Google honors Vietnamese banh mi on its homepage.

This is the first time Google has honored a signature Vietnamese dish. This activity commemorates the 9th anniversary of the original Vietnamese word "banh mi" being included as an entry in the Oxford Dictionary (March 24, 2011 - March 24, 2020).

According to Google Doodles: Vietnamese banh mi may have appeared in the 1950s in many bustling alleyways of Saigon. However, historically, banh mi originated from a cultural exchange between France and Vietnam. Starting as long baguettes filled with cold cuts and butter or cheese, they have evolved, adding more flavor with optional fillings such as pork, Vietnamese sausage, pate, or meatballs, served with various pickled vegetables, herbs, onions, cilantro, and a touch of soy sauce, chili sauce, or fresh chilies... creating a full range of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors, making it a signature dish of Vietnamese cuisine.

During a visit to Hoi An (Quang Nam), chef Anthony Bourdain tasted Banh Mi Phuong and declared it "the best banh mi in the world." Images of these delicious Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches appeared on his No Reservations channel and gradually gained worldwide fame.

The Guardian once ranked Vietnamese banh mi as second on its list of the world's best street foods. David Farley, a travel and food writer for the BBC, also praised Vietnamese banh mi as "the best sandwich in the world."

On the Google Vietnam homepage, the iconic Hoi An ancient town, the anniversary of the founding of Ca Tru (traditional Vietnamese singing), and major holidays such as Vietnamese Teachers' Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, Lunar New Year, and National Day have all been honored. But this is the first time a Vietnamese dish has been recognized and even appeared on the Google homepage of many other countries.

Ha Le