Chè Bà Thìn

Chè Bà Thìn is a dessert stall at 4 Lò Sũ in the Hàng Bài ward of Hanoi's Old Quarter, Vietnam, near Hoàn Kiếm Lake. It serves chè, the Vietnamese sweet soup made with beans, jellies, taro and coconut milk, spooned over crushed ice. The signature dishes are chè thập cẩm, a mixed sweet soup with several toppings, chè đỗ đen, made with black beans, and chè khúc bạch, an almond-milk pudding chè with soft jelly pieces. The cuisine is dessert only and is a traditional part of Hanoi's street-food culture, eaten as an afternoon or evening treat. Orders are made by pointing at the ingredients behind the glass counter, so visitors do not need to read the menu, and the bowls are assembled on the spot. The setting is a simple pavement stall with stools set along the street, no dress code and a mix of local customers and visitors. Noise is moderate and comes largely from the street. There is no wine programme; the drinks are limited to simple soft drinks and tea. The stall opens daily from 9:00 to 22:00 and does not take reservations. Prices are very low, at about 20,000 to 40,000 VND (USD 0.75 to 1.55) per bowl. The Lò Sũ address is within walking distance of the lake and the Old Quarter's main streets, so it is easy to add to a walking route as a cooling stop in hot weather. Bowls are sweet and served cold, so they work well after a savoury meal. Because the toppings vary, visitors can point to several items in the glass counter and ask the vendor to combine them in one bowl.