Banana sweet soup with coconut milk: a simple warm dessert that stays memorable forever

Banana sweet soup (chè chuối) is a popular dessert all across Vietnam, but in Central Vietnam there's a special version — chè chuối bột báng, served hot. Ripe bananas are sliced and cooked together with sago pearls, palm sugar, and coconut milk, with a pinch of salt. Roasted white sesame seeds are sprinkled on top before eating.

Special features: ripe bananas that are soft but not mushy, flour coating that is chewy and crispy, rich and creamy coconut milk with a harmonious blend of sweet and salty flavors. Warming to the stomach, easy to eat, not overly sweet like southern Vietnamese desserts. First-time foreign customers are often surprised because it tastes much better than they expected.

Sold at street-side chè stalls or specialty chè shops. Priced at 15,000–25,000 VND per small bowl. Best enjoyed in the evening from 7–9 PM when the air turns a bit chilly — even warmer and cozier during winter. Cồn Market and Trần Kế Xương Street have plenty of stalls.

🍌 15-25k per bowl · Hot meal for dinner · Cho Con Market, Tran Ke Xuong Street · Even tastier in winter