Learn the history of this popular sweet treat shop in Ho Chi Minh City and the perfect way to end an evening.

In the rainy season, you can count on the stove operating at Lam Vinh Mau sweet soup shop.

Customers huddle close and feel coziness as they gather around the bustling cart located on Nguyen Thai Binh Street in District 1.

Built in Teochew style, the shop is run by an elderly Chinese man who prefers keeping things simple, inviting customers to sit, enjoy, and chat while appreciating the flavors of each bowl.

Named for its first owner, the cart was founded in 1958 by Lam Vinh Mau, who passed it down to his family after moving abroad.

Primarily serving customers at night, the sweet soup shop has a reputation not just locally but also among visitors from distant provinces who make a point of stopping by for a bowl whenever they are in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Upon arrival, diners are immediately captivated by the wooden cart, intricately engraved with motifs depicting ancient Chinese tales, with the name 'Lam Vinh Mau' prominently displayed.

Once seated, customers choose from a delightful array of fresh ingredients like longans, lotus seeds, tapioca, red beans, and mung beans, all neatly arranged in bowls and pots. 

Beneath the main ingredient pots burns a clay charcoal stove, essential for maintaining the rich, fragrant essence of each dessert.

The shop owner emphasizes the key to their sweet soups lies in the long cooking process, which enhances the natural aromas of the fruits and vegetables.

He carefully monitors the pots, adding sugar to retain the dessert’s essence -- a meticulous process that requires skill and precision. 

In the center of the cart, a pot of pale yellow liquid awaits.

Diners often speculate that the liquid served is just simple syrup to sweeten the dessert, but few realize it is a herbal infusion meant to balance the sweetness.

The owner humorously refers to it as his ‘magic liquid’ essential for preparing delicious desserts.

Only by observing the owner's careful techniques can diners truly appreciate the meticulous artistry behind each bowl of sweet soup. 

The almond ginkgo sweet soup is a beloved menu item, a true treasure of the shop.

“Take a sip and you’ll know if it’s good or bad,” the owner says encouragingly to each customer.

This dessert is refreshingly sweet with light richness, enhanced by the aromatic scent of almonds and ginkgo.

The almond component is made into jelly, which has a slight umami taste at first but is beautifully balanced by the bitterness of the ginkgo biloba, allowing the flavors to blend harmoniously.

The owner proudly claims this specialty soup is unique to his stall and cannot be found elsewhere. 

The red bean sweet soup is another customer’s favorite, captivating diners not only by tantalizing their taste buds but also by sparking their curiosity.

As diners enjoy the dish, some attempt to guess the source of the mild, refreshing aroma that feels familiar yet elusive. 

The seller reveals that it comes from dried tangerines simmered in the soup, which helps eliminate the pungent aroma of the red beans.

The soup part alone carries a fragrant bean scent that leads diners to believe it is infused with the essence of the beans themselves.

This cooking method, which is common in Chinese cuisine, not only enhances the flavor but also lends a medicinal quality.

Each bowl of sweet soup is typically heated in a small pot before being served to diners.

While the sweet soup shop offers a unique experience, some customers have mixed feelings about the price of VND45,000 (US$1.83) per serving.

“A serving with three slices of lotus root and three to four ginkgo fruits for VND45,000 feels a bit pricey, even though you can taste the careful, less sweet preparation,” one diner commented in the Google Maps review section.

Others echoed this sentiment, suggesting that while the dish is worth trying, it may not merit a return visit.

A common complaint among patrons is that as a sidewalk eatery without air conditioning, the prices are too high -- comparable to that of a bowl of noodles. 

However, some customers from Hanoi, who are long-time fans of the shop, mentioned that whenever they are in Ho Chi Minh City for business, they always stop by for a bowl of sweet soup before getting to work.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!