Bánh Mì has become a global ambassador of Vietnamese culture and cuisine. Similar to Pho in 2014, Banh Mi secured its place in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary in 2022.

In this blog post, I will take you on a journey to discover the best places to savor Bánh Mì in Vietnam and provide you with an authentic recipe to recreate this iconic sandwich at home.

Close-up photo of a delicious Banh Mi Pate sandwich. The sandwich features a crusty baguette filled with layers of savory pate, fresh vegetables, cilantro, and pickled carrots.

What is Banh Mi?

Bánh Mì literally means bread in Vietnamese, much like Naan in Persian.

Though “Banh Mi Bread” or “Banh Mi Sandwich” may appear repetitive, in Western contexts, they denote the Vietnamese-style baguette filled with various ingredients.

Originating in the late 1800s during French colonial rule in Vietnam, the baguette was introduced by the French and subsequently adapted by the locals, evolving into the beloved Bánh Mì we enjoy today.

Due to French colonization in Indochina, you could also find Cambodian Num Pang and Laotian Khao Jee Pâté, which are close sisters of Bánh Mì.

Related Recipes | Vietnamese dishes with French influence:

A bowl of Pho Bo Sot Vang, Vietnamese beef stew infused with red wine and aromatic spices. — **Phở Bò Sốt Vang** (Vietnamese Red Wine Beef Stew Pho)

Delicious Vietnamese Bánh Pate Sô (pork pate chaud), golden-brown pastries filled with savory pork and encased in flaky puff pastry, ready to be enjoyed as a delightful snack or breakfast treat — **Bánh Pate So** (Vietnamese Meat Pies)

A plate of Com Ga Roti, featuring perfectly cooked chicken thighs glazed in a savory sauce, served with steamed rice. A delicious Vietnamese culinary delight." — **Gà Roti** (Vietnamese Chicken in Coconut Water)

Photo of Coconut Pandan Waffles (Banh Kep La Dua), a delectable pandan waffle recipe, displaying the golden-brown, crispy exterior and the tender, fluffy interior of the waffles, infused with the irresistible aroma and vibrant green color of pandan. — **Pandan Waffles**

How Vietnamese love Bánh Mì

Most Vietnamese are likely to have a favorite Bánh Mì spot conveniently located near their home or workplace.

Today, Bánh Mì and Vietnamese Coffee have captured the cultural imagination in Vietnam, particularly among the youngsters, embodying the fast-paced lifestyle of modern urban life.

YouTube — **A trending song dedicated to Banh Mi.**

Let me introduce some must-try Bánh Mì options for your upcoming trip to Vietnam:

Bánh Mì Thịt Nguội or Bánh Mì Thập Cẩm

Bánh Mì Thịt Nguội is the most popular type of Bánh Mì, typically stuffed with Vietnamese-style cold cuts such as Vietnamese Pork Roll (Chả Lụa), Red Pork Belly (Thịt Đỏ), or Head Cheese (Chả Thủ).

In Vietnam, sometimes we call it Bánh Mì Sài Gòn (Saigon-style Bánh Mì).

Bánh Mì Heo Quay

Bánh Mì Heo Quay is filled with crispy pork belly (thịt heo quay). It’s also my favorite.

banh mi heo quay — Bánh Mì Heo Quay (Banh Mi with Roasted Pork Belly) at my home in Nha Trang

Bánh Mì Xíu Mại

Bánh Mì Xíu Mại is a baguette served with Xíu Mại (Vietnamese meatballs in tomato sauce). It’s a must-try dish when you travel to Đà Lạt city.

Bánh Mì Thịt Nướng or Nem Nướng

This Bánh Mì is filled with pork skewers or Vietnamese sausage skewers.

Bánh Mì Xá Xíu or Bánh Mì Thịt Xíu

The filling for Bánh Mì Xá Xíu is 5-spice pork. This Bánh Mì is popular in central cities of Vietnam like Hoian, Danang, and Hue.

Bánh Mì Chả Cá

Bánh Mì with Chả Cá (fried fish cake), a specialty from Nha Trang (my hometown).

Note: This Chả Cá is distinct from Chả Cá Lã Vọng (turmeric fish with dill) in Hanoi.

Bánh Mì Chảo

Bánh Mì Chảo (or Bò Né): a Vietnamese-styled full breakfast in which banh mi served with a hot skillet of various ingredients such as eggs, sausages, liver pâté and Vietnamese meat balls.

Bánh Mì Chay

In Vietnam, “chay” signifies vegan or vegetarian. Bánh Mì Chay is filled with vegan ingredients like tofu, seitan, or mushrooms.

Other kinds of Bánh Mì

With Sweetened Condensed Milk: The combination of warm, crispy Bánh Mì with sweetened condensed milk might sound weird, but it’s amazing.

With Egg Cream: Enjoy toasted Bánh Mì with a rich egg yolk cream (similar to the one in Vietnamese egg coffee).

With Soup & Stew: Bánh Mì is a fantastic partner for Vietnamese soups and stews such as Bò Kho (Vietnamese Beef Stew), Cà Ri Gà (Chicken Curry), Lagu Gà (Vietnamese Chicken Ragu), and Phá Lấu (Cow Intestine Stew).

Bánh Mì Ốp La: A Bánh Mì with fried eggs and a drizzle of Nước Chấm dipping sauce or Maggi soy sauce. This was my favorite breakfast at my high school canteen.

Bánh Mì Bì: Bánh Mì with Bì (shredded pork and skin). Bì is a component of Cơm Tấm (broken rice).

Bánh Mì Que: Stick Bánh Mì from Hải Phòng province with liver pâté, pork floss, and fermented chili sauce.

Bánh Mì Hấp: Steamed Bánh Mì with stir-fried jicama and ground pork.

Bánh Mì Tôm Chiên: Deep-fried Bánh Mì with shrimps.

Local Bánh Mì Recommendations

Saigon: Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa, Bánh Mì Như Lan, Bánh Mì Bảy Hổ (a 90-year-old Bánh Mì stall featured on Netflix and loved by locals), Bánh Mì Bùi Thị Xuân, Bánh Mì Chim Chạy.

Nha Trang: Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ.

Hoian: Bánh Mì Madam Khánh, Bánh Mì Sum.

Dalat: Bánh Mì Xíu Mại 79.

Hanoi: Bánh Mì 25, Bánh Mì Hội An, Bánh Mì Cô Ba (Saigon-style Banh Mi in Hanoi), Bánh Mì Chảo Cột Điện Quán.

How to prepare Banh Mi at home

Of course, you don’t need to travel to Vietnam to enjoy a Bánh Mì. Even if there are no Bánh Mì stalls nearby, you can make your own at home with just a few of my tips.

BREAD FOR BÁNH MÌ

The Vietnamese-style baguette stands out with its ultra-thin, crispy crust and airy texture , offering more room for the filling.

However, Vietnamese bread might not be the best to enjoy on its own, as it is relatively bland and lacks the deep, rich flavors of artisan or sourdough bread. (Artisan bread in Germany is just so good!)

Avoid any bread with a dense crumb.

It’s best to make your own Bánh Mì baguette or buy one from a Vietnamese bakery. However, a very crusty baguette like a French baguette will also work well.

WHAT IS INSIDE A BÁNH MÌ

Ingredients for Banh Mi Charcuterie Board

Besides the main filling (which often gives the bánh mì its name), you will typically find the following in a bánh mì:

Liver pâté: Traditional Vietnamese liver pâté is made from pork or chicken liver and seasoned with five-spice seasoning.

Mayo: Vietnamese mayo is made from egg yolk and flavored with shallot oil, scallion oil, or garlic oil. It is particularly thick and creamy compared to regular mayonnaise and it doesn’t have vinegar.

Pickled carrots & daikon: Đồ Chua are thinly sliced carrots and daikon radishes pickled in a vinegar, water, and sugar brine. They add a fresh taste and crispy texture to the bánh mì.

Other veggies: Cucumber slices, green onions, cilantro, and chili add freshness to your bánh mì.

Maggi seasoning sauce: A small splash of Maggi soy sauce enhances the flavor of your bánh mì. Or you can use regular soy sauce.

There are many different protein options for your bánh mì, which you can buy from a store or prepare at home.

VIETNAMESE COLD CUTS

Chả Lụa (Vietnamese pork roll)
Chả Quế (Vietnamese cinnamon sausage)
Chả Thủ (Vietnamese headcheese)

MEATS

Gà Nướng: Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Chicken
Thịt Heo Quay: crispy roasted pork belly
Thịt Nướng & Nem Nướng: grilled pork and grilled pork sausage

SUBSTITUTES & FUSIONS

Regular sausages and ham from your local super markets.
Chicken Teriyaki
Gochujang Chicken

ASSEMBLE A BÁNH MÌ

Making Bánh Mì at home may seem complex due to its variety of ingredients. However, with all the necessary items on hand, many of which are store-bought, you can actually prepare it in just 10 minutes.

Heat the baguette bread.
Split the roll down the top middle, but leave the back part uncut.

Spread liver pâté and mayo on both sides of the roll.

Layer in the protein, cucumber strips, pickles, green onion, and finally, cilantro.

Fill the bread with protein, cucumber strips, đồ chua, green onion, and cilantro.

Finish by adding a few slices of chili and a drizzle of Maggi Seasoning (or Soy Sauce).

How to enjoy Banh Mi

Breakfast: Vietnamese people enjoy Bánh Mì throughout the day, but it’s especially popular for a quick breakfast, even though many prefer a slower meal like Bánh Cuốn (steamed rice rolls) or Bún Bò Huế (Hue spicy beef noodle soup).
Picnic ideas: Bánh Mì also makes a great option for picnics or camping trips. You can prepare it at home or bring all the ingredients to assemble at your campsite.
Light meal: For me, I simply love having Bánh Mì with milk tea for a light meal, and my Caramel Milk Tea is always my go-to.
Potluck: Banh Mi Charcuterie Board is a creative idea for your potluck parties or family gatherings.

Some popular Vietnamese street food

Delicious plate of Bột Chiên, crispy fried rice cakes with eggs and scallions, served with a flavorful dipping sauce — **Bột Chiên** (Fried Rice Cakes With Eggs)

"An image of a Vietnamese rice paper pizza on a white plate, photographed from above. The pizza consists of a thin, round rice paper base topped with a layer of beaten egg, chopped scallions, and creamy Laughing Cow cheese. The pizza is cooked with a small amount of butter and topped with sliced sausages and savory pork floss, creating a delicious combination of textures and flavors. The toppings are evenly distributed across the pizza, creating an appetizing display of colors and textures. The pizza is a unique and tasty fusion of Vietnamese and Western flavors." — **Bánh Tráng Nướng** (Vietnamese Pizza)

Close-up photo of a plate of sizzling Bap xao, a popular Vietnamese stir-fried corn dish. The dish features golden kernels of corn sautéed with dried shrimps, scallions and butter — **Bắp Xào** (Vietnamese stir-fried corn with dried shrimps)

Delicious and refreshing Gỏi Cuốn - Vietnamese fresh spring rolls filled with succulent shrimp, tender slices of pork belly, crisp lettuce, rice vermicelli, and fragrant fresh herbs. Wrapped in translucent rice paper, these vibrant rolls are served with a tantalizing dipping sauce. — **Vietnamese Spring Rolls** with Peanut Sauce

Delicious Vietnamese Bo Bia Spring Rolls: Rice paper rolls filled with Chinese sausages, jicama, and carrots - a perfect blend of flavors and textures. — **Bò Bía** (Spring Rolls with Chinese Sausages)

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