings to be even healthier.
Tofu, the main ingredient of this dessert, contains all nine essential amino acids that can keep you feeling full for longer, and accordingly keep your weight in check. It also has beneficial compounds that reduce the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, as well as cancer. Plus, eating bean curd regularly also helps lower bad cholesterol.
Price range: VND15,000-VND32,000 (~USD0.65-USD1.38)
Find this dessert at:
Saigon:
- Tàu hũ Orisoy, 133 Dinh Tien Hoang, Binh Thanh District
- Tàu hũ Xe Lam, 36A Le Loi, District 1
- 315 Phan Xich Long, Ward 1, Phu Nhuan District
- Meet Fresh, 46 Ngo Duc Ke, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Hanoi:
- HAT Snack Rounds, 19A – Lane No. 9 Tran Quoc Hoan, Dich Vong, Cau Giay District
- Vua tào phớ, 110 Dao Tan, Cong Vi, Ba Dinh District
- Chè Hang Bac, 93 Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem District
- 14 Thien Quang, Nguyen Du, Hai Ba Trung District
2. Pumpkin soup (Chè bí)
Image credit: @toccvangg
Once you taste these delectable pumpkin bites, you’ll say goodbye to milk tea pearls for good. Chè bí is a dish from Cambodia and is mainly sold in Cambodian markets in Saigon. These healthy energy bites are perfect for an after-dinner treat, with a rich combination of pumpkin, lotus seeds, coconut milk, condensed milk, and tapioca.
Not only is this dessert full of flavor, but it is also abundant in fiber and cellulose that are good for the digestive system and weight-loss friendly. Pumpkin is low in calories, too – 100G only contains about 26 calories.
Price range: VND15,000-VND25,000 (~USD0.65-USD1.08)
Find this dessert at:
Saigon:
- Chè Cô Huôi, 57/21A Ho Thi Ky, District 10
- Chè Cô Có, 51/21 Ho Thi Ky, District 10
Hanoi:
- Chè Tự Nhiên – Quang Trung, 20 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem District
- Chè Bà Tôi, 85 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem District
- Chè Kinh Kỳ, 11/35 Cát Linh, Dong Da District
3. Black bean soup (Chè đậu đen)
Image credit: @hientron80
Black bean sweet soup, with black beans, sugar, and tapioca as its main ingredients, is an ideal snack for snack-lovers trying to lose weight. Black beans are rich in protein that can create a feeling of fullness and reduce your appetite, and they don’t contain harmful saturated fat either.
This Vietnamese dessert also contains a powerful anti-ageing agent called anthocyanin that helps detox your body and beautify your skin from the inside.
Price range: VND10,000-VND25,000 (~USD0.43-USD1.08)
Find this dessert at:
Saigon:
- Chè mâm Khánh Vy, 32 Su Van Hanh, Ward 2, District 10
- Chè Hiển Khánh, 78 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3
- Chè Tường Phong, 83 An Diem, Ward 10, District 5
- 332 Nguyễn Tat Thanh, Ward 13, District 4
Hanoi:
- Quán Hân, Thanh Cong Market, Bac Thanh Cong, Dong Da District
- Chè bưởi Sài gòn, 107 A1 Khuong Trung, Thanh Xuan District
- Chè Ngon, 98 Cua Bac, Ba Dinh District
- Quán Quen, 16/34 Au Co St., Tay Ho District
- Chè Cô Ba, 92 Cua Bac, Ba Dinh District
4. Green bean soup (Chè đậu xanh)
Image credit: @trishmicroblading
Sweet green bean soup contains many vitamins, but the ones that support weight loss are Vitamin B1 (that maintains muscle tone and helps digest sugars), B2 (that helps digest sugars, fats, and proteins), B3 (that promotes a healthy digestive system), and B6 (that helps break down proteins).
Together, these vitamins help us use up the nutrients from our food, making weight loss more effective.
The soluble fiber in green beans can reduce excess fat and remove harmful cholesterol. Plus, this dessert always comes in useful when you’re trying to lose weight because it makes us feel full after eating.
Price range: VND10,000-VND25,000 (~USD0.43-USD1.08)
Find this dessert at:
Saigon:
- Chè mâm Khánh Vy, 32 Su Van Hanh, Ward 2, District 10
- Chè Hiển Khánh, 78 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3
- Chè Tường Phong, 83 An Diem, Ward 10, District 5
- 332 Nguyễn Tat Thanh, Ward 13, District 4
Hanoi:
- Chè Thập Cẩm Cũ 1976, 74 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem District
- Chè Bà Thơm, 146 Quan Thanh, Ba Dinh District
- Quán Hân, Thanh Cong Market, Bac Thanh Cong, Ba Dinh District
- Chè Tự Nhiên – Quang Trung, 20 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem District
5. Sweet lotus soup (Chè sen)
Image credit: @candy_s2
Fun fact: sweet lotus sweet soup was one of the favorite Vietnamese desserts among royal families in Hue, Vietnam during the imperial era – and also one of the best-kept beauty secrets of women in the palace. Not only is this dessert delicious and refreshing, it is also heatiness-relieving, according to traditional Eastern medicine, and nutritious.
Dried lotus seeds and longan fruits are the main ingredients of the dessert. Lotus seeds contain potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus which can break down enzymes and create a sense of fullness, while longan fruits have a generous amount of vitamin C and copper which can keep skin healthy and improve sleep quality.
Price range: VND15,000-VND25,000 (~USD0.65-USD1.08)
Find this dessert at:
Saigon:
- Chè Hiển Khánh, 78 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Da Kao Ward, District 3
- Chè Hà Ký, 138 Chau Van Liem, Ward 11, District 5
- Chè Thái Ý Phương, 380 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ward 4, District 10
- Chè Tường Phong, 83 An Diem, Ward 10, District 5
- Chè Cô Huôi, 57/21 Ho Thi Ky, Ward 1, District 10
Hanoi:
- Quán Hân, Thanh Cong Market, Dong Da District
- Chè Hương Hải, 93 Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem District
- Chè Bà Tôi, 85 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem District
6. Sweet potato soup (Chè khoai)
Image adapted from: @ngocriepchanto
Not only are these pieces of luscious potatoes floating in a creamy and tasty soup soft and comforting, but they also make one of the world’s healthiest foods. Sweet potatoes are a rich source of vitamin A which strengthens the immune system, vitamin C which reduces blood pressure, and magnesium which can prevent migraines and fight depression.
Moreover, sweet potatoes contain lots of fiber and are loaded with starch, which takes longer to digest and keeps you feeling fuller longer than simple sugars do, helping you lose weight faster.
Price range: VND15,000-VND35,000 (~USD0.65-USD1.51)
Find this dessert at:
Saigon:
- 62F Nguyen Hong, Ward 11, Binh Thanh District
- Chè Hà Ký, 138 Chau Van Liem, Ward 11, District 5
- Chè Thái Ý Phương, 380 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ward 4, District 10
- Chè Tường Phong, 83 An Diem, Ward 10, District 5
- Chè Cô Huôi, 57/21 Ho Thi Ky, Ward 1, District 10
Hanoi:
- Chè Bà Thơm, 146 Quan Thanh, Ba Dinh District
- Chè Khoai nóng, 31 Đào Duy Từ, Hoan Kiem District
- 78 Bùi Ngọc Dương, Bạch Mai, Hai Ba Trung District
7. Taro pudding (Chè khoai môn)
Image credit: @chiboo1109
For a sweet and creamy treat with less sugar and calories, add taro pudding to your diet. Chunks of soft taro and coconut rice make for a thick, hearty texture, while coconut paste gives the soup a buttery kick.
Taro packs a nutritious punch, helping to boost digestion, reduce cholesterol, and keep your blood sugar levels stable. For example, 132 grams of boiled taro provide 27% of the fiber you need in a day.
Price range: VND10,000-VND25,000 (~USD0.43-USD1.51)
Find this dessert at:
Saigon:
- Chè Nam Bộ, 10/A1 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Đa Kao Ward , District 1
- Chè mâm Khánh Vy, 32 Su Van Hanh, Ward 2, District 10
- 50 Ly Chinh Thang, Ward 7, District 3
- 231 Le Dai Hanh, Ward 13, District 11
Hanoi:
- 62 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Lang Thuong, Dong Da District
- Quán Hân, Thanh Cong Market, Dong Da District
- Chè bưởi Sài gòn, 107 A1 Khuong Trung, Thanh Xuan District
- Quán Quen, 16 Lane 34 Au Cơ St., Tay Ho District
8. Ching bo leung (Sâm bổ lượng)
Image credit: @com_nha_em
This sweet soup, one of the most popular Vietnamese desserts, is said to have cooling qualities according to traditional Eastern medicine. It is of Chinese origin, containing barley, dried longans, red jujubes, lotus seeds, and thinly sliced seaweed, with water and crushed ice.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this tonic Vietnamese dessert without added sugar – it will detoxify your body and nourish your kidneys and blood at the same time.
Price range: VND25,000-VND35,000 (~USD1.08-USD1.51)
Find this dessert at:
Saigon:
- 399/14 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ward 5, District 5
- Chè Hiển Khánh, 78 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3
- 60 Cô Giang, Cô Giang Ward, District 1
- Chè Hà Trâm, C200/8 200 Xom Chieu, Ward 14, District 4
Hanoi:
- LittleB Kitchen, 126 Kham Thien, Dong Da District
- 10, lane 251/10 Nguyen Khang, Cau Giay District
- Bếp Kim Dung, 12 lane 121/3 Kim Nguu, Hoan Kiem District
9. Sweet pomelo soup (Chè bưởi)
Image credit: @taltal619
For a refreshing after-dinner treat, sweet pomelo soup is light on the palate and the stomach. Pomelo peel, the main ingredient of the dish, consists of many natural sugars, lots of vitamins, and dietary fiber, as well as fat-burning enzymes that can help you lose weight. Additionally, the skin of pomelo is abundant in bioflavonoids, which helps to lower your risk of pancreatic, intestinal, and breast cancer.
Besides pomelo peel, a typical bowl of pomelo sweet soup contains coconut cream, mung beans, and tapioca. If you are on a diet, ask for less coconut cream and sugar in this dessert.
Price range: VND15,000-VND50,000 (~USD0.64-USD2.15)
Find this dessert at:
Saigon
- Chè bưởi mẹ siêu nhân, 207 Chu Van An, Ward 26, Binh Thanh District
- Chè bưởi Huỳnh Nga, 134/10 Cach Mang Thang 8, Ward 10, District 3
- Chè bưởi Ngọc Hà, 145 Nguyen Trai, Ward 2, District 5
- 16 Phung Van Cung, Ward 7, Phu Nhuan District
Hanoi:
- Chè Thập Cẩm Cũ 1976, 74 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem District
- Quán Hân, Thanh Cong Market, Bac Thanh Cong, Dong Da District
- Chè bưởi Sài gòn, 107 A1 Khuong Trung, Thanh Xuan District
- Chè Tự Nhiên – Quang Trung, 20 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem District
Vietnamese desserts low in calories
Contrary to popular belief that you should steer clear of desserts when you’re on a diet, not only will eating these traditional Vietnamese desserts satisfy your sweet tooth, but it will also help you reduce weight gain as long as you don’t over-consume them. Plus, they are tasty and refreshing midday energy boosters that you can easily find in city dessert stalls.
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Cover image adapted from: @taltal619, @vy_princess312, @toccvangg, @trishmicroblading
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