Chè xoa xoa hạt lựu is Da Nang's layered jelly dessert in a glass. What's in it, how it tastes, what it costs, and where to find the best one.
Chè xoa xoa hạt lựu is a cold, layered Vietnamese dessert served in a glass over crushed ice. You get soft agar jelly, chewy red tapioca pearls, white beans, and sweet coconut milk in every spoonful. It is lightly sweet, deeply refreshing, and the perfect way to cool down on a hot Da Nang afternoon.
By the Go Da Nang local team · Last updated June 2026
"Chè" covers a massive family of Vietnamese sweet desserts. Some are warm puddings, but this one is strictly a cold treat eaten with a spoon. You get a tall glass packed with colorful layers and a heap of crushed ice.
The name highlights the two star ingredients:
Vendors build around those two base items. They add cooked white or lima beans (đậu ván), maybe a scoop of mung-bean paste, and a heavy pour of lightly sweetened coconut milk. You will often catch a faint aroma of pandan or jackfruit.
The appeal is all in the contrast. A single spoonful delivers soft jelly, creamy beans, chewy pearls, and crunchy ice.
A standard order usually includes:
Close-up of the jelly, red tapioca 'pomegranate' pearls and white beans that make up the dessert.
Chè carts always display jars of different toppings and variations. Here is how this specific dessert compares to other common options:
| Dessert | What it is | The main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Chè xoa xoa hạt lựu | Agar jelly, red pearls, beans, coconut milk over ice | Focuses on jelly and chewy pearls. |
| Chè thập cẩm | "Mixed everything" with beans, jellies, and pearls | A heavy mix of everything in one glass. |
| Chè chuối | Banana in warm coconut milk with tapioca | Banana flavor served warm. |
| Chè bắp | Sweet corn in a thick coconut pudding | Creamy corn base with no jelly. |
Each of those is worth a glass in its own right. Our guide to chè in Da Nang walks through the full range of traditional sweet soups and where to find them.
Central Vietnam has a massive street dessert culture driven by the weather. From roughly April to August, Da Nang sits in the low-to-mid 30s°C. A cold glass of chè is the standard local cure for the afternoon slump. It is cheaper and more filling than ice cream.
Two specific areas are famous for this dessert. Cồn Market (Chợ Cồn) hosts long-running chè stalls that locals have visited for decades. The Trần Bình Trọng area is home to one of the most famous branded xoa xoa hạt lựu shops in town. Ask a local where to go, and they will usually point you to one of these spots.
A Vietnamese street vendor's chè cart with jars of toppings and coconut milk.
This drink also pairs perfectly with savory street food. Locals regularly follow up a bowl of mì Quảng or bún chả cá with a glass of chè to finish the meal.
This is one of the most approachable street foods you can order in Da Nang. You will not find any chili, fish sauce, or fermented ingredients here. It is mild, sweet, and cold. Kids and cautious eaters usually love it.
Keep a few things in mind:
Dietary notes: Chè xoa xoa hạt lựu is usually dairy-free and vegan-friendly. The richness comes from coconut milk, while the jellies and beans are plant-based. However, some shops finish the glass with condensed milk, and a few use gelatin instead of agar. Ask the vendor before ordering if you have strict dietary needs.
Expect to pay around 10,000–25,000đ (roughly $0.40–1) for a glass, as of June 2026. Market stalls charge the lowest prices, while branded sit-down shops cost slightly more.
Carts and small shops are strictly cash only. Bring small notes. Trying to pay for a 15,000đ dessert with a 500,000đ bill will frustrate the vendor.
Locals usually grab a glass during the afternoon heat peak between lunch and dinner. Carts and shops get busiest from late afternoon into the evening. Visiting during these peak hours guarantees the freshest ice and toppings.
Use these basic phrases at the cart:
A long spoon stirring a glass of the mixed dessert with coconut milk.
The vendor will hand you a tall glass with a long spoon. The heavy layers settle at the bottom while the coconut milk floats on top. Stir everything thoroughly from the bottom to mix the flavors. Eat it slowly with the spoon, getting a mix of jelly, pearls, and beans in each bite before the ice melts.
The best versions cluster in Hải Châu, the central district where most visitors stay. You can walk or take a short Grab ride between the three spots below — Chợ Cồn, Trần Bình Trọng, and Nguyễn Chí Thanh all sit within about 10 minutes of each other. Locals regularly point visitors to these specific spots. Since these are small, family-run businesses, double-check their hours and prices before heading over.
The stalls inside Chợ Cồn offer the cheapest and most traditional experience. Some vendors have operated here for decades. Head into the food court and look for the cart with the longest line of locals.
This is the famous branded shop that most locals think of first. They make their toppings fresh daily and serve a perfectly balanced glass. Go here if you only plan to try this dessert once.
This branch sits right in the heart of Hải Châu. It is incredibly convenient if you are exploring downtown and need a quick break from the heat.
Trying this dessert requires zero chili tolerance and no acquired taste. You just need to be open to a few new textures. Grab a glass in the late afternoon, stir it thoroughly, and pay with small bills. Whether you just finished exploring or wrapped up a heavy plate of bánh tráng cuốn thịt heo or bún mắm nêm, this icy drink is the perfect way to cool down in Da Nang.
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