Hue not only is an ideal destination for enjoying beef noodles, mussel rice, or various types of cakes, but is also a paradise of sweet soups. Under the blazing sun, wandering around the streets and enjoying a glass of sweet soup can instantly refresh and re-energize the body.
Besides well-known spots like the shop on Tran Hung Dao Street near Thuong Bac Pavilion; Che Cam on Nguyen Sinh Cung Street; Che Mo Ton Dich on Dinh Tien Hoang Street; Che Hem on Hung Vuong Street, ... diners can also visit long-standing stalls in traditional markets to enjoy sweet bowls of sweet soups.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Loi (who sells sweet soups at Ben Ngu Market) shares: “Hue sweet soups come in both thick and soupy consistencies. In summer, we lean toward lighter sweet soups like fruit sweet soups, lotus seed sweet soup, tapioca sweet soup, sticky rice balls sweet soup, and various types of bean sweet soups... Come autumn and winter, we offer hot and thick sweet soups like yellow taro sweet soup, pandan mung bean sweet soup, flat bean sweet soup, green rice sweet soup, etc. I set up my stall at 6 a.m. and don’t close until late in the evening for all 30 days of the month. In recent years, as tourism in Hue has grown, aside from selling to local aunties and ladies visiting the market, I also deliver sweet soups to restaurants, hotels, and homestays. Tourists enjoy it and keep ordering - sometimes dozens of servings at a time, covering all kinds.”
Tasting sweet soups in Hue is first and foremost a visual experience. With a list of over 20 varieties, Hue sweet soup is a stunning mosaic of colors. The light yellow of corn sweet soup, flat bean sweet soup, sticky rice balls sweet soup, banana sweet soup, and pandan mung bean sweet soups…; the deep yellow of taro sweet soup and mung bean paste sweet soup. The brown of red bean sweet soup and royal beans sweet soup; the clear white of tapioca sweet soup and roasted pork tapioca sweet soup; the purple of purple sweet potato sweet soup; the green of green rice sweet soup; the vibrant red and green of various fruits in fruit sweet soup…
Ms. Phuong Vy (a tourist from Vinh City, Nghe An) remarks: “The diversity of Hue’s sweet soups is fascinating, but it also leaves me dazzled and confused every time I try to order. Every item is beautiful and tempting. I can never choose all at once, so I tend to come back to Hue every summer to fully experience the red, green, purple, and yellow delights.”
Hue’s sweet soup is abundant and diverse, and whether originating from the elaborate royal cuisine or being simple and humble, Hue women always put their heart into bringing out the most delicious flavors. Sweet soup is sold year-round, with shops from modest to famous scattered across the city. Yet when visitors come to enjoy sweet soups, they are first encouraged to try seasonal varieties. In spring and early summer, corn sweet soup is best – made from soft, tender, sweet corn grown on Hen Islet and transformed by the hands of the local women into fragrant bowls. By mid-summer, lotus seed sweet soup with its tender and nutty seeds wins hearts. In autumn, floating rice balls and golden yellow taro sweet soup shine with softness and fragrance.
When eating Hue sweet soup, diners should take it slow, chew carefully, and relax their minds to fully experience the layers of aroma and flavor. Each bowl or glass of Hue sweet soup is not just a dessert or a refreshment - it is a work of art, a story, reflecting cultural emotions and a spirit of thoughtfulness in its preparation and enjoyment.
Come to Hue and have some sweet soup with us.
