Banh Mi, the iconic Vietnamese sandwich, is one of the most celebrated culinary creations to come from Vietnam. A fusion of French and Vietnamese culinary traditions, it has grown into a worldwide favorite. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the birthplace of the Bánh mì and is home to some of the best variations of this delicious bread. Together with Saigon Local Tour explore what makes Vietnamese Banh Mi so special, and recommend best Banh Mi you must try when visiting Ho Chi Minh City.
What Makes Vietnamese Banh Mi Special?
At the heart of Vietnamese cuisine, Banh Mi stands out as one of the most iconic street foods. It is the perfect fusion of French colonial influence and Vietnamese culinary traditions. The foundation of a good Vietnamese baguette (Banh Mi) lies in the crusty, light, and airy bread, which is baked to perfection with a balance of crunch and softness. However, what truly makes Banh Mi special is the combination of savory fillings, ranging from grilled meats, paté, vegetables, and herbs, all complemented with a variety of sauces.
What makes Banh Mi even more special is its versatility. It's a sandwich that caters to all kinds of tastes. You can enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and you’ll find variations of fillings and toppings from the classic versions with grilled pork to more experimental options with organ meats or vegetarian choices.
Top 5+ Must-Try Banh Mi in Ho Chi Minh City
Banh Mi Huynh Hoa - The Iconic Traditional Vietnamese Bread
Address: No.26 - 30 - 32, Le Thi Rieng Street, District 1,
Opening hour: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Banh Mi Huynh Hoa brand, commonly known as Huynh Hoa, was established in 1989 and has been around for more than 30 years by Mrs. Huynh and Mrs. Hoa. Banh Mi Huynh Hoa's success and growth to this day is undoubtedly attributed to the quality of its bánh mì. The shop offers a variety of fillings such as ham, Vietnamese pork sausage (chả lụa), smoked ham, pork, and shredded pork. To enhance the flavor, it is commonly served with vegetables or fresh cucumber and green onions. This ensures that customers can experience both the crispness and the softness of the bread. Before adding the fillings, the staff places the bánh mì into the oven to achieve the perfect warmth and crispiness.
The pâté is one of the signature fillings that gives Vietnamese bánh mì its distinct flavor. When you visit Banh Mi Huynh Hoa, you will enjoy a layer of pâté that is always silky smooth. Each sandwich contains up to 13 different toppings, layered beautifully, making it visually appealing and delicious just by looking at it. The toppings are expertly prepared by Huynh Hoa, creating a unique and delightful flavor that never feels overwhelming.
Banh Mi Saigon Hoa Ma - Sizzling pan Vietnamese Banh Mi
Address: No. 53, Cao Thang Street, District 3
Opening hour: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Banh Mi Hoa Ma - Sizzling Pan Bread has been serving delicious food since 1958, founded by Mrs. Hai Hoa. Initially, it was just a small street-side stall, but with its unique and flavorful dishes, it gradually attracted a large number of customers. After more than 60 years, despite many ups and downs, the shop has maintained its "legendary" status in the hearts of Saigon locals. The menu is simple, offering just two types of Banh Mi. One is the Sizzling Pan Banh Mi, where the ingredients are served in a small, sizzling pan. If you don’t have much time, you can also opt for a take-away Banh Mi.
What makes this place famous is its mixed skillet bánh mì. Each serving is packed with a variety of ingredients, including a sunny-side-up egg, ham, Vietnamese pork roll, Vietnamese sausage, hotdog, and salted pork belly... Everything is fried crispy and golden, with excellent taste. What customers remember most about Banh Mi Hoa Ma is its unique flavor. The bread is crispy, the pâté is rich and creamy, the egg is smooth, and it blends perfectly with the savory taste of the meats and sausages. Adding a bit of refreshing cucumber, tomato, and dipping it in spicy chili sauce, all of these create an unforgettable flavor experience.
Banh Mi Bay Ho - The Pocky-Friendly Banh Mi
Address: No. 19, Huynh Khuong Ninh Street, District 1
Opening hour: 5:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Banh Mi Bay Ho is a familiar street food enjoyed by many generations of Saigon locals. The 80-year-old bánh mì stall on Huynh Khuong Ninh Street in District 1 attracts customers every day with its delicious homemade pâté. Originally, the stall only sold in the afternoon, but in recent years, it has expanded to the morning to meet customer demand.
According to the owner, the meats, sausages, and pâté are all homemade using a traditional family recipe. The boiled pork is not only flavorful and well-seasoned on the inside but also has an appealing golden color on the outside. Other ingredients, such as Vietnamese pork sausage (chả lụa), pâté, butter, pickled carrots and daikon, and meatballs (xíu mại), all bring their own unique flavors, allowing customers to experience the difference. The pâté is both steamed and roasted, giving it a rich, distinctive taste that perfectly complements the filling inside the sandwich. The ingredients are prepared just before opening to ensure that the bánh mì is served hot and fresh to customers.
Banh Mi Saigon Nguyen Trai - Grilled Pork Vietnamese Banh Mi
Address: No. 38, Nguyen Trai Street, District 1
Opening hour: From 5:00 PM
More simple compared to others, Banh Mi Nguyen Trai offers only grilled meat baguettes without a wide variety of ingredients. The grilled meatballs are made from finely minced pork, seasoned, and marinated in a special sauce unique to the owner’s recipe. The fresh meatballs are rolled into balls, grilled until cooked through, and served hot in a baguette. They’re drenched in a rich, flavorful sauce, resulting in a delicious, piping-hot Banh Mi. Each baguette contains about 4–5 meatballs, pickled vegetables, and a drizzle of a thick, savory-sweet brown sauce along with chili fish sauce, which enhances the taste of the meat, making it even more enticing and aromatic. The grilled meat is praised for its great taste and richness, and the shop has maintained its "quality" over the years.
Banh mi Nhu Lan
Address: 500 Ham Nghi, District 1
Opening hour: 5:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Banh Mi Nhu Lan stands as a culinary landmark in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, offering a unique and authentic Vietnamese dining experience. One of the defining features of Bánh mì Nhu Lan is its extensive variety of fillings and toppings. From the traditional grilled pork and pâté to more creative options like crispy chicken, beef, or even vegetarian choices, there’s a flavor to suit every palate. The ingredients are always fresh, and each bánh mì is carefully assembled to ensure the perfect balance of textures and flavors—crispy baguette, savory meats, crunchy vegetables, and fragrant herbs. For those visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Banh Mi Nhu Lan is more than just a place to eat; it’s a destination where food lovers can savor the rich flavors of Vietnamese street food in a comfortable, vibrant setting.
Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh
Address: 141 Tran Dinh Xu, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
When it comes to Banh Mi, people often think of sausages, Chinese sausage, pâté, or eggs. However, Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh takes a different approach, offering cold cuts in a distinctly French style. Nguyen Sinh restaurant began serving bánh mì with cold cuts in 1942 in Hanoi, catering primarily to the middle class and French employees. Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh in Saigon opened in 1982.
For many years, it has been known as an "upscale" Banh Mi, with a unique service style. Instead of the usual fillings like pâté, smoked meat, or sausages, the restaurant serves a plate of seven different types of cold cuts: pâté foie gras, sausages, Vietnamese head cheese, deboned pig trotters, smoked meat, accompanied by pickled vegetables such as radishes, cucumbers, and carrots, and imported butter. Banh Mi is usually served separately, and customers can tear off pieces of bread to enjoy with whichever meats they choose.
The cold cuts at Nguyen Sinh were made following a family recipe passed down by the original owner. One of the standout dishes is the foie gras pâté, which has a unique flavor that is unmatched anywhere else. Thanks to the chef's special technique in preparation and seasoning, the pâté is not only delicious and full of flavor but also has an irresistibly fragrant aroma.
Vegetarian and Vegan Banh Mi in Ho Chi Minh City
O Plant-Based
Address: 296 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
O Plant-Based offers a variety of vegan breads. With a factory that meets international standards and certifications such as ISO, HACCP, SGS, FDA, and more, along with a dedicated and experienced team, O Plant-Based has created hundreds of diverse and delicious cakes made from carefully selected plant-based ingredients. The bread crust comes in options like whole wheat, gac fruit, and fresh bread. The filling uses plant-based meat, made entirely from fruits and vegetables, yet similar with the texture of regular meat. The filling also includes organic mushrooms and is topped with vegetable sauce or Thai peanut sauce with mild spices. The shop owner shares that the breads are free from additives like preservatives, artificial crisping agents, leavening agents, refined sugar, and palm oil.
Banh Mi Xanh
Address: 38 Le Thi Rieng, District 1
15B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 1
2B Tran Hung Dao, District 1
66 Pham Ngoc Thach, District 3
132 Truong Sa, Binh Thanh District
Opening hours: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Banh Mi Xanh is a pioneering brand in creating delicious and diverse vegetarian Banh Mi. Not only does it offer high-quality products, but it also promotes a green and sustainable lifestyle. Bánh Mì Xanh has proven that vegetarian food can be exciting and flavorful. With a menu that includes a variety of Banh Mi including mixed vegetarian baguettes, vegetarian sliced sausage baguettes, tofu baguettes, and sugar butter baguettes made with peanut butter. The fillings include fried tofu with spicy sauce, mushrooms, vegetables, and vegetarian sausage. You can enjoy the traditional tastes of this iconic dish in a vegetarian version that is both nutritious and fresh.
Banh Mi Chay Me Nam
Address: 283/52, Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Ward 12, District 10
Opening hours: 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM
The fillings in the Banh Mi here include basic options like shredded pork skin, vegetarian sausage, pickled vegetables, and vegetarian pâté. The unique flavor of the shop comes from the vegetarian braised ribs made from barley, which mimic the taste of braised pork ribs. The sauce is made from nuts such as walnuts and soybeans, offering a rich, aromatic flavor, along with a spicy kick from plant-based ingredients. Customers who wish to adjust the ingredients can inform the shop owner.
