A loaf of banh mi filled with cold cuts and paté at a food stall in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Tam Anh
CNN has listed Vietnam’s popular banh mi in a list of the world’s 25 best sandwiches, saying “it is widely loved well beyond the country’s borders.”
“A culinary remnant of French colonialism, the baguette sandwich was reinterpreted to suit local tastes by the Vietnamese,” CNN wrote.
The classic version is a fusion of cold cuts and vegetables such as coriander, cucumber, pickled carrots, and daikon, paired with French-style condiments like pâté and mayonnaise.
A wide range of popular fillings is also used, including bai (Vietnamese pork bologna), fried eggs, grilled pork, and meatballs.
Vegetarian options like tofu and lemongrass chicken are also common.
Banh mi is a symbol of Vietnam’s cuisine and has won different honors from global travel magazines over the years.
CNN described the taste as “crunchy, fresh, savory, and utterly delicious.”
The list also included Italy’s tramezzino, France’s Pan bagnat, Canada’s Montreal smoked meat sandwich, the U.K.’s cucumber sandwich, Japan’s Katsu sando and the U.S.’s Philly cheesesteak.
