Since the baguette was introduced
to Vietnam by the French in the late 19th century, local people have
developed the recipes and turned it into Vietnamese bread, bánh mỳ.
The meat-filled sandwich is now popular throughout all regions of the
country with different forms and types depending on its fillings.
However, its main ingredients include pate, meat (pork, chicken or beef)
and vegetables with a combination of condiments such as chili sauce,
mayonnaise and cheese.
In Hoi An Ancient Town,
the bread has been adapted by inhabitants to suit the local taste and
become must-try food for tourists, along with cao lầu (noodles with roasted pork) and hoành thánh (wonton). While thịt nguội (cured pork cold cuts) are mainly used to fill in the bread in other places, it is filled with xá xíu (char siu, known as Chinese barbecue pork), xíu mại (meatballs), chả lụa
(ham) and a mixture of grilled beef and pork in the former port city.
In addition, the sauce makes the difference between the bread in Hoi An
and in other areas. This is why tourists always call it bánh mỳ Hội An (Hoi An bread).
There are a number of food stalls selling bánh mỳ in the ancient town but you should be in right places to enjoy its real taste.
1. Bánh mỳ Phượng (Banh My Phuong)
The small street shop
draws more foreign customers and is included on Hoi An’s food map after
American chef Anthony Bourdain described as a symphony in a sandwich in
the TV series “No Reservations”. On tourism websites including
TripAdvisor.com and Travefish.org, tourists call it the best Vietnamese
bread in the world and recommend other people to take a bite there.
There are different
types of the bread on offer depending on its fillings, which include
Chinese sausage, jambon, pate, smoked pork and chicken. The key to its
delicious bread is on the owner’s secret sauce.
Address: No 2B Phan Chau Trinh Street
Opening time: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily
Price: VND 10,000-VND 25,000
2. Bánh mỳ Madam Khánh (Banh My Madam Khanh)
Many tourists do not
mind walking under the sun about 10 minutes from the town centre to
reach the famous food stall run by a woman aged over 80. Her bread is as
famous as Banh My Phuong’s and customers call her “Madam Khanh - The
Banh My Queen”.
The food stand served
toasted bread with a variety of local fillings including roast pork,
grilled pork, omelette and pate. The owner herself prepares the sauce
with a secret recipe that creates the difference for her amazingly cheap
and incredibly tasty bread.
Address: No 115, Tran Cao Van Street
Opening time: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily
Price: VND 20,000
3. Bánh mỳ Phố cổ (Old Town Banh My)
The stall is a top
choice for people to have full energy to get their morning started and
regain power after long lessons and tiring work. Like other sellers in
Hoi An, the owner always keeps their bread warm in a charcoal oven and
adds char siu into its fillings instead of cured pork cold cuts. Creamy
and meaty pate also contributes to the special taste of their bread.
Address: No 2, Le Loi Street
Opening time: 6 a.m. a- 9 p.m daily
Price: VND 15,000-20,000
4. Bánh mỳ Lành (Lanh Banh My)
While foreign tourists
favour the bread of Banh My Phuong and Madam Khanh, local people prefer
the bread made by Ms. Lanh. She has opened the food stall since 1990s.
Her secret of making the bread lies on wet pate, which is prepared
according to her own recipe.
Address: No 430, Cua Dai Street (near Nam Quang Pagoda)
Opening time: 3 p.m. - 10 p.m daily
Price: VND 10,000-20,000
5. Bánh mỳ Minh Thu (Minh Thu Banh My)
The stall only sells
bread with roast pork fillings but no place can compete it. The fragrant
pork has a crispy layer of fat under the skin, and is not cut into
small pieces to retain its crispness and deliciousness.
Address: No 248, Ly Thuong Kiet Street
Opening time: daily
Price: VND 20,000
6. Bánh mỳ Phi (Phi Banh My)
Lots of tourists vote
five stars for Mr. Phi’s bread on TripAdvisor site because of its great
flavours and fresh ingredients. There are many options for foodies and
vegetarians such as chicken sandwich, cheese sandwich and sausage
sandwich. The owner also develops his own bread, called Banh my Phi
sandwich, which includes cheese, egg, pork and herbs.
Address: No 88, Thai Phien Street
Opening time: 7 a.m. - 8.30 p.m daily
Price: VND 15,000-30,000
It is very hard to say which one is the best because all bánh mỳ
stalls have a unique way of making their bread and master the arts of
balancing flavours. Therefore, when you are in Hoi An, do not miss out
trying all of them!
