Vietnam’s culinary landscape is a treasure trove of flavors, with traditional cakes being an essential part of its food heritage. Whether you’re enjoying a savory delight like banh chung or indulging in the sweetness of banh bo nuong, these treats reflect the country’s deep-rooted culture and love for food. Let’s explore 20 traditional cakes that offer a perfect introduction to the flavors of Vietnam.
1. Banh Chung (Vietnamese Square Sticky Rice Cake)
A staple of Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, banh chung is more than just food—it’s a symbol of family, culture, and tradition. Wrapped in dong leaves, this savory cake made from sticky rice, pork, and mung beans is boiled for hours, resulting in a rich, satisfying dish. Traditionally, banh chung symbolizes gratitude to ancestors, and it’s a dish that unites families around the dinner table during Vietnam’s most important holiday.
2. Banh Tet (Cylindrical Sticky Rice Cake)
In southern Vietnam, banh tet takes center stage during Tet. This cylindrical cake is similar to banh chung but features banana leaves for wrapping and sometimes a sweet banana filling. It’s common to see families in Ho Chi Minh City enjoying banh tet as they gather to celebrate the new year. It’s a delicious blend of sticky rice, mung beans, and pork, perfect for any festive occasion.
3. Banh Beo (Water Fern Cake)
Known for its delicate and savory flavors, banh beo is a small steamed rice cake topped with minced shrimp, crispy shallots, and fish sauce. Originating from Hue, this cake is loved for its light texture and punchy flavors. It’s the perfect snack for those looking to explore the diversity of Vietnamese street food.
4. Banh Bo Nuong (Vietnamese Honeycomb Cake)
Famed for its unique honeycomb structure, banh bo nuong is a delightful Vietnamese honeycomb cake made with rice flour, coconut milk, and pandan leaves. The cake’s spongy texture and subtle sweetness make it an iconic dessert across the country. Whether you’re enjoying it with a cup of tea or as a snack, it’s hard to resist this treat.
5. Banh Phu The (Husband and Wife Cake)
Often served at weddings, banh phu the symbolizes the love and commitment between husband and wife. This jelly-like cake, made from tapioca starch and mung beans, features a chewy texture and a sweet filling, representing the harmony of a loving marriage. Its vibrant colors make it a striking addition to any festive table.
Alt text: “Banh Phu The, jelly-like husband and wife cake symbolizing love” File name: banh-phu-the-husband-wife-cake.jpg
6. Banh Cam (Vietnamese Orange Cake)
A popular street food treat, banh cam is a deep-fried rice ball filled with mung bean paste. The crunchy sesame-coated exterior and soft interior make it a favorite for people of all ages. You’ll often find it outside schools and bustling markets, where the sweet aroma draws you in. Its delightful combination of textures makes banh cam an unforgettable snack.
7. Banh Da Lon (Vietnamese Layer Cake)
Banh da lon is a popular cake in southern Vietnam, often found in morning markets. Made from tapioca flour, mung beans, and pandan leaves, this multi-layered dessert boasts a chewy texture with a subtle sweetness. The green layers, colored naturally by pandan, are complemented by the yellow mung bean layers, creating a visually striking treat. Each layer can be peeled off and savored slowly, perfect for sharing with friends.
8. Banh Khoai (Vietnamese savory pancake)
Banh khoai is a crispy, savory Vietnamese pancake, particularly popular in the central regions like Hue. Made from rice flour, turmeric, and water, this pancake is typically filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts before being fried to a crispy golden brown. Served with fresh herbs, lettuce, and a special dipping sauce, banh khoai offers a delightful balance of textures and flavors, making it a must-try savory treat when exploring Vietnam’s diverse culinary landscape.
9. Banh Chuoi (Vietnamese Banana Cake)
Banh chuoi is a Vietnamese banana cake that showcases the country’s love for tropical fruits. This soft, moist cake is made by mixing mashed bananas with coconut milk, sugar, and flour, then steaming or baking it to perfection. Often served with a drizzle of coconut cream, it’s the perfect dessert to end any meal on a sweet note.
10. Banh Tieu (Vietnamese Hollow Donut)
Banh tieu is a beloved street food snack in Vietnam. It’s a golden-brown, hollow, deep-fried pastry sprinkled with sesame seeds, making it both crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Usually enjoyed hot and fresh, it pairs perfectly with a cup of tea or a glass of soy milk, offering a satisfying snack for any time of day.
11. Banh Dau Xanh (Vietnamese Mung Bean Cake)
Hailing from Hai Duong province, banh dau xanh is a fragrant and crumbly Vietnamese mung bean cake often enjoyed with tea. It’s made from mung beans, sugar, and fat, and shaped into small square pieces. A popular souvenir, it’s known for its light sweetness and melt-in-your-mouth texture, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
12. Banh It La Gai (Vietnamese little cake wrapped in gai leaves)
Banh it la gai is a unique traditional cake from central Vietnam, especially popular in Binh Dinh province. The cake is made from glutinous rice flour mixed with the extract of gai leaves (a kind of ramie), giving it a distinct dark color. Inside, it is filled with sweet mung bean or coconut. Wrapped neatly in banana leaves, banh it la gai has a soft, sticky texture and a subtly sweet taste, often enjoyed during festivals or as an offering during ancestral worship.
13. Banh Khoai Mi (Vietnamese Cassava Cake)
Banh khoai mi is a dense, flavorful cake made from grated cassava mixed with coconut milk and sugar. Once baked, the cassava gives the cake a rich texture, while the coconut milk provides a delightful creaminess. This Vietnamese cassava cake is often enjoyed during festive occasions or as a sweet snack.
14. Banh Gio (Vietnamese Pyramid Dumpling)
Although banh gio is often considered a savory dumpling, its soft dough and fragrant pork filling make it a beloved cake-like snack. The pyramid shape, wrapped in banana leaves, adds a distinct touch, while the minced pork and wood ear mushrooms create a harmonious blend of flavors. It’s a comforting snack often enjoyed for breakfast or lunch.
15. Banh Flan (Vietnamese Flan Cake)
Inspired by French cuisine, banh flan is a smooth and creamy caramel flan that’s become a popular dessert in Vietnam. Often served chilled, this dessert is a refreshing treat, balancing sweetness with a touch of bitterness from the caramel. It’s commonly enjoyed after meals or as a cooling snack on hot days.
16. Banh Troi Nuoc (Floating Rice Cake)
These sticky rice balls filled with mung bean or black sesame are served floating in a ginger syrup, creating a warm and sweet treat. Banh troi nuoc is traditionally enjoyed during special festivals and is loved for its chewy texture and the balance of sweetness and spice from the ginger.
17. Banh Com (Vietnamese Green Rice Cake)
A specialty of Hanoi, banh com is a delicate green rice cake made with young, sticky rice and mung bean filling. It’s often served at weddings and special occasions, symbolizing prosperity and purity. The soft, chewy texture of the rice combined with the sweetness of the mung bean creates a treat that is as meaningful as it is delicious.
18. Banh Pateso (Vietnamese Puff Pastry)
A savory delight, banh pateso is a flaky puff pastry filled with ground pork, wood ear mushrooms, and spices. This French-inspired cake is a popular snack in Vietnam and is often enjoyed fresh from the oven, with its golden, crispy layers offering a satisfying crunch.
19. Banh Duc (Vietnamese savory rice cake)
Banh duc is a simple yet delicious savory rice cake made from rice flour or cornstarch, creating a smooth and slightly chewy texture. There are two common versions of this cake: one served plain with soy sauce and peanuts, and a savory version topped with minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, and fried shallots. This humble dish is a staple in northern Vietnam, often enjoyed as a snack or light meal. The warmth and subtle flavors of banh duc make it a nostalgic comfort food for many.
20. Banh Tai Heo – Vietnamese pig’s ear cake
Named for its distinctive swirl resembling a pig’s ear, banh tai heo is a crunchy, sweet-salty snack often enjoyed by children and adults alike. Made with simple ingredients like wheat flour, sugar, and coconut milk, these spiral-shaped treats are fried to golden perfection. They’re a popular snack in Vietnam’s rural and urban areas, and their fun shape makes them a hit during festivals or as an everyday treat.
Immerse Yourself in Vietnam’s Culinary Delights
Vietnam’s traditional cakes offer a window into the country’s rich cultural heritage. As you explore these delightful treats, don’t forget to dive deeper into the local food scenes. Embark on a culinary adventure with Vespa Adventures’ Hanoi Foodie Experience, Saigon Foodie Experience, or the Streets and Eats of Hue tour to truly immerse yourself in the flavors of Vietnam. These tours will take you through vibrant markets and bustling streets, where you can savor not just these cakes but a whole spectrum of Vietnamese street food delights.
For more travel inspiration, visit our Vespa Adventures tours and discover the best of Vietnam’s culinary wonders. Whether it’s the iconic banh chung or the mouthwatering banh bo nuong, each cake tells a story worth experiencing firsthand.
