Bánh bột lọc: Huế's see-through shrimp dumplings
Hold one up to the light and you can see the pink shrimp inside. That see-through wrapper is tapioca starch, and it’s wonderfully chewy.
Bánh bột lọc are chewy, translucent tapioca dumplings filled with shrimp and pork belly. In Huế they come wrapped in banana leaf (bánh bột lọc lá) or bare (bánh bột lọc trần), dipped in sweet chilli fish sauce. A plate usually costs 20,000–40,000 VND. Order with “Cho tôi một đĩa bánh bột lọc”.
At a glance
How to order
“Cho tôi một đĩa bánh bột lọc.”
One plate of bánh bột lọc. Say bánh bột lọc lá for the leaf-wrapped kind or trần for bare dumplings.
How to eat it
Unwrap the banana leaf, dip the dumpling in the fish sauce and eat it in one or two bites. The sauce is usually sweet, garlicky and hot.
When to go
Any time as a snack. Many Huế cake shops open from mid-morning into the evening.
Questions travellers ask
What is bánh bột lọc made of?
Tapioca starch, with a filling of shrimp and pork belly.
How much does bánh bột lọc cost?
Around 20,000–40,000 VND a plate.
Is bánh bột lọc gluten-free?
The wrapper is made from tapioca, but sauces and fillings vary – ask if you have a strict allergy.
What does ‘trần’ mean?
Bare – dumplings cooked without the banana-leaf wrapper.
Prices are typical ranges we’ve seen and change often; tourist areas can charge more. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Last updated 2026-09-30.
