Kem Vi Bổn's Popsicles Anchor 70 Years of Saigon's Summer Memories

The useful part

Saigoneers have always been blessed with a thriving ice cream scene, perhaps an inevitable perk of living in a city that’s rarely not scorching hot. Amid a thriving scene of inventive gelato and soft serve flavors, one frozen treat place has stood the test of time for nearly 70 years: The first time I tasted Kem Vi Bổn was nearly 20 years ago when I was still in school, and I can confidently say that, after trying it just a few days ago for this article, the taste has remained unchanged.

How it works

• The shopfront has been renovated, and the ladies who run the place might look a little older, but it’s astonishing how the menu and recipe have stayed consistent throughout the decades.
• The Vietnamese language uses “kem” as a catch-all term to refer to all frozen desserts, but the products that Kem Vi Bб»•n is best known and loved for are actually popsicles.
• Available popsicle flavors could change depending on the day, but are usually in the range of mung bean, black bean, coconut, taro, durian, and kumquat.
• At VND4,000 per kumquat pop and VND7,000 for the rest, this is likely to be the cheapest dish you will be able to purchase in Saigon these days.

Details worth keeping

They also make a selection of ice cream in tubs. Are the popsicles the best thing you will taste in the city? Absolutely not, but boy do they give the most bang for your...