Mixue (Ninh Binh & Hanoi, Vietnam)
Affordable Mixue drinks, fruit teas, and soft serve in Vietnam, including grape oolong tea with taro balls and creamy taro ice cream. Vietnam quickly turned Mixue into one of our favourite stops between sightseeing. From refreshing fruit teas to surprisingly good ice cream, we found ourselves returning more than once to try something different. Some were better than others, but every visit reminded us why this chain has become so popular across Asia.
When I first arrived in Vietnam, I never expected one of the places I’d end up visiting more than once would be Mixue. At first glance it looked like another bubble tea and soft serve chain, something that has become common across Asia. After spotting branches everywhere, curiosity finally got the better of us during our stay in Ninh Binh.
Our first visit was simply to cool down after spending time exploring the city under the intense Vietnamese summer heat. The cold drinks and ice cream looked inviting, and judging by the steady flow of customers, Mixue was clearly doing something right.
Little did I know that this wouldn’t be our only visit. A few days later, while shopping in Hanoi, we found ourselves walking past another branch and couldn’t resist trying a couple more items from the menu.
A Brand That Is Everywhere
Mixue is almost impossible to miss in Vietnam. Whether you’re in Ninh Binh, Hanoi or many other cities, the familiar snowman mascot seems to appear on almost every busy street. Unlike premium bubble tea chains, Mixue has built its reputation around affordability, making it accessible to students, families and travellers looking for an inexpensive treat.
The menu is surprisingly extensive. Alongside milk teas, there are fruit teas, lemonades, smoothies, coffees, and soft serves, all at prices that are difficult to beat.
That affordability was one of the biggest reasons we kept coming back.
Our First Visit
For our first order, we kept things simple with a refreshing fruit tea and one of Mixue’s signature soft serves.
The fruit tea was exactly what we needed after walking around Ninh Binh. It was cold, refreshing and pleasantly fruity without becoming overwhelmingly sweet. It wasn’t the most complex tea I’d ever tasted, but for the price, it delivered exactly what I wanted.
The vanilla soft serve was another pleasant surprise. Smooth, creamy, and lightly sweetened, it was a simple dessert that helped cool us down. It wasn’t rich like premium gelato, but it didn’t pretend to be. Instead, it offered excellent value, which perfectly matched Mixue’s philosophy.
After finishing our snacks, I understood why the stores always seemed busy.
Going Back for More
By the time we reached Hanoi, we had already become familiar with Mixue, so when we passed another branch inside the shopping centre, it didn’t take much convincing to stop again.
This time, we wanted to try something completely different.
I ordered the Taro Ball Grape Oolong Tea with Chewy Taro Balls, while also picking up a Taro Soft Serve.
The grape oolong tea turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The grape flavour provided a refreshing sweetness while the oolong tea balanced everything nicely, preventing it from becoming sugary. The chewy taro balls were the highlight, adding a satisfying texture that made every sip more enjoyable. It was one of those drinks that seemed perfectly suited to Vietnam’s hot and humid weather.
The Taro Soft Serve
If there’s one dessert I’m always willing to order, it’s anything made with taro.
Back in New Zealand, my favourite taro soft serve came from Grain Tea, a small shop that sadly closed down. Their ice cream had the perfect texture, just the right sweetness and, most importantly, plenty of real taro flavour.
Naturally, I couldn’t help comparing Mixue’s version.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t even close.
The taro flavour was much lighter and seemed to rely more on flavouring than actual taro. It lacked the earthy richness that made Grain Tea’s version so memorable.
That said, I still enjoyed it.
The texture remained smooth and creamy, and the sweetness was nicely balanced. While it didn’t replace my favourite taro ice cream from New Zealand, it was still an enjoyable dessert, especially considering how inexpensive it was.
Sometimes expectations can be unfair, and had I never experienced Grain Tea before, I probably would have rated Mixue’s taro soft serve much higher.
Great Value That Keeps You Coming Back
What impressed me most wasn’t that every item was outstanding. Instead, it was the consistency and value.
Every branch we visited was clean, service was fast, and the prices remained incredibly affordable. Whether you wanted a fruit tea, milk tea, soft serve or smoothie, there was plenty of choice without spending much money.
It’s easy to understand why Mixue has expanded so rapidly throughout Vietnam. For locals, it’s an inexpensive everyday treat. For travellers like us, it’s a reliable place to cool down between sightseeing without hurting the travel budget.
After two visits, I can honestly say Mixue became one of our favourite quick refreshment stops during the trip.
Would I recommend every item? Probably not.
Would I happily stop again for another fruit tea or soft serve while travelling through Vietnam?
Absolutely.
Sometimes you don’t need the most luxurious dessert or the fanciest bubble tea. Sometimes all you need is something cold, refreshing, and affordable, and Mixue delivers exactly that.
Mixue
Address: Multiple branches throughout Vietnam. We visited branches in Ninh Binh and Hanoi.
Phone: Varies by branch.
Website: https://mixuevietnam.vn
