According to the US cable news network, the cool, crunchy and delicious banh mi is sold from food carts on nearly every street corner in Ho Chi Minh City and across Viet Nam and are widely loved well beyond the country’s borders.
CNN said that as “a culinary remnant of French colonialism, the baguette sandwich was reinterpreted to their own taste by the Vietnamese” and has now become “a global sensation”.
“The classic version is pork-based, starring cha lua (Vietnamese-style pork roll), shredded pickled carrots, pickled daikon, cilantro leaves, mayonnaise and other ingredients. You can find variations with tofu and thinly sliced lemongrass chicken, too. The taste is crunchy, fresh, savoury and utterly delicious,” stressed CNN.
Banh mi has been honoured multiple times on the world culinary food map. In 2024, the online food guide Taste Atlas placed banh mi at the top of its list of the 100 best sandwiches.
It also named banh mi among Asia’s top street foods, reflecting the strong appeal of the popular Vietnamese dish.
