The love of bread was first brought to Vietnam by the French during European colonialism in the late 1800s. They used to hire Vietnamese workers to work in their bread factories. Eventually, its appreciation was caught on and ‘banh mi’ was developed in the 1950s.
A little bit crunchy, sweet, sour and savory – ‘Banh Mi’ (literal meaning is wheat bread) is the kind of delightful treat one could marry, often favoured by broke students and divorced dads in Vietnam (just kidding!). For those who don’t know, banh mi is a fusion between French bread and Vietnamese fillings, combining juicy meat, one-of-a-kind sauce and a variety of fresh vegetables and herbs. Unlike French baguettes which are often dense and too crisp, Vietnamese baguettes are fluffier, lighter and airy enough to soak up all the juices.
Thanks to the Vietnamese expats, ‘Banh mi’ became an instant hit across the globe. Many travelers flock to Vietnam to try it. What better time than now? when you’re in Da Nang and Hoi An, to smash all the good stuff into your face before the end of your trip. Don’t miss out on these places, one of them is all-vegan. Their rolls are absolute bomb!
1. Banh mi cô Phượng (2B Phan Chau Trinh Street, Hoi An)
This baguette stall which sells 3000 sandwiches a day has to be on our list. The reason it became so popular, attracting a steady stream of crowds everyday of the week is because Anthony Bourdain – an American celebrity chef was spotted here. He visited this shop and said this place has the best baguette he’d ever tasted. The baguettes are very crunchy and the taste is heavenly. The unique sauce here is the secret ingredient for their treasured banh mi. This place serves a myriad of baguettes and it’s always crowded around noon and afternoon. You can dine in or take away but bare in mind you must wait and flex the muscles of your patience as there will be a long queue of hungry people.
2. Madam Khanh (115 Trần Cao Vân, Hoi An)
With 30-year experience in making the best baguette, this lady has earnt her title as the ‘Queen of baguettes’. Her name is Loc. So where does the name ‘Madam Khanh’ come from? Shhh, lend us your ears, Khanh is actually the name of her husband. He often helps her at the shop and many travelers started calling her ‘Madam Khanh’. So she decided to use it as her brand name. Her drool-worthy baguettes will leave you wanting more.
3. Banh mi chả ông Tý (Hai Chau District, Da Nang)
Find yourself in ecstasy as you bite into the delightful baguette called ‘Banh mi cha ong Ty’ in Da Nang. ‘Ông Tý’ is the name of the man who makes his own special beef sausage as a filling in the baguettes. It’s a delicate balance of sausage, pepper and chili. Simple ingredients combined together to make crazy delicious rolls. They can be nabbed at these shops:
272 Hung Vuong Street
184 Quang Trung Street
390 Lê Duẩn Street
They’re open from 06:00 am – 10:00 am & 15:00pm – 23:00pm every day.
4. Banh mi gà Cô Chi (01 Phan Chau Trinh, Da Nang)
Next on our banh mi hit-list? Bánh mì gà. ‘Gà’ means ‘chicken’ in Vietnamese. The roll is round, filled with chicken floss, greasy mayonnaise, sweet and sour green papaya and cucumber. The flavour will have you counting down to lunchtime.
This place opens from 6 a.m to 11.30 a.m and from 3 p.m to 9 p.m everyday.
5. Banh mi que ( Da Nang )
Let’s be honest – mini foods are BIG on flavours. There’s plenty of crunch in these mini breadsticks and they’re utterly addictive. What could possibly be the filling? The answer is pork floss, green papaya and pâté. It’s hard to imagine liking banh mi more than we already do, but these miniature baguettes have stolen our hearts
Here are some shops you should drop by:
Banh mi que Tứ Hải: 854 Ngo Quyen, Son Tra District
Banh mi que 3k: 11 Ho Xuan Huong, Ngu Hanh Son District
6. Banh mi cô Lan (62 Trung Nu Vuong, Binh Hien District, Da Nang )
This is one of the most delicious bakeries in Da Nang that is “hunted” by many people. There’s no going past a good Vietnamese roll, especially when it’s made from proper all-meat sausage and the very best bread. The baguette is sandwiched together with a generous portion of sizzling sausages. There’s an endless list to choose from such as beef sausage, steamed pork sausage, ham and so on. So, there you go. We’ll definitely take two!
7. Banh mi chay Thiện Hiếu (560 Dien Bien Phu, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang)
Grab some change and stop by this shop to feed your soul whether you’re a vegan, vego or not. The owner always welcomes customers with a warm smile. You will get a hot crispy roll that allows you to savour the marinated soy meat, delicious herbs and sauce. One could easily be yours for only 10.000 VND.
8. Banh mi bột lọc ( Da Nang )
‘Bánh mì bột lọc’ is a much-loved local cuisine of Da Nang. The gooey filling is made from tapioca starch, wedged between bread together with sausage and vegetables. We know it sounds bizarre. This definitely isn’t a conventional choice. But if you just surrender to the experience, this baguette is very easy to warm to. You’ll be thoroughly convinced that you really like it.
Where to eat?
73 Huynh Thuc Khang, Hai Chau District
03 Ong Ich Khiem, Hai Chau District
9. Banh mi heo quay ( Da Nang )
Unpredictable, the types of banh mi. You never know what to expect. Slow roasted pork belly with crackling is the ultimate sandwich. Each mouthful is full of flavour, satisfying and moreish.
Just give me the crunchy, oily goodness, gosh darnit! Head to these shops and dive straight in:
Banh mi heo quay Bich – 447 Trung Nu Vuong, Binh Hien District, Da Nang.
Tram Banh mi heo quay – 74 Ngo Gia Tu, Hai Chau District, Da Nang.
Banh mi heo quay Co Tuyet – 66 Le Dinh Ly, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang.
10. Banh mi cá khô rim (56 Ong Ich Khiem, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang)
Are you much of a fish fan? You might fancy this banh mi, then. ‘Cá khô’ means dried fish, ‘rim’ means to simmer. This way of simmering fish reduces the fishy taste and enhance the flavours. It goes well with rice, but when swap rice out for a baguette, it makes a distinctive taste. It’s brilliant! Definitely give it a go…we just hope you’ll do that…we’ll be waiting for it to happen.
11. Banh mi bò kho: ( Vietnamese beef stew)
Cosy and comforted – that’s how this dish will make you feel. ‘Bò’, means beef, is the main ingredient here. It comes as a special beef stew with beans, carrots, potatoes and a side of bread. Breaking off a small piece of bread, dipping it into the soup till it’s soggy and scooping up the chunks with a spoon is a wonderful way to enjoy this dish. We couldn’t help but slurping away this delightful meal. Flavorful, rich and best eaten when you have a big appetite.
Where to eat ?
Bo ne 3 Ngon 66 Nguyen Van Linh, Hai Chau District, Da Nang
Quan 24 – 24 Trung Nu Vuong, Hai Chau District, Da Nang
Op la & bo kho Hoang Dieu 149 Hoang Dieu District, Da Nang
12. Banh mi ốp la
If you’re looking for a quick burst of fuel to start your day like a champ, look no further. Egg is always an excellent choice for breakfast. You can’t go wrong with it. Omelette that is cooked in a hot pan with a dollop of amazing sauce to round out the meal. Keen to try? Check out these places:
Bo ne Khanh 41 Hoang Van Thu, Hai Chau District.
Co Ba – Banh mi ap chao 142 Phan Thanh , Hai Chau District
Banh mi Ba Nhan 155 Nguyen Tri Phuong
Our favorite part? We’re so stoked and enjoy the positive spiral of giving people amazing food experiences and them giving us back smiley faces and heartfelt emails. With some forward planning, we’re especially excited to run Da Nang and Hoi An food tours to show you our wonderful Vietnamese cuisine. Feel free to have a looksee.