Talking about snacks with a strong impression of the old town, we cannot help but mention Traditional Molasses Donuts at 52 Hang Chieu, Hanoi. This is an address associated with more than three decades of traditional baking, where each cake is not only a dish but also a story about family, tradition and passion.

The shop owner, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, inherited the cake recipe from her mother-in-law, starting with batches of cakes for the family. The praise from relatives inspired her to open a sale in Son Tay town, old Ha Tay. Since 2005, the shop moved to 52 Hang Chieu, continuing to maintain only two types of cakes: sugar donuts and honey donuts. Initially, only a few dozen pieces were made each day, selling for 200 VND/piece. Then, due to the large number of customers, she expanded production, hired more employees and her children to help.

Up to now, the shop at 52 Hang Chieu has become a familiar stop for both Hanoians and tourists. Ms. Phuong remains loyal to two traditional versions: sugar donuts and honey donuts, keeping the family recipe intact.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 2

Traditional Molasses Donuts in the old town, especially at Traditional Donuts at 52 Hang Chieu, are a dish associated with the childhood of many generations and a sweet gift that diners will remember forever. Illustration photo: guevara __

The bakery is just over 10 m², enough for customers to take home and create a simple but bold Hanoi space. Every day, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., thousands of cakes are prepared, molded into round shapes, covered with fragrant green bean filling and coated with sugar or cockroach wing yellow honey.

On rainy days, the number of cakes sold drops to about 5,000, compared to more than 10,000 on dry days. Although small, Traditional Donuts 52 Hang Chieu still maintains a vibrant pace of life, each hot cake still makes customers hungry as soon as they enter the old town.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 3

The shop is only about 15 square meters wide, has no seating, and mainly sells takeout. Illustration photo: DUC Nguyen Trung

What makes Traditional Donut 52 different is the recipe and meticulousness in each step. 100% smooth sticky rice flour, green bean filling is peeled, thoroughly pureed, mixed with ground coconut and sugar in the standard ratio: 1 kg of green beans with 0.3 kg of coconut. The filling is shaped into round balls with a diameter of 6–7 cm, dropped into a large oil pan, about 100 pieces per batch.

Ms. Phuong shared: “Frying the cake takes about 40 minutes in the winter, about 25-30 minutes in the summer. The cake must be fried slowly, covered in oil, and coated with sugar or honey to have enough adhesion to the cake.” The fully cooked cakes will have an eye-catching cockroach color and a pervasive honey scent, a sign of the worker’s quality and enthusiasm.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 4

The smell of hot cake and the faint scent of molasses make it difficult for anyone passing by to leave. Illustration photo: FB Traditional Donuts 52 Hang Chieu

Hanoi is in the fall, the weather is cold, enjoying Hang Chieu Donuts is even more delicious. The image of a mother and daughter enjoying a honey donut together, eating and laughing, evokes fond memories. A cake is not only a dish but also a bridge of love and memories.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 5

The whole process takes place before the guests’ eyes, from shaping the cake, frying it, to stirring the layer of sugar or molasses, creating a lively and intimate culinary experience. Illustration photo: Vu Minh Duc

To serve a large number of customers every day, Ms. Phuong and her staff have to get up at 3 a.m. to prepare dough and fillings. The person who molds the cake, the person who fries it, the person who stirs the honey, all coordinate harmoniously so that the batch of cakes delivered to the customer is perfect. Each step is clean, meticulous and technically correct, creating unique quality.

Thanks to perseverance and passion for preserving traditional cuisine, the traditional Hanoi donut shop at 52 Hang Chieu has continued to serve customers for more than 30 years, from the days of selling a few thousand dong to the present with thousands of donuts every day.

Ms. Phuong shared that passion and meticulousness in each step are the reasons why it has maintained its reputation for more than 30 years. Her family also opened another branch at 82 Tran Nhat Duat to serve tourists and residents of the old town. The children currently manage and help the shop, ensuring the recipe and quality of the cakes remain intact.

Videos and clips about 52 Hang Chieu’s honey donuts are always shared on social networks, attracting the attention of the culinary community. The image of a layer of golden molasses surrounding an attractive round cake makes anyone want to try it right away.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 6

By following the traditional process, 52 Hang Chieu Traditional Donuts retains a unique flavor, different from other donut shops. Illustrative photo: Liv D.

The sugar donut version is simple but still retains the traditional flavor. The shell is lightly crispy, the dough is flexible and blends with the soft filling. This is a familiar choice of many young diners and Vietnamese guests.

Particularly, the Traditional Molasses Donut with a layer of cockroach wing golden molasses is the dish that makes the shop famous. Gorgeous appearance, shiny layer of honey, rich green bean filling, smooth sticky rice dough. When biting into it, the sweet honey flavor spreads, combined with the fatty taste of the filling, making it unforgettable for diners. This is also a cake that many international customers order and take to provinces such as Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 7

These two types of cakes are most delicious when they have just been fried, hot and soft, making diners clearly feel the characteristic fatty and aromatic taste every time they bite. Illustrative photo: Pradeep Nambiar

Each donut you taste will make you realize the difference: fragrant sweet honey layer, smooth sticky rice dough, rich and fatty green bean filling. The space is small but bustling, with customers waiting in line to take home or enjoy immediately, creating a unique experience that only 52 Hang Chieu Traditional Donuts can bring.

Especially the best time to enjoy it is the autumn weather in Hanoi, when the cold air creeps into every corner of the old town, the scent of honey spreads everywhere.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 8

Every day the shop sells more than 10,000 cakes, depending on the season, the demand changes: in the summer, sugar cakes are popular, in the fall and winter, customers often choose honey cakes. Illustrative photo: Farid Hamka

To make a delicious cake, each step needs to be done meticulously and closely. The specific process is as follows:

Choose rice and prepare flour: Rice flour must be made during the day, not left overnight to retain its elasticity and natural aroma.

Making the filling: The green bean filling is pureed and mixed with coconut to create a rich, fragrant, not too sweet taste.

Fry the cake: The cake is fried in a pan of old oil, then stirred over a layer of white sugar (sugar cake) or black molasses (honey cake) to have an attractive golden color, crispy when eaten but not greasy.

Each batch of cakes includes 50 – 100 cakes, shaped into round balls about 6-7 cm, both easy to eat and maintain a beautiful shape. By following the traditional process, 52 Hang Chieu Traditional Donuts retains a unique flavor, different from other donut shops.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 9

The image of a layer of golden molasses surrounding an attractive round cake makes anyone want to try it right away. Illustration photo: Do ​​Hien Giang

If you are a donut lover and have never enjoyed Hang Chieu Donuts, this is a great opportunity to discover:

– A signature honey donut with an unmistakable flavor.

– Two unique types of cakes, but enough to make you remember them forever.

– Discover the skills of skilled craftsmen, from making cakes, frying, and boiling honey.

– A complete Hanoi experience: enjoy traditional cakes and feel the rhythm of old town life.

Traditional donuts at 52 Hang Chieu stand out thanks to their crispy shell, soft inside, fatty green bean filling and fragrant molasses layer. The recipe has been kept the same for nearly 30 years, ensuring a sweet, unique flavor that other bakeries can’t match.

The shop only sells two types of donuts: sugar donuts and honey donuts. Sugar donuts use white sugar, while honey donuts are covered with a layer of molasses made from black sugar, maintaining a moderate sweetness and eye-catching cockroach yellow color.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 10

The filling is plump inside the cake. Illustration photo: Ta Duong

You can buy directly at 52 Hang Chieu, or branch at 82 Tran Nhat Duat. In addition, cakes are also sent to some provinces such as Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Thai Nguyen, but it is best to buy directly to enjoy hot, freshly fried cakes, preserving the full flavor.

Traditional Molasses Donuts, a sweet gift from Hanoi 11

Hang Chieu donuts are not only a favorite dish of Hanoians but are also sought after by many international tourists. Illustration photo: FB Traditional Donuts 52 Hang Chieu

Traditional Molasses Donuts or Traditional Donuts at 52 Hang Chieu are the taste, memories and love for traditional Hanoi cuisine. If you have never enjoyed Hang Chieu donuts, come and experience it for yourself. A honey donut, a little sugar, and the rhythm of Hanoi life will make you remember forever. And don’t forget, Vietnamtravelio suitcase will accompany you on every trip, both convenient and keeping your donuts intact for your journey.