Chè Xoa Xoa Hạt Lựu: Da Nang's Iconic Jelly Dessert

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

What is chè xoa xoa hạt lựu?

"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:

• Xoa xoa: A soft jelly made from agar. Vendors cut it into strips or cubes for a clean, slippery, and very mildly sweet bite.
• Hạt lựu: The name translates to "pomegranate seeds." You will not find actual fruit here. These are small bits of diced water chestnut wrapped in a thin red tapioca coating. They give you a crunchy center with a chewy outside.

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.

Inside your glass

A standard order usually includes:

• Xoa xoa jelly: Soft agar jelly strips or cubes.
• Hạt lựu: Chewy red "pomegranate" pearls (water chestnut in red tapioca).
• Đậu ván: Cooked white or lima beans for a creamy bite.
• Mung-bean paste: A small scoop added by some shops for richness.
• Coconut milk: Sweet and slightly salty, poured over the top.
• Crushed ice: Packed in to keep everything freezing cold.
• Aroma: A hint of pandan or jackfruit.

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:

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.

A local fix for the Da Nang heat

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.

What to expect as a first-timer

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:

• Ice safety: If you have a sensitive stomach, stick to busy stalls. High turnover means the ice moves fast and comes from clean commercial water sources.
• Texture: Wobbly jelly and chewy pearls surprise some Western palates. Give it a few spoons to get used to the mouthfeel.
• Sweetness level: The sweetness is gentle compared to Western desserts. The goal is to refresh you.

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.

Prices and payment

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.

How to order and eat it

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:

• "Một ly xoa xoa hạt lựu" ("moht lee swa-swa hat lou"): One glass of chè xoa xoa hạt lựu.
• "Ít đường" ("it duong"): Less sweet.
• "Cho thêm đá" ("cho tem da"): More ice.
• "Ít đá" ("it da"): Less ice.

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.

Where to find chè xoa xoa hạt lựu in Da Nang

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.

Cồn Market (Chợ Cồn) chè stall

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.

• Best for: The cheapest, most traditional local experience.
• Price: ~10,000–15,000đ, as of June 2026
• Hours: Market trading hours (roughly 6am–7pm).
• Address: Inside Chợ Cồn (around Lô 40–43, đình 15A area), 90 Hùng Vương, Hải Châu
• Map: Open in Google Maps

Xoa Xoa Hạt Lựu Trần Bình Trọng

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.

• Best for: The famous, made-fresh-daily version.
• Price: ~12,000–20,000đ, as of June 2026
• Hours: Afternoon into the evening (varies)
• Address: 46 Trần Bình Trọng, Hải Châu
• Map: Open in Google Maps

Nguyễn Chí Thanh branch

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.

• Best for: A central, convenient stop.
• Price: ~12,000–20,000đ, as of June 2026
• Hours: Roughly 9:00–20:50 (varies)
• Address: 281 Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Hải Châu
• Map: Open in Google Maps

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.