CNN’s ’50 of the Best Street Foods in Asia’ was just released and not surprisingly the Vietnamese ‘Banh Mi’ was on the list. It’s an everyday food staple in Vietnam and has become a favorite and must-try street food for visitors. The cold cut sandwich is a fusion of French and Vietnamese ingredients which makes it quite unique. These days there are many variations of the banh mi based on the bread, types of meats, sauces, and regional recipes.
Traditional Banh Mi – Bánh Mì Thịt
The traditional banh mi, a cold-cut sandwich, is what most are familiar with and it can be easily found everywhere around town. There is literally a banh mi stall on every block! The usual ingredients are pate, mayo, pork bologna, roasted pork, and veggies like cucumber, cilantro, green onions, pickled carrots and daikon. Prices range from 20,000-50,000k depending on the amount of meats.
Roasted Pork Belly – Bánh Mì Thịt Heo Quay
When you see a cart with a large piece of roasted pork on display – this is where you’ll find your roasted pork belly sandwich. There’s only one type of meat for this sandwich but there are different parts – like the meat itself, the fat, and the crunchy skin that add texture and flavor. White onions, green onions, and pickled carrots are the common toppings for this banh mi. Every stall has their signature homemade brown sauce which not only enhances the flavor but adds moistness to the sandwich. The roasted pork belly banh mi is not as common in tourist areas so you’re going to have to make more effort in finding this banh mi. These stalls are normally near markets, in local neighborhoods, or in areas where there are a large Chinese community.
Meatball – Bánh Mì Xíu Mại
The Bánh Mì Xíu Mại looks similar to the ‘meatball sub’. Normally this sandwich has only the pork meatballs with their own sauce, green onions, and of course the usual veggies.
Bologna – Bánh Mì Chả Lụa
A typical northern style banh mi is simple with less variety of meats and toppings than the southern style. This type of banh mi is only pork bologna which there are a variety. Some places just add salt and pepper for seasoning and that’s it. While others will add some pate, slices of cucumber and pickled carrots and daikon.
Safety Advice
Due to the heat in the country, the pate and mayonnaise are at higher risk of bacteria which can lead to food poisoning. If you’re concerned about tummy problems, having a banh mi in the morning when the foods are fresh is the best time or purchasing from a deli where foods are refrigerated is another option.
Tips for Ordering
Each banh mi place has their standard base price which many stalls do not have a menu so you’ll have to ask. If you aren’t able to communicate with the seller, just point to the ingredients you want or don’t want. Fresh chilies are automatically added to the sandwich so if you can’t take spice – make sure you let them know in advance! Or to remember to remove it before you take a bite because it can ruin your banh mi experience!