Information compiled by QuirkyWhy

In the bustling streets of Vietnam, amidst the symphony of motorbikes and the aroma of street food, bánh mì stands out as a beloved culinary delight. This Vietnamese sandwich, a symbol of the country’s history and innovation, has captured the hearts and palates of both locals and visitors.

A Brief History

Bánh mì has its roots in the French colonial period when baguettes were introduced to Vietnam. Over time, the Vietnamese put their unique twist on it, creating a sandwich that reflects the blend of Eastern and Western cuisines. The result is a light, crispy baguette filled with an explosion of flavors and textures.

The Perfect Bánh Mì

A classic bánh mì typically includes a variety of ingredients such as:

• Crusty Baguette: The bread’s outer crust is crisp, while the inside is soft and airy.
• Meat or Tofu: Common fillings include pork, chicken, pâté, or tofu for a vegetarian option.
• Pickled Vegetables: Julienne carrots and daikon radish add a tangy crunch.
• Fresh Herbs: Cilantro and cucumber provide a refreshing balance.
• Condiments: A spread of mayonnaise, a dash of soy sauce, and a sprinkle of chili create a symphony of flavors.

Street Food Culture

In Vietnam, bánh mì is more than just a meal; it’s an experience. Vendors set up their stalls early in the morning, ready to serve the breakfast crowd. The interaction with the vendor, often accompanied by friendly banter and a quick exchange of currency, adds to the charm of enjoying this street food.

A Culinary Journey

Every region in Vietnam brings its own flair to the bánh mì, making it a delightful adventure for the taste buds. Whether you’re in Hanoi, Hue, or Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll find variations that reflect the local culture and ingredients.

Bánh mì is a testament to Vietnam’s culinary ingenuity and the perfect embodiment of its street food culture. So, the next time you find yourself wandering the vibrant streets of Vietnam, be sure to indulge in a bánh mì—it’s a bite of history and a taste of the local charm.

Let go around Saigon and try some bánh mì with me!

Bánh mì Như Lan

If pate – sauce & sliced ​​meat is your favorite combination, Như Lan is a must.
For nearly 50 years, since 1972 from a street food trolly pushcart on Ly Chinh Thang street, near old Gia Long school (Now Nguyen Thi Minh Khai), then moved to the small shop on Ham Nghi street, at old Saigon market, until now, the bread brand Nhu Lan has become too familiar to everyone used to with “finger food”,
Initially, Nhu Lan almost specialized in selling bread, large round bread with crispy, soft, springy moist texture, dense crumb, delicious, plated with three slices belly pork, paté, with a few stalks of green onion, spice , elegant pickled radish and carrot . .. Extremely attractive. Over time, Nhu Lan bread also developed, trading more items such as Lean pork paste, fermented pork roll, hamburger, noodle, self -producing moon cakes, chung cake for Tết holiday, ice cream, sticky rice … To serve customers to eat on the spot.
Not only Vietnamese, but quite a lot of Western tourists are also very “fascinated” for sandwiches, hamburgers, kebab bread … By Nhu Lan, a brand of bread with culinary material of Saigon In the past and today.
• 68 Ham Nghi, Ben Nghe, District 1
• 4:30-23:00

Bánh mì Sáu Minh

If you are craving for a quality bánh mì but cannot eat a giant loaf of bread full topping yourself, the Sau Minh bread is a more perfect choice.

A full loaf of meat bread here has only 40 k that meat & fluffy meat, pate fragrant smell, greasy butter… The overall feels extremely delicious.

Locate at Vo Van Tan – Cach Mang Thang Tam, this shop is in many the local’s hearts due to the raise of Nam Quang theater near there in 80-90 s, when Huynh Hoa haven’t opened yet, Sau Minh is the top.
The most special not every bread can do it, Sau Minh sells 24/24, whenever you crave it, can go there to buy anytime, maybe after the bar crawl and feel hungry at 2 AM, it’s not a bad idea.

Bánh mì Sáu Minh
• 170 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3
• Open 24/24
• 40.000 – 50.000đ

Bánh mì Hoàng Oanh

Pate here greasy and really special. A traditional coal stove keeps warm pate tray and crunchy bread, you only can find the difference of hot pate resonated with the crispy crust of bread when eaten.

Bánh mì Hoang Oanh near Thị Nghè bridge
• 8 Phan Van Han, Ward 19, Binh Thanh, Saigon
• Sell from 14 h to late at night (4 -day leave: 1 st, 8 th, full moon 15 th and 23 lunar calendar monthly)
• Full bread: 25,000 VND – 30,000 VND

Bánh mì Bảy Hổ

Bay Ho bread has been a familiar street food for generations of Saigonese. Since the 1930 s, Mr. And Mrs. Tran Van Hau and his wife have cultivated and contributed to the opening of Huynh Khuong Ninh street bread, and then passed down to their children, the man who sell now named Dũng, the grandchild. Up to now, the bread tall has existed for nearly 90 years.

According to the shop owner, the meat, pork pie, and pate are all processed according to the family’s recipe to have its own flavor. The pate is both steamed and grilled, so it gives a characteristic rich taste that is in harmony with the loaf filling. The ingredients are prepared close to opening time so that the bread is the most delicious and fresh.
Bay Ho bread appeared in series Street Food: Asia produced by Netflix.

• 19 Huynh Khuong Ninh, Da Kao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
• 05: 30–11: 00 and 12: 00–18: 30

Bánh mì Bảy Quang

60 years old bread tall with family recipe, the pate Bay Quang holds the guests by the soft pate taste, the fat enough not too greasy. When biting into a piece, the layer is mixed in hot, crispy crumb and melted at the tip of the tongue to create a great flavor.

Perpendicular to Huỳnh Khương Ninh Street are streets named Phan Liêm and Phan Tôn. Both are sons of Governor Phan Thanh Giản, who initiated the first anti-French uprising in Trà Vinh, Bến Tre, and Sa Đéc in 1868. This area is particularly notable for still retaining beautiful low-rise ancient houses, which is rare in the fast-paced life where everyone aims to optimize every square meter of land.

 Bay Quang bread
• 9 Huynh Khuong Ninh, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Saigon
• Selling from 12:30 pm to about 18 h, 19 h
• Bread: 20,000 VND/drive
• Delivery via shopeefood

Have you ever tried bánh mì before? Maybe you can explore the tour with me and tell in your opinion, which one is the best?

Bánh mì cụ Lý

A banana leaf, full of cut rolls above, added onion basket, salt jar, soy sauce jar, next to the crispy yellow bread basket. Simple “tools” but bread of Mr. Ly has become a brand in Saigon since 1940.

Mr. Tran Huynh Quoc Thien (46 years old) is the third generation of the family of Ly to take over the bread on Hai Ba Trung Street (District 1). Ly bread only sells for about 3 hours, the number of 400-450 bread.

Chả (steamed pork roll) is made by 10 members of his family. According to Mr. Thien, beef rolls are the most difficult type, not to be steamed in the exact time from the new minute not to be fragrant, incense is still fragrant.

“Awesome” – a Belgian tourist exclaimed, when holding Vietnamese bread, the flavor was preserved for 80 years.

• 189 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường 6, Quận 3
• 06:30–09:30 Sunday off

Bánh mì thịt nướng 37 Nguyễn Trãi

In this bread, they stuffed a piece of meat quite big, must be close to the size of a grilled ball in Hanoi bun cha.

Since the website concierge.com of Condé Nast Traveler, an American magazine choose as one of the 12 best street dishes in the world ” from 15 years ago, I feel the flow of people in every afternoon in front of the alley 39 Nguyen Trai has never been short.

• 39 Nguyen Trai, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
• 16:00 to 21:00

Bánh mì Huỳnh Hoa

The “flooded” style is always controversial, but also has to admit that this is one of the hottest brands & has the identification of the top of Saigon.
Priced at VND 68,000, Huynh Hoa is said to be the most expensive banh mi in Saigon. Huynh Hoa’s long-time customers say since the shop first opened, its banh mi has doubled and tripled in price compared to normal banh mi on the market, all fillings are homemade based on their own recipe, with unique flavors that have won over customers for many years. With 13 different components such as pate, salted shredded meat, pork pie, ham, xa xiu (a kind of processed pork with special flavor), sausages, herbs and others.
This bread shop is praised by many foreign bloggers. Many diners assert that Huynh Hoa bread is worth the money: the stuffing is very delicious and a loaf of bread is enough for two people.

• 26 Le Thi Rieng, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
• Sold from 6 am to 22 pm
  
  (Photo: spiderfoodie)