Banh mi - from street corner to culinary icon

In 2011, the word "banh mi" was officially included in the Oxford dictionary as a testament to the strong influence of this dish.

Journey from the corner

Bread originated in ancient times and became a popular dish in Western industrial societies, especially in France. From the second half of the 19th century, bread was introduced to Vietnam, developed strongly in Saigon and gradually became a culinary symbol with a strong Vietnamese imprint.

In mid-March this year, within the framework of the program "The 3rd Vietnamese Bread Festival 2025" in Ho Chi Minh City, a seminar titled "Vietnamese Bread - World culinary values, spreading to five continents" broke out a lot of interesting information.

Dr. Dang Thi Kieu Oanh - Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture said that, with the presence of the French, initially, bread was considered a "foreign" dish. But through the process of cultural assimilation, bread has been Vietnamized to suit the taste and eating habits of Vietnamese people.

She believes that Saigon bread is not only a product of East-West cultural fusion but also a testament to the adaptability and creativity of the Vietnamese people. However, in-depth research on bread is still limited, especially research on the history, culture, and economic value of this dish.

From the French baguette, through the skillful hands of the Vietnamese, it has become a unique dish with a delicate combination of ingredients. Especially, in Quang Nam, Hoi An bread is almost a specialty.

The long-standing bakeries in the Old Quarter encapsulate the flavors of Quang Nam: rich, rustic, and refined. The fillings are usually grilled meat, pork sausage, pate, accompanied by herbs and secret sauces, creating a perfect dish that stimulates all the senses.

Contribute to the world culinary map

Banh mi Hoi An has been praised by many international culinary magazines. Famous chef Anthony Bourdain once called it “the best banh mi in the world” when visiting a small bakery on the old street.

Bui Thanh Tam and the Xin Chao Bread shop in Japan. Photo: FBNV

Banh mi has also appeared on various tourism promotion platforms, from food festivals, travel blogs, to international television shows. This street food has even been “aired” through a variety of media channels. The popularity of banh mi has gone far beyond the borders of Vietnam, leaving a strong mark on the world culinary map.

However, Prof. Dr. Eric Jose Olmedo Panal - Head of the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Economics and Finance, Ho Chi Minh City said: "The use of bread in destination marketing still has many loopholes: the strategy is not consistent, the promotion method is monotonous, not really attractive to tourists. The quality of bread in promotional activities is sometimes not focused on, which can affect the image of Vietnamese tourism".

The compact bread of the North, the crispy bread of the Central, and the diversity of the South are the differences that attract tourists through cuisine. For Hoi An, bread is not only the flavor of the food but also carries stories about traditional bakeries that have existed for many generations. With Hoi An bread, it is also the story of a heritage land, where people are always creative and preserve the culinary quintessence.

Developing tourism from cuisine is the choice of many localities. In “food tours”, there is always the presence of bread as a popular street food.

The journey from a small street corner to the world culinary map has never been easy, but Vietnamese bread has done it. However, to elevate bread to a tourism symbol, Vietnam has not yet done it, even though 3 seasons of Bread Festival have been held.

Bui Thanh Duy and Bui Thanh Tam - two young people from Quang Nam successfully started a business in Japan with a chain of more than 16 Banh Mi Xin Chao stores with the slogan "Taste banh mi, Taste Viet Nam" (Taste bread - Taste the flavor of Vietnam) contributing to bringing Vietnamese street food specialties closer to the world. Hoi An is also one of the cities voted by the world media to have famous banh mi and is one of the must-try dishes when coming here.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/banh-mi-tu-goc-pho-den-bieu-tuong-am-thuc-3151735.html