British tourist spends three months in search of the best banh mi in Vietnam
British tourist Rose can’t remember exactly how many loaves of bread she consumed during her three-month journey from the north to the south of Vietnam.6
But she does know that she loved the banh mi version in the ancient town of Hoi An in central Vietnam.
“After three months in Vietnam, I ate a lot of banh mi,” Rose said. “Even if you just have two weeks in Vietnam, I advise you to eat them daily.”
Banh mi is Vietnam’s version of a sandwich, a fusion of cold cuts and vegetables, such as coriander, cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon, combined with condiments from French cuisine such as pate and mayonnaise.
However, a wide variety of other popular fillings are used, including cha lua (Vietnamese pork bologna), fried eggs, grilled pork, and meat balls.
A loaf of banh mi with full toppings mi costs from VND15,000 to VND50,000 (US$0.65-2.10).
“You’ll find banh mi served from carts on corners, in traditional stores and even banh mi chains which pretty much resemble Subway outlets. Whatever your preference, you’re likely to find a banh mi you love,” Rose added.