Chè Huế (Hue Sweet Soups and Dessert Cups)

Hue is known for a wide range of chè, sweet soups and dessert cups made from beans, lotus seeds, corn, tapioca and fruit. Sampling several is a Hue food tradition in itself.

Chè is a broad Vietnamese category of sweet soups and puddings, and Hue is particularly known for its variety and refinement. Dessert shops in the city typically offer a long list: chè bắp made from young corn, chè hạt sen with lotus seeds, chè đậu ván with hyacinth beans, chè khoai môn with taro, and many more, served warm or over ice. The most unusual local specialty is chè bột lọc heo quay, a tapioca dumpling wrapped around a piece of roast pork and served in sweet syrup; it sounds strange but the salty-sweet contrast is a Hue favourite. Textures range from silky to chewy, and sweetness is generally moderate rather than heavy. Locals eat chè as an afternoon or evening treat, often sitting at a street stall with a cup of each kind to share. Lotus-seed chè is associated with Hue's lotus ponds, and corn chè with Cồn Hến islet. For travellers, a chè shop is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to explore Hue's sweet side.