Kem Tràng Tiền

Kem Tràng Tiền is an ice-cream shop at 35 Tràng Tiền, close to Hoàn Kiếm Lake in central Hanoi, in northern Vietnam. It has been trading since 1958 and is often described as Vietnam's most famous ice-cream shop, with a nostalgic place in the memory of generations of Hanoians. The shop sells small cones and ice-cream sticks rather than large scoops, in flavours that include coconut (kem dừa), green rice (kem cốm), vanilla and chocolate. Kem cốm, made with young green rice, is the emblematic flavour and reflects Hanoi's autumn tradition of cốm, while kem dừa is often served with coconut flesh. The texture is creamy but light, and the sweetness is moderate. The shop is casual and nostalgic in character. Customers usually order at the counter and eat on the pavement or walk toward the lake, and there is no dress code or formal table service. On warm evenings and weekends, the pavement in front can be crowded with families and groups of friends, so noise and activity are high, while weekday mornings are calmer. Prices are very low, with a typical purchase costing about 15,000 to 30,000 VND per person, and most visitors try more than one flavour. There is no wine or beverage programme beyond simple cold drinks. The shop is open daily from 8AM to 10PM, so it suits an afternoon treat or an after-dinner walk. Reservations are not needed. Visitors often combine a stop here with a stroll around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, which is a few minutes on foot, or with a visit to the nearby Hanoi Opera House and shopping streets. Because the shop is so well known, it can be busy in hot weather, when queues form at the counter, but service is quick and the wait is usually short.