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| This is a classic Italian panino, or called also "tramezzino" with salami, boiled carrots, mortadella slices, tomato and artichokes in oil, salad. It's a must eat in Italy! |
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Vietnamese sandwich: A world-renowned street food with special flavor
Vietnamese sandwich, or “Banh mi”, is a dear name that has been deeply imprinted in the minds of many Vietnamese people. It has become the pride of the nation and a quintessential representative of Vietnamese cuisine. Going through many ups and downs in history, the Vietnamese sandwich has now crossed the national border and left its mark in the world’s culinary scene.
“Banh mi” is a Vietnamese sandwich that you must try if you are planning for Vietnam travel and tourism. This iconic sandwich has consistently been ranked as one of the best sandwiches in the world. Besides its delicious flavors, let’s find out why this sandwich is so well-liked around the globe.
1. What to know about Vietnamese sandwich?
Origin
In the early 19th century, the French brought baguettes to Gia Dinh (Saigon) to satisfy their culinary demands. In order to bake hot delicious bread to serve the needs of the upper class, they built the first brick-and-mortar bakeries in Vietnam.
This French-origin specialty quickly gained its popularity in Vietnam. That was also when Saigon’s people modified the baguette into a typical Vietnamese type of bread which has a length of only about 30-40 centimeters. Vietnamese baguette is more hollow, the inside is soft while the outside is crispy. This is also the feature that creates the unique identity of Vietnamese bread compared to its Western counterpart. Vietnamese bread has a rustic appearance and unforgettable flavor.
Then, by the hands of talented Vietnamese bakers, Vietnamese bread, which bears the spirit of Vietnamese people, was created. Initially, there were only a few small but very famous bakeries, such as Hoa Ma bread shop, that sold Vietnamese baguette. Then, the bread was gradually modified until it has the current size and length. Experiencing many ups and downs in history, today’s bread, or Vietnamese sandwich as it is usually called, has become a special Vietnamese food.
Fillings
The main ingredients for making Vietnamese sandwich are sausages, meatballs, roasted pork, liver pate, stewed minced meat, etc. There are also eggs, fish, shredded chicken, ham, or butter, etc. A delicious sandwich consists of not only meat, but also thinly sliced cucumbers, pickles, coriander, onions, scallions, fragrant basil, etc., and especially an indispensable sauce to bring up the famous delicious taste. The sauce is a mixture of soy sauce, salt, pepper, fish sauce, soup powder, mayonnaise, and even chili sauce. Traveling around the three regions of Vietnam, you will see that the Vietnamese sandwich in each region has its own unique flavor, but they are all delicious and well-loved by many people.
For a long time, Banh Mi has become a favourite food of Vietnamese people.
2. How much is a loaf of bread in Vietnam?
Which meal do Vietnamese people have Banh Mi for?
Banh Mi is considered a popular fast food and is usually eaten for breakfast or any other meal of the day. Thanks to its reasonable price and widespread popularity, Vietnamese sandwich has become a favorite dish of many people.
The average price of a loaf of Banh Mi
Usually, a Vietnamese sandwich is sold for 15,000-35,000 VND (around 1.2$), which is considered the most common price. For famous and long-standing bakeries, the price can be up to 50,000-70,000 VND (around 2.4$) thanks to their delicious tastes, special sauces, and quality ingredients. These shops may use high-quality ingredients such as foie gras pate, sausages, boneless pork rolls, smoked meat, etc.
This Vietnamese sandwich, with 6 layers of fillings, is sold for 58,000 VND (around 2.3$)
3. The 5 most popular Vietnamese sandwich types
Depending on the fillings, Vietnamese sandwiches may have different names. Below are the 5 most popular types of Vietnamese sandwich.
3.1. Omelet bread
Omelet sandwich is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich variation, with eggs as the main ingredient. The eggs can replace meat as fillings or they can be used alongside meat such as pork sausages or slices of roasted pork belly. The eggs can be scrambled or made into an omelet, served with pickles, soy sauce, chili sauce, etc. Due to its simple preparation, this variation can be found at almost every food vendor.
Omelet bread is a simple yet very appetizing dish.
3.2. Chicken bread
Chicken bread is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich made with grilled chicken slices as the main ingredient. A loaf of chicken bread is typically smeared with liver pate and mayonnaise. Then it is stuffed with shredded grilled chicken and topped with pickled daikon and carrots, sliced chili peppers, coriander, slices of cucumber, and a little soy sauce. You can add a finishing touch with a dash of freshly ground black pepper, if preferred.
This type of Vietnamese sandwich is popular throughout Vietnam.
3.3. Grilled pork bread
This popular Vietnamese sandwich is widely available in most Vietnamese restaurants and sandwich vendors. Choices of meat can be pork belly, pork shoulder, pork chops, or pork butt. Preparation of the meat can be steaming, pan-frying, or grilling, which is the most popular. In addition to the grilled meat, cucumber, tomato, pickles, and a rich sauce help bring a unique flavor for this variation of bread that is both delicious and nutritious.
Grilled pork sandwich is frequently purchased from street food vendors.
3.4. Juicy crushed pork meatball bread
This is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich made of ground pork meatballs as the main ingredient. The meatballs are typically made from a combination of ground pork, corn starch, fish sauce, garlic, black pepper, scallion, and jicama. Juicy crushed pork meatball bread is typically topped with coriander, pickled daikon, carrots, and chili peppers, if desired.
This variation of Vietnamese sandwich pleases both the taste buds and the eyes.
3.5. Shredded pork rind bread
This flavorful and aromatic dish is made of thinly sliced pork rinds and marinated pork, tossed with roasted rice powder and fried garlic. This Vietnamese sandwich often has many other delectable fillings such as egg meatloaf, grilled lemongrass pork chops, and egg rolls. To make it an even more awesome combination, vendors also add scallion oil, fresh herbs, cucumber, tomato, carrot, pickled radish, and fish sauce.
Pork rinds add a very unique flavor to the Vietnamese sandwich.
4. Where to buy Vietnamese sandwich on your trip?
Every region of Vietnam has its own special variation of the sandwich sold at street vendors and eateries, from Da Nang, Nha Trang, to Phu Quoc, etc. You can also find many well-known long-standing banh mi brands in Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City.
Hanoi
The traditional Hanoi bread only consists of a little butter, liver pate, potentially shrimp, ham, char siu, a few slices of pork, and thinly sliced spring rolls. Accompanying vegetables are usually only coriander and cucumber, while the sauce used will be the traditional ground chili sauce that is often used with pho (a kind of Vietnamese noodles).
Some famous places selling bread in Hanoi include Banh mi Pho Co, Banh mi Ba Dan, or Banh mi Nguyen Sinh.
Banh mi Pho Co – an irresistible delicious bread shop in Hanoi.
