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Bánh mì | Traditional Sandwich type From Vietnam, Southeast Asia | TasteAtlas
Bánh mì | Traditional Sandwich type From Vietnam, Southeast Asia | TasteAtlas
Bánh mì | Traditional Sandwich type From Vietnam, Southeast Asia | TasteAtlas
Bánh mì | Traditional Sandwich type From Vietnam, Southeast Asia | TasteAtlas
Bánh mì | Traditional Sandwich type From Vietnam, Southeast Asia | TasteAtlas
Bánh mì | Traditional Sandwich type From Vietnam, Southeast Asia | TasteAtlas

Bánh mì

(Banh mi)

Bánh mì (pronounced 'bun mee') is a popular Vietnamese variety of sandwiches that share the same core ingredient - a baguette. The baguette was brought over to Vietnam during the colonial period, and nowadays it is one of the few happy legacies from the time.


The crusty bread, condiments, and meats are all a legacy of French and Chinese colonialism, while cilantro, chili, and pickles reflect the Vietnamese taste for fresh vegetables and bright flavors. In the beginning, most banh mi sandwiches consisted of bread, meat, and seasonings, with no added vegetables.


Today, the possibilities are virtually limitless - the sandwiches are stuffed with cold cuts, French butter, fresh mayonnaise, liver pâté, cucumbers, cilantro, pickles, oyster sauce, garlic...and the list goes on. The bread should be light, with a delicate crust and a tender, chewy, and soft interior with a slightly sweet flavor.  Read more

The meat on the inside can be chicken, pork, beef, seafood, cold cuts, or pâtés, sausages, and terrines, but it is extremely important not to overstuff the sandwich. Most of the fillings and condiments are things that foreigners are unfamiliar with, and that just may be the secret to its popularity.


With their cult-like following and savory Vietnamese fillings, these sandwiches have crossed the borders of their native country long ago, and banh mi shops are still popping up all over the world.