Bánh Mì: History, Ingredients, and Variations

Fact: “Bánh mì” entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2011.

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Bánh Mì: Basic Information

Pronunciation

ˈbɑːn miː/, /ˈbæn miː/,
or /bahn mee/

Alternative Name(s)

Dish Type

Sandwiches

Course

Main Course

Mealtime

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bánh Mì: Origin and Region

Origin

Vietnam

Continent’s Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

Southern Vietnam

Associated Region

Unspecified

Popular Bánh Mì Variations

Bánh Mì Thịt

Bánh Mì Thịt Quay

Bánh Mì Thịt Nguội

Bánh Mì Nem Nướng

Bánh Mì Ốp La

Bánh Mì Trứng

Bánh Mì Xíu

Bánh Mì Xíu Mại

Bánh Mì Bì

Bánh Mì Bò Kho

Bánh Mì Bột Lọc

Bánh Mì Cá Mòi

Bánh Mì Cá Ngừ

Bánh Mì Chả Cá

Bánh Mì Chảo

Bánh Mì Cóc

Bánh Mì Đậu Hũ

Bánh Mì Hến

Bánh Mì Kẹp Kem

Bánh Mì Khô Bò

Bánh Mì Phá Lấu

Bánh Mì Cay

Bánh Mì Than

Bánh Mì Tóp Mỡ

Bánh Mì Yêu Nước

Bánh Mì Nướng Muối Ớt

Bánh Mì Pâté

Bánh Mì Xá Xíu

Bánh Mì Chả Lụa

Bánh Mì Gà

Bánh Mì: Ingredients and Preparation

Main Ingredients

Vietnamese-style baguettes and various ingredients for the filling

Main Cooking Method

Assembling

Preparation Process

Splitting a baguette lengthwise and filling it with various ingredients

Bánh Mì: A Deep Dive

Cultural Significance

A symbol of Vietnamese street food and culinary fusion

Taste

Savory

Texture

Crispy-outside, soft-inside baguettes with various textures from other ingredients

Aroma

Rich

Color

Golden baguettes with various colors from other ingredients

Serving Style

Wrapped in paper, cut into portions or served whole, and eaten with hands

Serving Temperature

Warm or at room temperature

Accompaniment

Beverages like coffee, tea, and soft drinks

Occasions

On any occasions

Seasons

Year-round

Special Diets

Non diet-specific

Calories

618 calories, according to data of Nutritionix for one serving of bánh mì with pork-based products and vegetables.

Popularity

Worldwide, especially in Vietnam and the US

Popular Similar Dishes

Khao Jee Pâté
Num Pang
Submarine Sandwich
Po’ Boy
Prawn Roll
Milanesa Sandwich

Popular Dining Area

Street vendors, fast food chains, bakeries, and restaurants

Bánh mì, or banh mi, is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich consisting of a Vietnamese-style baguette and various ingredients.

Locals prepare it by splitting a baguette along its length and stuffing it with meat products (usually pork-based) or other fillings, herbs, and condiments.

Bánh mì means literally “bread” in Vietnamese. To distinguish between filled and unfilled baguettes, Vietnamese people usually refer to the filled variant by its main ingredients, such as bánh mì thịt nguội (“bread with cold cuts”).

Unfilled bánh mì is called bánh mì không (“plain bread”).

In an international context, the Vietnamese-style sandwich can be called bánh mì Việt Nam (“Vietnam-style bread”) or bánh mì Sài Gòn (“Saigon-style bread”).

Bánh mì is an immensely popular and convenient main dish and street food in Vietnam, where locals enjoy it for all meals of the day. Many people consider it one of the country’s national dishes.

This Vietnamese-style sandwich is also internationally famous, with many major countries having bánh mì shops or stalls. In 2023, bánh mì was ranked as one of the world’s 24 best sandwiches by CNN.

I will provide you with useful information about bánh mì, including its history, main ingredients, and variations.

I will also delve into the advantages and disadvantages of consuming bánh mì and recommend popular places to try it. Lastly, I will address commonly asked questions about this dish and suggest similar dishes.

Key Points

Bánh mì is a globally famous Vietnamese baguette-based sandwich.
Modern bánh mì was invented in the 1950s and introduced to the global audience after 1975.
A local type of baguette is used in bánh mì and contributes greatly to its flavor profile.
Popular filling ingredients for bánh mì are pork-based cold cuts, pâté, pickles, coriander, mayonnaise, and chili sauce.
There are many popular types of bánh mì with various fillings throughout Vietnam.
Bánh mì is an excellent main dish and street food for all meals.
Bánh mì can be easily found both in and outside Vietnam.

Bánh Mì Images

What Is the History of Bánh Mì?

Bánh mì is the result of the multi-decade fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisines. The ancestor of bánh mì is the baguette, a type of long, thin French bread introduced to Vietnam in the mid-19th century when the Southeast Asian country became a French colonial subject.

Over time, the Vietnamese-style baguette underwent many changes that made it different from the original version. In 1958, a bakery in Southern Vietnam sold baguettes stuffed with cold cuts and pâté, creating modern bánh mì. Many other places followed suit and added even more ingredients to the filling.

After the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Vietnamese refugees brought bánh mì to many countries around the world, especially the US. Thanks to its convenience and excellent taste, bánh mì has become more and more popular in many major countries.

The interactions between bánh mì and global cuisine have resulted in many creative fusion dishes. But Vietnamese people always use the core ingredients of bánh mì when preparing this sandwich.

What Is Bánh Mì Made of?

The most essential part of bánh mì is the baguette, while other ingredients are changeable and can be altered to suit personal taste. Below is the breakdown of the 4 most common types of ingredients in bánh mì.

Ingredients	Characteristics
Vietnamese-style baguettes	Smaller than French baguettes About 8 – 11.8 inches (20 – 30 centimeters) in length and 2 – 3 inches (5 – 7.5 centimeters) in width Have a light, pillowy crumb and a crispy thin crust Can be made from or mixed with rice flour
Fillings	Meat products: cold cuts (such as roast pork belly, chả lụa – boiled pork sausage, Chinese sausage, ham, etc.), cooked pork knuckles, pork floss, char siu (Cantonese-style BBQ pork), grilled chicken, sardines, fried eggs, etc. Others: butter, cheese, chopped scallions sautéed in oil, fried tofu (for vegan bánh mì), etc. Pork is the most popular type of meat for bánh mì fillings
Vegetables	Sliced or julienne-cut cucumbers, coriander, pickled vegetables (usually carrots and daikon), scallions, sliced chili peppers, etc.
Condiments	Common choices: pâté, mayonnaise (the creamy yellow stuff in bánh mì), chili sauce, soy sauce, salt and pepper mix, etc. Signature sauces: depending on specific bánh mì vendors

Since bánh mì is very flexible in terms of ingredients, it comes in many variations throughout Vietnam.