Where are best dessert places in Ho Chi Minh city?

People say there's always room for dessert. The quote rings even more accurate in Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon). What could be better after the main course in this heat than something sweet and cool? Aside from our lovely traditional cuisine, the metropolis welcomes gastronomic styles from all over the world, resulting in a diverse collection of desserts to explore, ranging from ice cream to pastries, and available in coffee shops, restaurants, and even bars. If you have a sweet tooth, the best places for dessert in Ho Chi Minh City below are for you.

Morico

Morico is a contemporary Japanese concept café-restaurant. The café specializes in authentic, organic, and delightful matcha (Japanese green tea) desserts. They emphasize high-quality ingredients, most of which are imported from Japan; this is also a key selling point of Morico compared to other Japanese-style cafes.

Morico's desserts are meticulously prepared in terms of flavor and presentation, which relates to the minimalism plating style—a popular time in Japanese lifestyle and gastronomy.

One of the best sellers in Morico is Parfait. Parfait originates from French with the meaning “Perfect." A “perfect" dessert is presented in a glass full of selective ingredients. Take a spoonful from the top to the bottom of the glass, covering all layers, to fully appreciate the sophisticated flavor of a dessert. The must-have in a Parfait is Kanten - a Japanese jelly made of seaweed called Tengusa (or Heaven grass), served with gelato, soft serve, mochi (Japanese rice cake), popped rice, etc.

Maison Marou

Maison Marou is a young chocolate brand. Marou is the first bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Vietnam that uses 100% locally-sourced ingredients from six provinces in Southern Vietnam. Maison Marou is a chocolate-inspired café and patisserie where you can purchase delectable chocolate bars and enjoy the exceptional flavor of their unique desserts.

At Maison Marou, they utilize the superb chocolate taste of Marou, combined with classic French recipes, to create mouth-watering desserts. The chocolate tart is a work that draws your attention immediately.

Maison Marou is a perfect place for chocolate lovers. The pastry is splendidly presented; Marou's dark chocolate chantilly, chocolate ganache, caramelized cashews, and brownie dice are beautifully placed on a buttery and crunchy tart shell. Their hot chocolate drink and brownie are also worth a try.

Pacey cupcakes

Pacey is the first dessert place in Ho Chi Minh City specializing in cupcakes. Since 2011, this location has become a popular destination for cupcake lovers, offering a variety of delectable flavors. Pacey has settled on a quiet street in the heart of Saigon after several relocations since the first opening.

From the outside, this place does not attract you with stunning decoration or an exceptional setup. Pacey creates a familiar feeling like a neighbor, a place to have fun and share good dessert freely.

Pacey can meet any sweet craving with around 40 different cupcake flavors. The moist, soft, and fluffy butter cake is topped beautifully with rich, flavorful buttercream or cream cheese (depending on the flavors). Along with their best-seller flavors like Earl Gray Peach, almond salted caramel, or red velvet, you should try local flavors such as durian avocado, mulberry cheesecake, and passionfruit.

The Vagabond Pâtisserie & Café

The Vagabond was previously an online patisserie. In 2016, the two founders decided to open a café where you can not only enjoy the delicious desserts but also admire the beauty of the setting and décor. The Vagabond is a visually appealing, European-inspired café.

The charming greenery alley entrance greets you first, followed by a gorgeous setup within a comfy place. Many customers consider it to be Saigon's best decorative patisserie.

Seasonal desserts are popular at the Vagabond Pâtisserie & Café. They select the best seasonal ingredients to create delightful and tasty cakes, so you can always try surprising new items in this café. The flavor is rich and fresh while remaining fairly sweet and balanced, and it is presented in an eye-catching appearance that provides any customer with an unforgettable experience.

The "No-baked" collection is also recommended at this location. Mousse, verrine, Veneto, Mille crepe, and other desserts are delicious, with layers of flavor, aromas, and appealing liqueur, citrus, or coffee touches.

The Dreamers Dessert Bar

Located on Han Thuyen Street, the center point of Ho Chi Minh City, The Dreamers is a silent little oasis where you can look for exquisite desserts. The Dreamers Dessert Bar is both a dessert shop and bar, as the name suggests. You can enjoy tasty cakes while sipping a cocktail or wine.

However, some customers have commented that the cocktails at this place are not as great as the cakes. If you're not interested in wine and cocktails, the Dreamers Dessert also offers tea with cakes. The view is one of the highlights of this desert spot. It has a beautiful and peaceful view of a large city park with many greeneries and fresh air.

The cakes at The Dreamers are splendid in both presentation and taste. The chef focuses on the balance of each dessert and how to enhance the flavors of the key ingredients. The Lady, one of this place's signatures, is an excellent example of their hard-working progress. It's a lychee mousse with strawberry confit and a lime sponge that fits perfectly into an elegant setting. Each layer's sweet and sour flavors are well-balanced, and you can still taste the distinct lychee scent.

Osterberg Ice Cream

Osterberg's proprietor describes herself as a "scientific ice cream maker." Ice cream is a scientific field to her. Ice cream and cones are freshly produced by hand using high-quality ingredients; cream and sugar are mixed in the perfect ratio to ensure consistency in flavor and texture.

Osterberg's creativity shines through in the unique flavors they offer. Specialties worldwide are collected and expertly blended to create excellent ice cream and sorbet for customers.

Osterberg is a Danish-style ice cream shop. The place has just a few tables and seats in a small cozy home located on one of the busiest streets in Thao Dien. The locals enjoy stopping by to grab an ice cream cone or a sorbet cup on the way to cool off in the heat of Ho Chi Minh City. If you’re looking for a dessert that can help you get fresh immediately, try Osterberg’s fruit sorbet. The sorbet is more icy and watery in texture, whereas the ice cream is creamy, rich, and smooth in your mouth. The chocolate flavor is also recommended because their chocolate is sourced from Marou, the previously mentioned local chocolate brand.

The Refinery

Tucked away in a long historic alley (hẻm) in Saigon, the Refinery has stood the test of time. Locals mostly visit here for a Parisian meal amidst Saigon, but little know their desserts deserve more recognition.