# Bánh bèo: Huế's little steamed rice cakes

> Bánh bèo are small, soft rice cakes steamed in little saucers and topped with dried shrimp floss, crispy pork crackling and spring-onion oil, then dressed with sweet fish sauce. A tray usually costs 20,000–40,000 VND. Order with “Cho tôi một mâm bánh bèo”.

- URL: https://eatgreenvietnam.com/guides/banh-beo-hue
- Region: Central Vietnam · City: Hue
- Published: 2026-09-29 · Last updated: 2026-09-30
- By: the Eat Green Vietnam team (https://eatgreenvietnam.com/about)

The name means ‘water fern cake’ – each one is shaped like a little floating leaf. In Huế, they arrive by the dozen.

## At a glance

- **What it is:** Small steamed rice-flour cakes topped with shrimp floss, pork crackling and spring-onion oil, with fish sauce.
- **Where:** Huế and across Central Vietnam, often in shops that also sell other Huế cakes.
- **Typical price:** Around 20,000–40,000 VND for a tray or plate.
- **Eat green:** Served in small ceramic saucers – a reusable dish by design. Eat them at the table.

## How to order

> “Cho tôi một mâm bánh bèo.”

One tray of bánh bèo. Many shops sell a **bánh Huế thập cẩm** set with bánh bèo, bánh bột lọc and bánh nậm – a good way to try them all.

## How to eat it

Spoon a little fish sauce over each saucer, add chilli if you like, then run your spoon around the edge to lift the cake out in one bite.

## When to go

Afternoon snack time is classic – locals meet friends over a tray of Huế cakes.

## Questions travellers ask

### What does bánh bèo mean?

Bánh means cake; bèo is a small water fern, which the cakes resemble.

### How much is bánh bèo?

Around 20,000–40,000 VND for a tray.

### How do you eat bánh bèo?

Add fish sauce and scoop each cake out of its saucer with a spoon.

### Is bánh bèo vegetarian?

Not usually – the toppings include shrimp and pork. Some vegetarian shops make a version with mushroom and fried shallots.

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Photo: Nha Nghi La / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B%C3%A1nh_b%C3%A8o_ch%C3%A9n.jpg
Source: Eat Green Vietnam, https://eatgreenvietnam.com/guides/banh-beo-hue. Prices are typical ranges and change often. You may quote and summarise with attribution and a link to the original page.