Vietnamese ice cream is a popular dessert for both locals and tourists, known for its creamy texture and unique flavors, like coconut milk, tropical fruits, beans, and nuts.
On your Vietnam travel, besides a ton of local delicacies, you should not ignore the various flavors of Vietnamese ice cream – a simple yet delicious treat that can be found in every corner of Vietnam. With 10 unique ice cream flavors mentioned below, it will be a huge treat for your taste buds.
1. Trang Tien ice cream in waffle cones
In Hanoi, there are some ice cream brands with a long history that have become a part of the daily life of Hanoians. Among them, Trang Tien is the most famous, located in the heart of Hanoi Old Quarter (No. 35, Trang Tien Street). Established in 1958, it has been serving delicious ice cream to generations of locals and tourists.
The Vietnamese ice cream here is known for its creamy texture and diverse flavors, including coconut milk, cocoa, green bean, green tea, and taro. Enjoying the signature Trang Tien ice cream in a crispy waffle cone and walking around Hoan Kiem Lake will be a memorable experience.
2. Green young rice ice cream
A Vietnamese ice cream flavor that can only be found in this country is green rice. Made from green rice flakes, which are a type of young rice harvested before it matures, this ice cream has a distinct texture and flavor. The green rice flakes are mixed with coconut milk and other ingredients to create a creamy and refreshing treat that is enjoyed throughout Vietnam.
3. Mint and lemon stick ice cream
To cool off the summer heat, try a stick of ice cream with fresh mint and lemon flavor. The mint adds a cool and refreshing taste while the lemon provides a tart and zesty flavor.
A popular place to enjoy mint and lemon ice cream is Thuy Ta ice cream shop. It is located by Hoan Kiem Lake – a prime location for you to enjoy a refreshing stick of ice cream while walking around.
4. Vietnamese ice cream with sticky rice
Vietnamese ice cream with sticky rice is a must-try dish for ice cream lovers. It is made of sticky rice, vanilla ice cream, and a sprinkle of dried coconut. The glutinous rice is soaked in pandan leaf extract, giving it a beautiful green color and a fragrant aroma. The slightly sweet ice cream goes perfectly with the sticky rice.
5. Vietnamese ice cream in a tube
Having a unique shape, kem ong, or Vietnamese ice cream in a tube, is a popular sweet treat in Vietnam. This ice cream is often sold by biking vendors, who stick the ice cream in long cylindrical tubes with a bamboo stick inserted in the middle. When someone makes the purchase, the vendor will gently rotate the stick to get the ice cream out. Some basic flavors for this ice cream are vanilla and chocolate.
7. Vietnamese coffee ice cream
Vietnamese people are known for their love for coffee, which has inspired the creation of Vietnamese ice cream with coffee flavor. This delicious ice cream resembles a strong iced coffee sweetened with condensed milk. The perfect combination of coffee and milk creates a creamy, chewy texture that is sure to please coffee lovers.
8. Vietnamese banana ice cream
Immerse yourself in the vibrant streets of Vietnam with a delicious and healthy dessert – banana ice cream. Made with only three key ingredients – bananas, coconut milk, and roasted peanuts – this Vietnamese ice cream is both creamy and fragrant.
The bananas are coated in luscious pandan-infused cream, then topped with golden roasted peanuts and coconut shreds. Perfect for hot summer days, this ice cream is sure to satisfy your sweet cravings healthily.
9. Vietnamese avocado ice cream
Avocado is a beloved Vietnamese ice cream flavor, especially in Da Nang. Despite its seemingly unusual combination of mashed avocado, ice cream, and sweetened coconut milk, this dessert is a true delight. Each spoonful combines the richness of avocado with the sweetness of coconut milk and the creaminess of ice cream, topped with toasted coconut flakes for added texture.
10. Vietnamese ice cream with longan
Longan is a popular tropical fruit in Vietnam, inspiring Vietnamese people to create longan ice cream. This Vietnamese ice cream consists of vanilla ice cream blended with longan, making it a sweet and fragrant treat that you will not find in any other ice cream flavor. You can also add some roasted peanuts to enjoy the best flavor ever.