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Vietnamese banh mi has once again solidified its position on the international culinary map, as the renowned travel website CNN Travel continues to name this street food in its list of the 25 best sandwiches in the world for 2025. Notably, this "queen of street food" impressively secured the second position, only behind the expensive Jamón Ibérico from Spain.
CNN describes Vietnamese banh mi as a unique culinary heritage, originating from the French colonial era when the Vietnamese skillfully adapted the traditional baguette. The core difference lies in its texture: a standard Vietnamese banh mi must have a thin, crispy crust and a light, airy interior, quite different from the dense texture of Western bread.
Vietnamese banh mi continues to be among the world's best.
However, the soul of the dish lies in its addictive mixed filling. It's a perfect combination of savory Vietnamese sausage, pork or pâté, blended with the tangy sourness of pickled carrots and radishes, the richness of mayonnaise, and the fresh aroma of cilantro, all balanced by a touch of spicy chili.
The traditional mixed sandwich version includes pork, Vietnamese sausage, carrots, pickled radishes, herbs, various sauces, and a crispy, fresh crust.
"Just a small loaf of bread, but it has all the flavors: crispy, sour, salty, fatty, and aromatic," CNN emphasized. For international tourists, banh mi is the most authentic experience of Vietnamese "life," a quick, delicious meal that can be found at any street vendor's cart, from the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh to the ancient town of Hoi An.
The blend of sweet and savory flavors is "addictive". In addition, Vietnamese banh mi also has variations such as vegetarian banh mi or chicken and lemongrass banh mi.
The fact that banh mi was honored by CNN this time is an impressive double win this year, following its selection in the Top 10 best sandwiches in the world in June. The appeal of banh mi doesn't stop at CNN. Previously, TasteAtlas, a reputable website specializing in traditional Vietnamese cuisine, ranked banh mi at number 1 on its list of the 100 best sandwiches globally in 2024, after recognizing it as the "most loved street food in the world" in 2023. National Geographic also included banh mi in its top 11 best street foods in the world, affirming it as a "typical representative of Vietnamese street food."
The greatest recognition for banh mi doesn't come from rankings, but from its entry into prestigious dictionaries worldwide, officially becoming a global culinary concept. Previously, the Oxford Dictionary, officially adding the word "banh mi" on March 24, 2011, defined it as: "A Vietnamese snack consisting of a baguette (usually baked from both rice and wheat flour), filled with various ingredients, often meat, pickled vegetables, and chili." The Cambridge and Merriam-Webster dictionaries also included "banh mi" as a separate entry, describing it as an iconic Vietnamese sandwich.
Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches – a familiar street food found throughout the country – continue to amaze and enchant foreign diners with their perfect blend of Western and Vietnamese flavors.
The boom in Vietnamese banh mi is also evident in the increasing number of Vietnamese banh mi shops abroad. For example, Banh Anh Em in New York sells over 2,000 banh mi sandwiches per week, with customers willing to queue for hours, and Nếm in Hong Kong was recognized by the Michelin Guide after only one year of operation.
The fact that banh mi stands alongside famous sandwiches like Katsu sando (Japan), Shawarma (Middle East), or Muffaletta (USA) shows that, with skill and creativity, Vietnamese people have transformed a humble street food into a global phenomenon, bringing the essence of Vietnamese cuisine to every continent.
