In Trà Nóc Ward, Bình Thủy District, the pancake stall run by Mười Xiềm is always surrounded by a crowd. Rice batter mixed with coconut milk is poured into a hot cast-iron pan, sizzling as it spreads into a thin golden crepe, then topped with bean sprouts, Muscovy duck meat, palm heart, and shrimp before being folded and lifted off the heat. Crisp on the outside with coconut fragrance wafting up — this is bánh xèo, familiar to people across southern Vietnam, and the culmination of half a lifetime's craft from the shop's owner, known as 'Auntie Mười' (Mười Xiềm).
What is this pancake, and what makes the Cần Thơ version special?
Bánh xèo can be found all across Vietnam, but the north-south differences in preparation are significant: central Vietnam's Huế region has its own version called 'bánh khoái,' while the southern version typically adds coconut milk for extra fragrance. The Chinese Wikipedia entry for Vietnamese pancakes already covers this general southern practice of adding coconut milk. To be honest, the Cần Thơ (western Vietnam) version isn't an original invention but rather a representative example within this common southern approach — distinguished by the addition of Muscovy duck meat and palm heart, which make the coconut fragrance stand out even more. Mười Xiềm is one of the most famous names doing it this way, not the sole originator or birthplace.
The shop owner, known as 'Mười Xiềm,' is herself a folk culinary artisan. In 2007, she was invited to the United States to represent Vietnam at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, bringing this humble home-style pancake to an international stage. Mainstream Vietnamese outlets such as Người Lao Động and Giáo dục và Thời đại have both covered her story.
How to eat it like a local
Notable shops and local knowledge
Mười Xiềm's stall in Trà Nóc Ward has become a must-visit stop for many travelers drawn by the owner's status as a folk artisan and her international showcase experience. Worth noting, though: this pancake is a common home-style dish found all across the Mekong Delta. Mười Xiềm is one of many excellent shops making it, not the only place to find the authentic version.
Prices and Hours
- A full bánh xèo with all the toppings costs about 60,000–100,000 VND (roughly NT$73–122), depending on how generously it's filled.
- Mostly open for lunch and dinner — arriving during peak hours may mean waiting a bit, since each pancake is cooked to order.
- Try saying: 'Cho tôi một cái bánh xèo đầy đủ.' (Give me a fully loaded bánh xèo.)
Things to Keep in Mind
- This is a representative shop of a common southern style, not a Cần Thơ exclusive invention — if you want to compare other versions, every province in the Mekong Delta has its own famous pancake shops.
- Pancakes are cooked to order, so it takes a bit of time — if you're on a tight schedule, sit down and order early.
- Trà Nóc is a bit farther from downtown, so confirm your transportation in advance to avoid scrambling for a ride at the last minute.
A single coconut-scented pancake carries half a lifetime of craft from a folk artisan — from a cast-iron pan in Trà Nóc all the way to a folklife festival in the United States. The flavor hasn't changed, but the road it traveled is a long one.