Chè Bà Thìn

Chè Bà Thìn is a dessert shop and street-food stall at 4 Lò Sũ in Hanoi's Old Quarter, in northern Vietnam, selling chè, the sweet soups and puddings that are a staple of Vietnamese dessert culture. The shop offers a range of chè made with beans, coconut milk, taro and lotus seeds, served either hot or cold depending on the weather and the diner's preference. Signature dishes include chè thái, a Thai-style dessert with fruit, jelly and coconut milk over ice, chè đậu đen, a black-bean sweet soup, and chè bà cốt, a sticky glutinous rice-and-coconut dessert. The flavours are sweet but not heavy, and the textures vary from soft beans to chewy jelly and creamy coconut. The shop is a dependable stop for a sweet break between meals or after dinner. The dining area is casual, with simple seating typical of Hanoi's dessert stalls. There is no dress code and no formal service; customers order at the counter and are served quickly. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, and noise is low to moderate, depending on the crowd. Prices are very low, with a typical order costing about 20,000 to 40,000 VND per person. There is no wine programme; the menu is limited to desserts and simple drinks. The shop is open daily from 9AM to 10PM, so it suits an afternoon pause on a warm day or an evening dessert after a meal in the Old Quarter. Reservations are not needed. Cold chè is especially popular in the hot summer months, while hot chè suits cooler weather in winter, and the shop offers both, so visitors can choose according to the season. The location on Lò Sũ, a short walk from Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the surrounding streets, makes it easy to fit into a walking tour of central Hanoi, and visitors often combine it with a visit to an ice-cream or coffee stop nearby.