If you’re planning on a travel to Vietnam, the one sandwich you will hear about and will not want to miss is the Bánh Mì. This iconic sandwich has been consistently ranked as one of the best sandwiches in the world and admitted into the Oxford English Dictionary, thus become an entry in the canon of existing 600,000 English words. The UK-based dictionary explained that the food was ubiquitous enough in everyday conversation to add to the canon.
What Makes for the Best Bánh Mì Sandwich?
The bánh mì is an airy and crunchy French-style baguette, stuffed with an every varying combination of meats, vegetables, and sauces.
The bánh mì sandwich gets its origin from the French influence on Indochina. The baguette was introduced by the French, but appropriated by the Vietnamese in the 1950s when they started calling it the bánh mì or wheat bread. The sandwich gained popularity around the world after the Vietnam War.
Generally speaking, it is an airy Vietnamese baguette made with a combination of wheat and rice flours with a thin crispy crust.
It is stuffed with pork, pâté, cured ham, a mélange of Vietnamese herbs and vegetables like coriander, cucumber, carrot, slices, radish and more depending on what part of the country you are in. You can read more about the different fillings and recipes that go into the bánh mì sandwich here.
Street cart with typical ingredients for a bánh mì sandwich
Hoi An, Vietnam: The Best Vietnamese Bánh Mì
Hoi An, A UNESCO World Heritage site in central Vietnam, is an atmospheric old town alluring tourists by ancient architectures, gorgeous lanterns in colors at night, tranquil streets and unique buildings. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site.
In addition to being a World Heritage site, it is also known for its local food specialties.
The Old Town of Hoi An. Ancient beauty and charm!
Today, squadrons of cyclo drivers pedal selfie-stick wielding tourists down its enchanting, narrow streets. An array of tailors and dressmakers tout the same holiday makers pot luck replicas of famous fashion labels and strings of colourful bamboo lanterns hang everywhere (also for sale, if you’re interested).
But Hoi An is increasingly drawing visitors for its food. Although a long way from the rich Mekong River food bowl in the south, this relatively sleepy town has developed a reputation for local delicacies, such as translucent “white rose” dumplings, pork cao lau noodles and com ga (chicken rice); decent local and tourist-friendly restaurants and cooking courses abound here, too.
An accompanying surge in food blogging, travel apps and social media now means visitors are eager to ensure they can boast about having tried the “best” place for this dish or other. Consequently, trails to certain street food vendors increase, driving more tourist traffic, leading to more Instagram posts and so it goes.
The entrance to The Bánh Mì Queen, Hoi An
If you ask a taxi driver where the best banh mi in Hoi An is they will mention this spot at 2B Phan Chu Trinh Street and one other: Madam Khanh “The Banh My Queen”, an octogenarian who owns a popular stall at 115 Tran Cao Van Street. Banh mi eaters are divided as to which is better, although on the internet, Madam Phuong generally wins out, thanks to a mention on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations television series (he described her banh mi with the lot as a “symphony in a sandwich”). You could tell that she had been trained to make sure only the best and most flattering pictures of the sandwich are taken.
Gorgeous and delicious bánh mì sandwiches
Topped with an egg and the bread slightly toasted, this sandwich is divine. In each bite, there is a wealth of textures and flavors. The spicy, salty, savory, sweet, and aromatic flavors are so delicious and they keep you savoring for more. Definitively, our preferred bánh mì sandwich in Vietnam.
Where
Madame Khanh | Bánh Mì Queen
Address: 115 Trần Cao Vân, Sơn Phong, Tp. Hội An
Hours: Everyday from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm
Prices: About 20,000 VND per person, with everything, (approximately $0.87 USD)
Must Try Bánh Mì Sandwich: Bánh Mì Phượng, Hoi An
The other popular place for bánh mì that cannot be missed is Bánh Mì Phượng. This is the place that TV host and personality, Anthony Bourdain visited when he described the bánh mì “as a symphony in a sandwich.”
We are always cautious about the quality of food at local places that receive celebrity endorsement. Our biggest concern is whether the place will maintain its authenticity.
We made our way over to Bánh Mì Phượng without any expectations. Not surprisingly, we were met by a long line of tourists waiting in place, while others snapping photos in front of the endorsement by Anthony Bourdain.
People eagerly waiting in line for their sandwiches
After waiting patiently in line, we made it up to the busy counter where several ladies were working frantically, preparing sandwiches for “to-go” orders and for the restaurant as well.
To have an equal comparison to the Queen of bánh mì, we ordered two kinds. One bánh mì with everything, including a fried egg which is the bánh mì thịt bò với trứng or #12 and #9 with ham and pate, plus the addition of an egg.
The pace was rushed and the ambiance harried. After waiting patiently for our order, we sat at a corner table to savor this delicious Vietnamese sandwich.
All the goodness in #9: pork, pate, ham, egg and more (bánh thịt heo với ham và paté với trứng)
Plump, stuffed and overflowing with goodness is how the sandwiches arrived. We bit into them with eager anticipation. The first thing we noticed right away was the delicious bread. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The sandwich was very fresh and filled with unique flavors and delicious herbs. The only minus or negative was the fatty pork. While tasty, we also found one of the sauces used to be on the sweeter side.
All things considered, this Vietnamese sandwich is an experience to be had in Hoi An. The best part is the bread which is baked fresh daily at the bakery next to the restaurant.
Where
Bánh Mì Phượng, Hanoi
Address: 2B Phan Châu Trinh, Minh An, Tp. Hội An
Hours: Everyday from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Prices: About 20,000 VND – 25,000 VND per person, (approximately $0.87 USD – $1.10 USD)
Ho Chi Minh City: Best Vietnamese Bánh Mì
After seriously falling in love with bánh mì sandwiches in Hoi An, we were eager to discover the sandwiches in the south. Just as we had noticed the taste of the famous beef noodle soup, pho in Vietnam evolve, we were curious to taste the differences in the bánh mì sandwiches.
A change of scenery in Saigon (HCMC)Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa: Traditional Vietnamese Bánh Mì
With a reputation of making the best bánh mì in Ho Chi Minh City, Huynh Hoa restaurant has quite a following. We got to the restaurant right before it opened at 2:30 pm and no sooner had the doors opened, a crowd suddenly appeared.
Crowded and everyone waiting for their bánh mì sandwiches
Run like a well-oiled machine, everything and everyone had their place. On one side of the room was a cart filled with the different types of ingredients, meats and pate. Next to that cart was a smaller cart, with ingredients managed by a gruff old man in a military fashion. He spoke just enough English to tell me very sternly “stand here and wait.” Across the room were baguettes toasting to crispy perfection.
The bánh mì sandwich operation at Huynh Hoa
The restaurant does not have any seating area, so after waiting in line, we went outside to look for some shelter from the rain, and devour the best bánh mì sandwiches in Ho Chi Minh City.
The sandwich was heavy in weight and filled with several layers of meat. One of the reasons it is so popular is because it is filled with 8 or 9 different types of meats.
Layered in with the meat were a few slices of cucumber, peppers, onion, cilantro and a few shreds of carrots. The sandwich also had home made mayonnaise and topped with chili sauce.
Filling bánh mì with slices of cucumber, peppers, onion and cilantro
While we found the sandwich very fresh, we found it way too heavy on the meat. More like a meat sandwich and missing the balance of the fresh veggies and herbs that accompanied the bánh mì sandwiches we enjoyed in Hoi An.
Be that as it may, for visitors to Ho Chi Minh City, indulging in what is considered by many as the best bánh mì or Vietnamese sandwich, is an experience not to be missed.
Where
Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa
Address: 26 Le Thi Rieng, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
Hours: Everyday from 2:30 pm to 11:00 pm
Prices: About 33,000 VND per sandwich (approximately $1.44 USD)
Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa: Solid Vietnamese Sandwich Option
Cambodia was our next stop after Ho Chi Minh City. To get to Phnom Penh, the capital, we chose to take the 6-hour direct bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
But before leaving, we had to get our last taste of bánh mì. Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa, was not far from where we were staying and we got there before noon to pick up sandwiches to go.
The restaurant is a typical shophouse with a with a walk-up counter on the exterior where you can choose from several types of bánh mì sandwiches. The place was already busy with motorcycles constantly stopping by to place orders.
Hong Hoa, well known for its delicious Vietnamese sandwiches
We ordered the classic Vietnamese sandwich with pork (Bánh Mì Thịt) and one with an additional egg added. These were our favorite bánh mì sandwiches in Ho Chi Minh City. The balance between the meat and fresh vegetables and herbs was closer to what we enjoyed in the north. The bread was incredibly fresh and tasty. Furthermore, the sandwich held up surprisingly well in the to-go packaging and was not “mushy” when we ate it about 2 hours later. This is definitively a place not to miss in Saigon for the best bánh mì.
Fresh omelette in the bánh mì sandwich!Where
Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa
Address: 62 Nguyen Van Trang, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
Hours: Everyday from 8:00 am – 4:00pm (hours vary)
Prices: About 12,000 VND to 18,000 VND per sandwich (approximately $0.50 to $0.80 USD)
More Places To Savor Bánh Mì Sandwiches in Saigon
With so much delicious food to eat and so little time, we did not have the chance to personally eat at all the bánh mì addresses that were shared with us.
If you are in Saigon and on the hunt for the best bánh mì, here are some additional places to explore in Saigon.
Bánh My 37
Address: 37 Nguyễn Trãi, Bến Thành, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
Hours: Everyday from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Bánh Mì Nhu Lan
Address: 66 Hàm Nghi, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
Hours: Everyday from 6:00 am to 10:30 pm
In Summary
The bánh mì sandwich is beloved in Vietnam. It is a quintessential French inspired Vietnamese street food that is delicious, filling and cheap.
In every part of Vietnam, you will find vendors and local restaurants selling their own unique interpretation of the sandwich. One trendy version in the north, is the kebab bánh mì sandwich.
In whichever city you may be visiting in Vietnam, walk around and explore the local area. through the food. And when you see a bánh mì shop or vendor, stop and order their own unique specialty.
Within no time, you will discover for yourself why the Vietnamese sandwich is the best bánh mì to fall in love with.
Source: authenticfoodquest.com
