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{{Short description|Vietnamese bread or sandwich}}
{{Redirect|Ban Mi|The Thai district|Ban Mi District}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox prepared food
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Bánh mì
| name = Bánh mì
| image = [[File:Bánh mì thịt nướng.png|200px]]
| image = Bánh mì thịt nướng.png
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Bánh mì thịt nướng (baguette with grilled meat)
| caption =
| alternate_name = Vietnamese sandwich
| alternate_name = Vietnamese roll or sandwich, Saigon roll or sandwich
| country = [[Vietnam]] / [[French Indochina]]
| country = Vietnam
| region =
| region =
| creator =
| creator =
| year = 1950s<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.authenticfoodquest.com/banh-mi-best-vietnamese-sandwich/|title=The best Vietnamese Sandwich to Fall in Love With|website=Authenticfoodquest.com|access-date=20 Mar 2020|archive-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304205801/https://www.authenticfoodquest.com/banh-mi-best-vietnamese-sandwich/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| type =
| type = [[Sandwich]]
| served =
| served =
| main_ingredient =
| main_ingredient = Vietnamese baguette (also called {{lang|vi|bánh mì}})
| variations =
| variations = [[#Varieties|See below]]
| calories =
| calories =
| similar_dish = [[num pang]], [[khao jee pâté]]<ref name="NYT Moskin" />
| other =
| other =
}}
}}


In [[Vietnamese cuisine]], '''{{lang|vi|bánh mì|italic=no}}''' or '''banh mi''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɑː|n|_|m|iː}},<ref>{{cite dictionary |title=banh mi|dictionary=[[OxfordDictionaries.com]] (British & World English) |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |access-date=9 May 2017| url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/banh_mi |archive-date=16 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216034447/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/banh_mi |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite dictionary|title=banh mi |dictionary=OxfordDictionaries.com (North American English) |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=9 May 2017 |url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/banh_mi |archive-date=16 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216034518/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/banh_mi |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite dictionary |title=banh mi |dictionary=[[The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language]] |edition=5th |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]] |access-date=9 May 2017|url=https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=banh+mi |archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928222950/https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=banh+mi |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="M-W">{{cite dictionary |title=Banh Mi |dictionary=[[Merriam-Webster]] |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |access-date=9 May 2017 |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banh%20mi |archive-date=31 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531141615/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banh%20mi|url-status=live}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|æ|n}};<ref>{{cite dictionary |title=banh mi |dictionary=[[Collins English Dictionary]] |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |access-date=9 May 2017 |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/banh-mi|archive-date=24 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124191850/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/banh-mi |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="M-W" /> {{IPA|vi|ɓǎjŋ̟ mì|lang}}, 'bread') is a short [[baguette]] with thin, crisp crust and a soft, airy texture. It is often split lengthwise and filled with meat and savory ingredients like a [[submarine sandwich]] and served as a meal, called {{lang|vi|bánh mì thịt}}. Plain {{lang|vi|bánh mì}} is also eaten as a [[staple food]].
'''Bánh mì''' or '''bánh mỳ''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ʌ|n|_|ˌ|m|iː}}; {{IPA-vi|ɓǎɲ mî}}) is a Vietnamese term for all kinds of bread. Bread, or more specifically the baguette, was introduced by the French during its colonial period. The bread most commonly found in Vietnam is single serve and resembles a torpedo, therefore the term bánh mì is synonymous with this type of bread. The bánh mì is usually more airy than its western counterpart, so as a result, has a thinner crust.


A typical Vietnamese roll or sandwich is a [[fusion cuisine|fusion]] of meats and vegetables from native [[Vietnamese cuisine]] such as {{lang|vi|[[chả lụa]]}} (Vietnamese sausage), [[coriander]] (cilantro), cucumber, pickled carrots, and pickled [[daikon]] combined with condiments from French cuisine such as {{lang|fr|[[pâté]]}}, along with [[red chili]] and [[mayonnaise]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Young |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/lifestyle/east-meets-west-nam-sandwich-france-influence-indochina-helps-baguette-viet-fave-article-1.742637 |title=East Meets West in 'Nam Sandwich |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323220056/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/lifestyle/east-meets-west-nam-sandwich-france-influence-indochina-helps-baguette-viet-fave-article-1.742637 |archive-date=23 March 2020 |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=25 September 1996 }}</ref> However, [[#Varieties|a variety of popular fillings]] are used, like {{lang|vi|[[xá xíu]]}} (Chinese barbecued pork), [[Shumai#Vietnamese xíu mại|xíu mại]] Vietnamese minced pork, and [[nem nướng]] grilled pork sausage, to even [[ice cream sandwich#Vietnam|ice cream]] which are more of a dessert. In Vietnam, bread rolls and sandwiches are typically eaten for breakfast, or as a snack.
The sandwiches made from bánh mì include meat and soy fillings such as steamed, pan-roasted or oven-roasted seasoned pork belly, [[chả lụa|Vietnamese sausage]], grilled [[pork]], grilled pork patties, spreadable pork liver [[pâté]], [[Rousong|pork floss]], grilled chicken, chicken floss, [[canned sardines]] in tomato sauce, soft pork meatballs in tomato sauce, head cheese, fried eggs, and tofu. Accompanying vegetables include fresh cucumber slices, cilantro (leaves of the coriander plant) and pickled carrots and daikon in shredded form. Common condiments include spicy chili sauce, sliced chilis, mayonnaise, and [[Laughing Cow]] cheese.


The [[baguette]] was introduced to Vietnam by the French in the mid-19th century, during the [[Nguyễn dynasty]], and became a staple food by the early 20th century. In the 1950s, a distinctly Vietnamese style of sandwich developed in [[Saigon]], becoming a popular [[street food]], also known as {{lang|vi|bánh mì Sài Gòn}} ('Saigon sandwich' or 'Saigon-style {{lang|vi|bánh mì}}').<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/recipe/saigon-style-banh-mi Saigon-Style Banh Mi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529114050/https://www.latimes.com/recipe/saigon-style-banh-mi |date=29 May 2020 }}, Los Angeles Times</ref><ref name="bm" /> Following the [[Vietnam War]], [[overseas Vietnamese]] popularized the {{lang|vi|bánh mì}} sandwich in countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States. In these countries, they are commonly sold in Asian [[bakery|bakeries]].
Although the term "bánh mì" itself only means bread without any fillings, the term is used to refer to a type of meat-filled sandwich found in Vietnamese bakeries abroad, especially in the US, Canada, Australia, France, where there are substantial [[Overseas Vietnamese|Vietnamese immigrant]] communities. In the Vietnamese language, the term "bánh mì" is not enough to describe the type of meat-filled sandwich. Therefore, additional words are added to describe the kind of fillings. For example, "bánh mì pâté thịt" means a sandwich with pâté and meat, usually pork bellies since it is the most common kind of meat. "Bánh mì pâté cha thịt" means a sandwich with pâté, Vietnamese sausage and meat. However, even in Vietnam when somebody says "I'm going to have a bánh mì for breakfast," it implies that he or she is going to have a meat-filled sandwich for breakfast, not just bread.


==Terminology==
"Banh mi" was added to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' on March 24, 2011.<ref>[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/banh+mi "Oxford English Dictionary] retrieved 2011.03.24</ref><ref>Andy Bloxham. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8400964/Heart-symbol-enters-Oxford-English-Dictionary.html Heart symbol enters Oxford English Dictionary] "The Telegraph", March 24, 2011</ref>. "Bánh mì" is considered one of the world's best street foods. <ref>http://www.indochinapioneer.com/blog/travel-guide/banh-mi-of-vietnam-is-one-of-the-worlds-best-street-food.html</ref>
[[File:Banh mi and cuon.jpg|thumb|right|{{lang|vi|Bánh mì}} and {{lang|vi|[[bì cuốn]]}}]]

In [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], the word ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' is derived from ''{{lang|vi|[[bánh]]}}'' (which can refer to many kinds of food, primarily baked goods, including bread) and ''{{lang|vi|mì}}'' ("wheat"). It may also be spelled ''{{lang|vi|bánh mỳ}}'' in northern Vietnam. Taken alone, ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' means any kind of bread, but it could refer to the Vietnamese baguette or the sandwich made from it. To distinguish the unfilled bread from the sandwich with fillings, the term ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì không}}'' ("plain bread") can be used. To distinguish Vietnamese-style bread from other kinds of bread, the term ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì Sài Gòn}}'' ("Saigon-style bread") or ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì Việt Nam}}'' ("Vietnam-style bread") can be used.

A [[False etymology|folk etymology]] claims that the word ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' is a corruption of the French ''{{lang|fr|[[pain de mie]]}}'', meaning soft, white bread.<ref>{{cite web|title=Banh Mi : le sandwich vietnamien qui va pimenter votre pause déjeuner|first=Sandra|last=Lorenzo|work=[[HuffPost]]|date=21 April 2013|access-date=3 April 2018|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2013/04/18/banh-mi--le-sandwich-viet_n_3110030.html|language=fr|archive-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073046/https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2013/04/18/banh-mi--le-sandwich-viet_n_3110030.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, ''{{lang|vi|[[wikt:bánh|bánh]]}}'' (or its [[Chữ Nôm|Nôm]] form, {{vi-nom|[[wikt:餅|餅]]}}) has referred to [[rice cake]]s and other pastries since as early as the 13th century, long before [[French Indochina|French contact]].<ref>{{cite wikisource |title=居塵樂道賦 第九會 Cư trần lạc đạo phú, đệ cửu hội |wslink=vi:Cư trần lạc đạo phú/Đệ cửu hội |author=Trần Nhân Tông |authorlink=Trần Nhân Tông |date=c. 1300 |orig-date= 13th century |language=vi}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Bánh mì nhân chà bông, giò lụa, ớt.jpg|thumb|Bánh mì chà bông, [[giò lụa]], chili pepper]]
The word {{lang|vi|bánh mì}}, meaning "bread", is attested in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] as early as the 1830s, in [[Jean-Louis Taberd]]'s dictionary ''{{lang|la|Dictionarium Latino-Annamiticum}}''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Panis|author=Jean-Louis Taberd|author-link=Jean-Louis Taberd|encyclopedia=Dictionarium Latino-Annamiticum|series=Dictionarium anamitico-latinum|date=1838|page=453|hdl=2027/uc1.b000742998?urlappend=%3Bseq=551|url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b000742998?urlappend=%3Bseq=551|language=la|via=HathiTrust|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204111547/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b000742998;seq=551;a=zoom:1|url-status=live}}</ref> The French introduced Vietnam to the [[baguette]], along with other baked goods such as [[pâté chaud]], in the 1860s, at the [[Cochinchina campaign|start of their imperialism]] in Vietnam.<ref name="wp">{{cite news|title=The Banh Mi of My Dreams|first=Walter|last=Nicholls|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=6 February 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/05/AR2008020500888.html|access-date=20 September 2017|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212140111/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/05/AR2008020500888.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Vũ Hồng Liên">{{cite book|title=Rice and Baguette: A History of Food in Vietnam|author=Vũ Hồng Liên|location=London|publisher=[[Reaktion Books]]|year=2016|pages=147–150|isbn=9781780237046|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UJGEDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT147|via=Google Books|access-date=9 April 2018|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721103239/https://books.google.com/books?id=UJGEDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT147|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Northern Vietnam]]ese initially called the baguette ''{{lang|vi|bánh tây}}'', literally "Western [[bánh]]", while [[Southern Vietnam]]ese called it {{lang|vi|bánh mì}}, "wheat [[bánh]]".<ref name="WSJ Eckhardt" /><ref name="CR Lam" /> [[Nguyễn Đình Chiểu]] mentions the baguette in his 1861 poem "{{lang|vi|[[s:vi:Văn tế nghĩa sĩ Cần Giuộc|Văn tế nghĩa sĩ Cần Giuộc]]|italic=no}}". Due to the price of imported [[wheat]] at the time, French baguettes and sandwiches were considered a [[luxury goods|luxury]]. During [[World War I]], an influx of French soldiers and supplies arrived. At the same time, disruptions of wheat imports led bakers to begin mixing in inexpensive [[rice flour]] (which also made the bread fluffier). As a result, it became possible for ordinary Vietnamese to enjoy French staples such as bread.<ref name="Hương Giang" /><ref name="Lê Văn Nghĩa">{{cite news|title=Chuyện xưa – chuyện nay: Bánh mì Sài Gòn trong thơ|trans-title=Then and now: Saigon sandwiches in poetry|author=Lê Văn Nghĩa|work=[[Tuổi Trẻ]]|publisher=Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union|date=11 June 2017|access-date=3 April 2018|url=https://dulich.tuoitre.vn/du-lich/chuyen-xua-chuyen-nay-banh-mi-sai-gon-trong-tho-1329645.htm|language=vi|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308141502/https://dulich.tuoitre.vn/du-lich/chuyen-xua-chuyen-nay-banh-mi-sai-gon-trong-tho-1329645.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CR Lam" /> Many shops baked twice a day, because bread tends to go stale quickly in the hot, humid climate of Vietnam. Baguettes were mainly eaten for breakfast with some butter and sugar.<ref name="Vũ Hồng Liên" />

[[File:Bánh mì Việt Anh, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A {{lang|vi|bánh mì}} stand in Ho Chi Minh City]]

Until the 1950s, sandwiches hewed closely to French tastes, typically a ''[[jambon-beurre]]'' moistened with a [[mayonnaise]] or liver {{lang|fr|[[pâté]]}} spread.<ref name="Hương Giang" /><ref name="Lê Văn Nghĩa" /><ref name="Vũ Hồng Liên" /><ref name="NYT Moskin">{{cite news|title=Building on Layers of Tradition|first=Julia|last=Moskin|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=7 April 2009|access-date=9 April 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/dining/08banh.html|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428051248/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/dining/08banh.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The 1954 [[Partition of Vietnam]] sent over a million migrants from [[North Vietnam]] to [[South Vietnam]], transforming Saigon's local cuisine.<ref name="WSJ Eckhardt" /> Among the migrants were {{lang|vi|Lê Minh Ngọc|italic=no}} and {{lang|vi|Nguyễn Thị Tịnh|italic=no}}, who opened a small bakery named {{lang|vi|Hòa Mã|italic=no}} in [[District 3, Ho Chi Minh City|District 3]]. In 1958, {{lang|vi|Hòa Mã|italic=no}} became one of the first shops to sell ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì thịt}}''.<ref name="Hương Giang" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Bánh mì Hòa Mã 50 năm ở Sài Gòn|trans-title=Hòa Mã bakery at 50 years in Saigon|author=Phong Vinh|work=[[VnExpress]]|publisher=FPT Group|date=21 November 2015|access-date=3 April 2018|url=https://dulich.vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/tu-van/am-thuc/banh-mi-hoa-ma-50-nam-o-sai-gon-3315493.html|language=vi|archive-date=9 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709190020/https://dulich.vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/tu-van/am-thuc/banh-mi-hoa-ma-50-nam-o-sai-gon-3315493.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=5 quán ăn lâu đời nhất Sài Gòn|trans-title=The 5 oldest eateries in Saigon|magazine=Barcode|publisher=Indochine Media Ventures Vietnam|date=8 August 2016|access-date=3 April 2018|url=http://www.barcodemagazine.vn/explore/5-quan-an-lau-doi-nhat-sai-gon/|language=vi|archive-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404134422/http://www.barcodemagazine.vn/explore/5-quan-an-lau-doi-nhat-sai-gon/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Around this time, another migrant from the North began selling {{lang|vi|[[Chả lụa|chả]]}} sandwiches from a basket on a [[mobylette]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Vào hẻm tìm ăn bánh mì cụ Lý|trans-title=Searching the alleys for grandpa Lý's sandwiches|author=P.V.|work=[[Thanh Niên]]|publisher=Vietnam United Youth League|date=5 June 2013|access-date=3 April 2018|url=https://thanhnien.vn/doi-song/am-thuc/vao-hem-tim-an-banh-mi-cu-ly-751153.html|language=vi|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227100450/https://thanhnien.vn/doi-song/am-thuc/vao-hem-tim-an-banh-mi-cu-ly-751153.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and a stand in [[Gia Định Province]] (present-day [[Phú Nhuận District]]) began selling {{lang|vi|phá lấu}} sandwiches.<ref>{{cite news|title=Xe bánh mì phá lấu 60 năm tại góc phố Sài Gòn|work=Ngôi sao|publisher=[[VnExpress]]|date=8 August 2016|access-date=3 April 2018|url=https://ngoisao.net/photo/an-gi/xe-banh-mi-pha-lau-60-nam-tai-goc-pho-sai-gon-3448926.html|language=vi|archive-date=9 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709154655/https://ngoisao.net/photo/an-gi/xe-banh-mi-pha-lau-60-nam-tai-goc-pho-sai-gon-3448926.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some shops stuffed sandwiches with inexpensive [[Cheddar cheese]], which came from French food aid that migrants from the North had rejected.<ref name="Vũ Hồng Liên" /> [[Vietnamese people in France|Vietnamese communities in France]] also began selling ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}''.<ref name="CR Lam" />

After the [[Fall of Saigon]] in 1975, ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' sandwiches became a luxury item once again.<ref name="WSJ Eckhardt" /> During the so-called "[[Economic history of Vietnam#Subsidy phase: 1976-1986|subsidy period]]", state-owned ''[[phở]]'' eateries often served bread or cold rice as a side dish, leading to the present-day practice of dipping {{lang|vi|[[Youtiao|quẩy]]}} in ''phở''.<ref name="KHPT Trinh Quang Dung 3">{{cite news|title=Phở theo thời cuộc|trans-title=Pho in the present day|author=Trịnh Quang Dũng|work=Báo Khoa Học Phổ Thông|publisher=Ho Chi Minh City Union of Science and Technology Associations|date=22 January 2010|access-date=22 May 2013|url=http://www.khoahocphothong.com.vn/news/detail/4157/100-nam-pho-viet.html|language=vi|archive-date=13 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413040848/http://khoahocphothong.com.vn/news/detail/4157/100-nam-pho-viet.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1980s, [[Đổi Mới]] market reforms led to a renaissance in {{lang|vi|bánh mì}}, mostly as [[street food]].<ref name="WSJ Eckhardt" />

Meanwhile, [[Vietnamese Americans]] brought ''bánh mì'' sandwiches to cities across the United States. In Northern California, {{lang|vi|Lê Văn Bá|italic=no}} and his sons are credited with popularizing ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' among Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese Americans alike through their [[food truck]] services provider and their fast-food chain, [[Lee's Sandwiches]], beginning in the 1980s.<ref name="CR Lam" /> Sometimes {{lang|vi|bánh mì}} was likened to local sandwiches. In [[New Orleans]], a "Vietnamese [[po' boy]]" recipe won the 2009 award for the best po' boy at the annual Oak Street Po-Boy Festival.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Vietnamese Po-Boy|publisher=[[WWNO]]|date=15 July 2010|url=http://wwno.org/post/vietnamese-po-boy|access-date=8 May 2012|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714145400/http://wwno.org/post/vietnamese-po-boy|url-status=live}}</ref> A restaurant in [[Philadelphia]] also sells a similar sandwich, marketed as a "Vietnamese [[hoagie]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Vietnamese Hoagies Now on the Menu |url=http://citypaper.net/articles/2006-07-20/food6.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001214129/http://citypaper.net/articles/2006-07-20/food6.shtml |archive-date=1 October 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref>
[[File:Boon Hotel + Spa - Sarah Stierch - April 2019 - 4.jpg|thumb|Bánh mì in California]]

Since the 1970s, [[Vietnamese refugees]] from the [[Vietnam War]] arrived in London and were hosted at community centers <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/an-viet-house-in-de-beauvoir-could-become-asian-community-3586976 | title=An Viet House in de Beauvoir could become Asian community's answer to Jamie Oliver's training restaurant Fifteen | date=27 February 2018 }}</ref> in areas of London such as [[De Beauvoir Town]] eventually founding a string of successful Vietnamese-style canteens in [[Shoreditch]] where ''bánh mì'' alongside ''[[phở]]'', was popularised from the 1990s.

{{lang|vi|Bánh mì}} sandwiches were featured in the 2002 [[PBS]] documentary ''[[Sandwiches That You Will Like]]''. The word {{lang|vi|bánh mì}} was added to the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' on 24 March 2011.<ref>[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/banh+mi "Oxford English Dictionary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503010727/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/banh+mi |date=3 May 2012 }} retrieved 2011.03.24</ref><ref>Andy Bloxham. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111128124424/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8400964/Heart-symbol-enters-Oxford-English-Dictionary.html "Heart symbol enters Oxford English Dictionary"]. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 24 March 2011.</ref> As of 2017, {{lang|vi|bánh mì}} is included in about 2% of U.S. restaurant sandwich menus, a nearly fivefold increase from 2013.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=This Is America's Hottest Sandwich Right Now|first=Ian|last=Salisbury|magazine=[[Money (magazine)|Money]]|date=20 July 2017|access-date=15 April 2018|url=https://money.com/banh-mi-americas-fastest-growing-sandwich/|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701180421/https://money.com/banh-mi-americas-fastest-growing-sandwich/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 March 2020, [[Google]] celebrated bánh mì with a [[Google Doodle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://doodles.google/doodle/celebrating-banh-mi/|title=Celebrating Banh Mi|website=Google|date=24 March 2020|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-date=24 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324040957/http://www.google.com/doodles/celebrating-banh-mi|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Ingredients==
==Ingredients==
===Bread===
[[Image:Bánh mì xíu mại-meatball-sandwich.jpg|right|thumb|Bánh mì xíu mại (crushed pork meatball bánh mì) from a [[Houston, Texas]], Asian market.]]
[[Image:Bánh .jpg|thumb|right|Bánhđặc biệt ("special combo" bánh mì).]]
[[File:Dong Phuong Bread.JPG|thumb|right|Loaves of ''{{lang|vi|bánh}}'' at [[Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery]] in [[New Orleans]]]]


A Vietnamese baguette has a thin crust and white, airy crumb. It may consist of both [[wheat flour]] and [[rice flour]].<ref name="Hương Giang" />
The sandwich is a product of [[French colonialism]] in [[French Indochina|Indochina]], [[Fusion cuisine|combining ingredients]] from the French (baguettes, pâté and [[mayonnaise]]) with native Vietnamese ingredients like [[cilantro]] (coriander leaves), [[hot pepper]]s, and [[pickling|pickle]]d [[carrot]]s.<ref>Daniel Young. [http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/lifestyle/1996/09/25/1996-09-25_east_meets_west_in__nam_sand.html "East Meets West in 'Nam Sandwich"], ''[[New York Daily News]]'', September 25, 1996.</ref>


Besides being made into a sandwich, it is eaten alongside meat dishes, such as ''[[bò kho]]'' (a beef stew), [[curry]], and ''{{lang|vi|[[phá lấu]]}}''. It can also be dipped in [[condensed milk]] (see [[Sữa Ông Thọ]]).
The classic version ''bánh mì thịt nguội'', sometimes known as ''bánh mì đặc biệt'' or "special combo", is made with various Vietnamese [[cold cut]]s such as sliced pork or pork bellies, [[chả lụa]], and [[head cheese]], along with the liver pâté and vegetables.<ref>Andrea Nguyen. [http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/recipes-banh-mi-sandwich/ "Master Banh Mi Sandwich Recipe"], ''Viet World Kitchen'', retrieved 2010.04.03]</ref>


===Fillings===
Some restaurants also offer ''bánh mì chay'', a [[vegetarian]] option, made with [[tofu]] or [[seitan]]. In Vietnam, vegetarian sandwiches are rarely found on the streets. They are usually made at Buddhist temples during special religious events.
[[File:Banh mi assemblage.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Assembling a bánh mì]]


A {{lang|vi|bánh mì}} sandwich typically consists of one or more meats, accompanying vegetables, and condiments.
Another option is the breakfast bánh mì, either with scrambled eggs served in a baguette, or the version eaten more widely for breakfast in Vietnam: eggs fried [[sunny-side-up]] with [[onion]]s, sprinkled with [[soy sauce]] or [[Maggi]] sauce, and eaten with a fresh (and sometimes buttered) baguette.

Accompanying vegetables typically include fresh cucumber slices or wedges, leaves of the [[coriander]] plant and pickled carrot and [[daikon]] in shredded form ({{lang|vi|đồ chua}}). Common condiments include spicy chili sauce, sliced chilis, seasoning sauce, and mayonnaise.<ref name="wp"/><ref name="CR Lam">{{cite journal|title=The Marvel of Bánh Mì|first=Andrew|last=Lam|author-link=Andrew Lam|journal=The Cairo Review of Global Affairs|publisher=[[American University in Cairo]]|year=2015|issue=18|pages=64–71|access-date=8 May 2017|url=https://www.thecairoreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CR18-Lam.pdf|archive-date=7 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807233324/https://www.thecairoreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CR18-Lam.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> These sandwiches can even be filled with [[seared]] [[tofu]]. <ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.loveandlemons.com/banh-mi/
| title = Banh Mi Sandwich| last = | first = | date =
| website = loveandlemons.com
| publisher =
| access-date = 5 October 2024
}} </ref>

==Varieties==
[[File:Bánh mì bò kho ở cà phê Nguyệt Ca.jpg|thumb|Bánh mì to eat with [[bò kho]]]]
Many fillings are used. A typical {{lang|vi|bánh mì}} shop in the United States offers at least 10 varieties.<ref name="Ngọc Lan">{{cite news|title=Chuyện kinh doanh bánh mì tại Little Saigon (kỳ 2)|trans-title=Tales of sandwich shop tales in Little Saigon (part 2)|author=Ngọc Lan|work=[[Nguoi Viet Daily News]]|date=10 May 2013|access-date=10 April 2018|url=https://www.nguoi-viet.com/little-saigon/Chuyen-kinh-doanh-banh-mi-tai-Little-Saigon-ky-2-3842/|language=vi|archive-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410203436/https://www.nguoi-viet.com/little-saigon/Chuyen-kinh-doanh-banh-mi-tai-Little-Saigon-ky-2-3842/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The most popular variety is ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì thịt}}'', ''thịt'' meaning "meat". ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì thịt nguội}}'' (also known as ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì pâté chả thịt}}'', ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì đặc biệt}}'', or "special combo") is made with various Vietnamese [[cold cut]]s, such as sliced pork or [[pork belly]], ''[[chả lụa]]'' (Vietnamese sausage), and [[head cheese]], along with the liver ''{{lang|fr|[[pâté]]}}'' and vegetables like carrot or cucumbers.<ref>Andrea Nguyen. [http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/recipes-banh-mi-sandwich/ "Master Banh Mi Sandwich Recipe"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330203647/http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/recipes-banh-mi-sandwich/ |date=30 March 2010 }}, ''Viet World Kitchen'', retrieved 2010.04.03</ref><ref name="WSJ Eckhardt">{{cite news|title=Saigon's Banh Mi|first=Robyn|last=Eckhardt|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=30 July 2010|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703578104575397030042789698|access-date=3 August 2017|archive-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309180225/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703578104575397030042789698|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bm">{{cite web|url=http://www.baomoi.com/Banh-mi-Sai-Gon-o-My/84/3408653.epi|title=Bánh mì Sài Gòn ở Mỹ|work=baomoi.com|access-date=2 December 2015|archive-date=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219175823/http://www.baomoi.com/Banh-mi-Sai-Gon-o-My/84/3408653.epi|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://vietnamnet.vn/vn/chinh-tri/tuanvietnam/93332/banh-mi--tau-ngam--sai-gon-nuc-tieng-the-gioi.html "Bánh mì Sài gòn nức tiếng thế giới"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128020235/http://vietnamnet.vn/vn/chinh-tri/tuanvietnam/93332/banh-mi--tau-ngam--sai-gon-nuc-tieng-the-gioi.html |date=28 January 2013 }}, TuanVietNam, 2012/10/20</ref>

Other varieties include:

* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì bì}}'' (shredded pork sandwich){{snd}} shredded pork or pork skin, doused with [[fish sauce]]
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì chà bông}}'' ([[Rousong|pork floss]] sandwich)
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì [[xíu mại]]}}'' (minced pork meatball sandwich){{snd}} smashed pork meatballs
* ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì thịt nguội}}'' ([[ham]] sandwich)
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì cá mòi}}'' ([[sardine]] sandwich)
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì pa-tê}}'' (''{{lang|fr|[[pâté]]}}'' sandwich)
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì [[xá xíu]]}}'' or ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì thịt nướng}}'' (barbecue pork sandwich)
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì [[chả lụa]]}}'' or ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì giò lụa}}'' (Vietnamese sausage sandwich)
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì gà nướng}}'' (grilled chicken sandwich)
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì chay}}'' (vegetarian sandwich){{snd}} made with [[tofu]] or ''[[seitan]]''; in Vietnam, usually made at Buddhist temples during special religious events, but uncommon on the streets
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì [[chả]] cá}}'' (fish patty sandwich)
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì bơ}}'' ([[margarine]] or [[butter]]ed sandwich){{snd}} margarine / butter and sugar
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì trứng ốp-la}}'' ([[fried egg]] sandwich){{snd}} contains fried eggs with onions, sprinkled with [[soy sauce]], sometimes buttered; served for breakfast in Vietnam
* ''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì kẹp kem}}'' ([[ice cream sandwich]]){{snd}} contains scoops of ice cream topped with crushed peanuts<ref>{{cite news|title=Sài Gòn: Mua 'vé về tuổi thơ' với bánh mì kẹp kem siêu rẻ|trans-title=Saigon: Purchase a "ticket to childhood" with super-cheap ice cream sandwiches|work=Trí Thức Trẻ|publisher=Hội Trí thức Khoa học và Công nghệ Trẻ Việt Nam|date=18 April 2013|access-date=25 March 2014|url=http://afamily.vn/xem-an-choi/sai-gon-mua-ve-ve-tuoi-tho-voi-banh-mi-kep-kem-sieu-re-20130415064319684.chn|language=vi|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230081111/http://afamily.vn/xem-an-choi/sai-gon-mua-ve-ve-tuoi-tho-voi-banh-mi-kep-kem-sieu-re-20130415064319684.chn|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery widths=180>
File:01 Baoguette Pork Banh Mi.jpg|''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì chả lụa}}'' (pork sausage sandwich)
File:Bánh mì.jpg|''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì đặc biệt}}'' ("special combo" sandwich)
File:Banh Mi, Eden Center.jpg|''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì bì}}'' (shredded pork sandwich) at [[Eden Center]]
File:Bánh mì xíu mại-meatball-sandwich.jpg|''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì [[xíu mại]]}}'' (minced pork meatball sandwich)
File:Bánh mì thịt nướng.png|''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì thịt nướng}}'' (barbecue pork sandwich)
File:Chicken Schnitzel Roll.jpg|with Chicken Schnitzel
File:Bánh mì than tre Việt Nam 20201205.jpg|''{{lang|vi|Bánh mì than tre}}'' (Bamboo charcoal bánh mì)
</gallery>

[[File:Một phần bánh mì chảo với trứng và chả (38657217774).jpg|thumb|Bánh mì chảo]]
[[File:Banh my que.jpg|thumb|Bánh mỳ que]]
Nowadays, different types of {{lang|vi|bánh mì}} are popular. For example, '''''bánh mì que''''' is thinner and longer and can be filled with various ingredients just as normal {{lang|vi|bánh mì}}.

<gallery widths=180>
File: Khao ji patte breakfast.jpg|[[Khao jee pâté]] in Laos, with spice paste called [[Jeow bong]]
</gallery>

==Notable vendors==
[[File:Banh mi from Lee's Sandwiches in Falls Church.jpg|thumb|right|Bánh mì sold in Lee's Sandwiches.]]

Prior to the [[Fall of Saigon]] in 1975, well-known [[South Vietnam]]ese ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' vendors included {{lang|vi|Bánh mì Ba Lẹ|italic=no}} and {{lang|vi|Bánh mì Như Lan|italic=no}} (which opened in 1968<ref name="Hương Giang">{{cite news|title=Bánh mì Việt Nam và hành trình chinh phục cả thế giới|author=Hương Giang|work=Người Lao động|issue=212|date=10 September 2016|access-date=3 April 2018|url=http://tamlongvang.laodong.com.vn/the-gioi/banh-mi-viet-nam-va-hanh-trinh-chinh-phuc-ca-the-gioi-591142.bld|language=vi|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308085505/http://tamlongvang.laodong.com.vn/the-gioi/banh-mi-viet-nam-va-hanh-trinh-chinh-phuc-ca-the-gioi-591142.bld|url-status=live}}</ref>).

In regions of the United States with significant populations of [[Vietnamese Americans]], numerous bakeries and fast food restaurants specialize in ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}''. [[Lee's Sandwiches]], a fast food chain with locations in several states, specializes in Vietnamese sandwiches served on French baguettes (or traditional ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' at some locations) as well as Western-style sandwiches served on [[croissant]]s. In [[New Orleans]], [[Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery]] is known for the ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' bread that it distributes to restaurants throughout the city. After 1975, {{lang|vi|Ba Lẹ|italic=no}} owner Võ Văn Lẹ fled to the United States and, along with {{lang|vi|Lâm Quốc Thanh|italic=no}}, founded {{lang|vi|Bánh mì Ba Lê|italic=no}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.balesandwich.com/our-story|title=our story|website=Ba Le Sandwiches|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-09|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424103206/http://www.balesandwich.com/our-story|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Eden Center]] shopping center in Northern Virginia has several well-known bakeries specializing in ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}''.<ref name="wp" />

Mainstream fast food chains have also incorporated ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' and other Vietnamese dishes into their portfolios. [[Yum! Brands]] operates a chain of ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}'' cafés called Bánh Shop.<ref name="CR Lam" /> The former [[Chipotle Mexican Grill|Chipotle]]-owned [[ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen]] chain briefly sold ''{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}''. [[Jack in the Box]] offers a "{{lang|vi|bánh mì}}–inspired" [[Fried chicken|fried]] [[chicken sandwich]] as part of its Food Truck Series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jack vs. Martha: A Jack in the Box fast food showdown begins|first=Lori|last=Wiesberg|work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=29 January 2018|access-date=15 April 2018|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/tourism/sd-fi-jack-martha-20180129-story.html|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224143334/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/tourism/sd-fi-jack-martha-20180129-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[McDonald's]] and [[Paris Baguette]] locations in Vietnam offer {{lang|vi|bánh mì}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=McDonald's Opens in Vietnam, Bringing Big Mac to Fans of Banh Mi|first=Mike|last=Ives|work=The New York Times|date=7 February 2014|access-date=15 April 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/business/international/mcdonalds-chooses-its-moment-in-vietnam.html|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022747/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/business/international/mcdonalds-chooses-its-moment-in-vietnam.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=How Vietnam's Dining Habits Are Changing With International Brands|first=Brett|last=Davis|work=[[Forbes]]|date=26 October 2016|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davisbrett/2016/10/27/how-vietnams-dining-habits-are-changing-with-international-brands/|access-date=15 April 2018|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308075529/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davisbrett/2016/10/27/how-vietnams-dining-habits-are-changing-with-international-brands/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Khao jee pâté]]
*[[Chow mein sandwich]], an east coast Chinese-American sandwich
*[[Hoagie]]
* [[Num pang]]
*[[Lee's Sandwiches]]
* [[French roll]]
*[[Sandwich]]
* [[List of sandwiches]]
* [[Vietnamese cuisine]]
*[[St. Paul sandwich]], a midwestern Chinese-American sandwich
{{-}}
*[[Vietnamese cuisine]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<references />


==External links==
==External links==
{{wikt}}
{{wiktionary}}
{{Cookbook|Bánh Mì}}
{{Commons category|Bánh mì}}
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/05/AR2008020500888.html The Banh Mi of My Dreams] The Washington Post.
* [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A686163 Bánh Mì: The baguette-bound culinary bonanza] Austin Chronicle.
* [http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2008/02/27/banh_mi_there_is_no_sub/ Banh mi? There is no sub] Boston Globe.
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/dining/08banh.html Building on Layers of Tradition] The New York Times.


{{Street food}}

{{Vietnam-stub}}
{{Sandwiches}}
{{cuisine-stub}}
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{{Bánh}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Banh Mi}}
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[[Category:1950s in South Vietnam]]
[[Category:Food and drink introduced in the 1950s]]
[[Category:French fusion cuisine]]
[[Category:Rice breads]]
[[Category:Sandwiches]]
[[Category:Sandwiches]]
[[Category:Vietnamese cuisine]]
[[Category:Southeast Asian breads]]
[[Category:Australian cuisine]]
[[Category:Street food in Vietnam]]
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[[Category:Vietnamese words and phrases]]
[[es:Bánh mì]]
[[Category:Vietnamese-American cuisine]]
[[fr:Bánh mì]]
[[id:Bánh mì]]
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[[vi:Bánh mì kẹp (Việt Nam)]]
[[zh:越式法包]]

Latest revision as of 08:22, 11 December 2024

Bánh mì
Alternative namesVietnamese roll or sandwich, Saigon roll or sandwich
TypeSandwich
Place of originVietnam
Invented1950s[1]
Main ingredientsVietnamese baguette (also called bánh mì)
VariationsSee below
Similar dishesnum pang, khao jee pâté[2]

In Vietnamese cuisine, bánh mì or banh mi (/ˈbɑːn m/,[3][4][5][6] /ˈbæn/;[7][6] Vietnamese: [ɓǎjŋ̟ mì], 'bread') is a short baguette with thin, crisp crust and a soft, airy texture. It is often split lengthwise and filled with meat and savory ingredients like a submarine sandwich and served as a meal, called bánh mì thịt. Plain bánh mì is also eaten as a staple food.

A typical Vietnamese roll or sandwich is a fusion of meats and vegetables from native Vietnamese cuisine such as chả lụa (Vietnamese sausage), coriander (cilantro), cucumber, pickled carrots, and pickled daikon combined with condiments from French cuisine such as pâté, along with red chili and mayonnaise.[8] However, a variety of popular fillings are used, like xá xíu (Chinese barbecued pork), xíu mại Vietnamese minced pork, and nem nướng grilled pork sausage, to even ice cream which are more of a dessert. In Vietnam, bread rolls and sandwiches are typically eaten for breakfast, or as a snack.

The baguette was introduced to Vietnam by the French in the mid-19th century, during the Nguyễn dynasty, and became a staple food by the early 20th century. In the 1950s, a distinctly Vietnamese style of sandwich developed in Saigon, becoming a popular street food, also known as bánh mì Sài Gòn ('Saigon sandwich' or 'Saigon-style bánh mì').[9][10] Following the Vietnam War, overseas Vietnamese popularized the bánh mì sandwich in countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States. In these countries, they are commonly sold in Asian bakeries.

Terminology

[edit]
Bánh mì and bì cuốn

In Vietnamese, the word bánh mì is derived from bánh (which can refer to many kinds of food, primarily baked goods, including bread) and ("wheat"). It may also be spelled bánh mỳ in northern Vietnam. Taken alone, bánh mì means any kind of bread, but it could refer to the Vietnamese baguette or the sandwich made from it. To distinguish the unfilled bread from the sandwich with fillings, the term bánh mì không ("plain bread") can be used. To distinguish Vietnamese-style bread from other kinds of bread, the term bánh mì Sài Gòn ("Saigon-style bread") or bánh mì Việt Nam ("Vietnam-style bread") can be used.

A folk etymology claims that the word bánh mì is a corruption of the French pain de mie, meaning soft, white bread.[11] However, bánh (or its Nôm form, ) has referred to rice cakes and other pastries since as early as the 13th century, long before French contact.[12]

History

[edit]
Bánh mì chà bông, giò lụa, chili pepper

The word bánh mì, meaning "bread", is attested in Vietnamese as early as the 1830s, in Jean-Louis Taberd's dictionary Dictionarium Latino-Annamiticum.[13] The French introduced Vietnam to the baguette, along with other baked goods such as pâté chaud, in the 1860s, at the start of their imperialism in Vietnam.[14][15] Northern Vietnamese initially called the baguette bánh tây, literally "Western bánh", while Southern Vietnamese called it bánh mì, "wheat bánh".[16][17] Nguyễn Đình Chiểu mentions the baguette in his 1861 poem "Văn tế nghĩa sĩ Cần Giuộc". Due to the price of imported wheat at the time, French baguettes and sandwiches were considered a luxury. During World War I, an influx of French soldiers and supplies arrived. At the same time, disruptions of wheat imports led bakers to begin mixing in inexpensive rice flour (which also made the bread fluffier). As a result, it became possible for ordinary Vietnamese to enjoy French staples such as bread.[18][19][17] Many shops baked twice a day, because bread tends to go stale quickly in the hot, humid climate of Vietnam. Baguettes were mainly eaten for breakfast with some butter and sugar.[15]

A bánh mì stand in Ho Chi Minh City

Until the 1950s, sandwiches hewed closely to French tastes, typically a jambon-beurre moistened with a mayonnaise or liver pâté spread.[18][19][15][2] The 1954 Partition of Vietnam sent over a million migrants from North Vietnam to South Vietnam, transforming Saigon's local cuisine.[16] Among the migrants were Lê Minh Ngọc and Nguyễn Thị Tịnh, who opened a small bakery named Hòa Mã in District 3. In 1958, Hòa Mã became one of the first shops to sell bánh mì thịt.[18][20][21] Around this time, another migrant from the North began selling chả sandwiches from a basket on a mobylette,[22] and a stand in Gia Định Province (present-day Phú Nhuận District) began selling phá lấu sandwiches.[23] Some shops stuffed sandwiches with inexpensive Cheddar cheese, which came from French food aid that migrants from the North had rejected.[15] Vietnamese communities in France also began selling bánh mì.[17]

After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, bánh mì sandwiches became a luxury item once again.[16] During the so-called "subsidy period", state-owned phở eateries often served bread or cold rice as a side dish, leading to the present-day practice of dipping quẩy in phở.[24] In the 1980s, Đổi Mới market reforms led to a renaissance in bánh mì, mostly as street food.[16]

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Americans brought bánh mì sandwiches to cities across the United States. In Northern California, Lê Văn Bá and his sons are credited with popularizing bánh mì among Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese Americans alike through their food truck services provider and their fast-food chain, Lee's Sandwiches, beginning in the 1980s.[17] Sometimes bánh mì was likened to local sandwiches. In New Orleans, a "Vietnamese po' boy" recipe won the 2009 award for the best po' boy at the annual Oak Street Po-Boy Festival.[25] A restaurant in Philadelphia also sells a similar sandwich, marketed as a "Vietnamese hoagie".[26]

Bánh mì in California

Since the 1970s, Vietnamese refugees from the Vietnam War arrived in London and were hosted at community centers [27] in areas of London such as De Beauvoir Town eventually founding a string of successful Vietnamese-style canteens in Shoreditch where bánh mì alongside phở, was popularised from the 1990s.

Bánh mì sandwiches were featured in the 2002 PBS documentary Sandwiches That You Will Like. The word bánh mì was added to the Oxford English Dictionary on 24 March 2011.[28][29] As of 2017, bánh mì is included in about 2% of U.S. restaurant sandwich menus, a nearly fivefold increase from 2013.[30] On 24 March 2020, Google celebrated bánh mì with a Google Doodle.[31]

Ingredients

[edit]

Bread

[edit]
Loaves of bánh mì at Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery in New Orleans

A Vietnamese baguette has a thin crust and white, airy crumb. It may consist of both wheat flour and rice flour.[18]

Besides being made into a sandwich, it is eaten alongside meat dishes, such as bò kho (a beef stew), curry, and phá lấu. It can also be dipped in condensed milk (see Sữa Ông Thọ).

Fillings

[edit]
Assembling a bánh mì

A bánh mì sandwich typically consists of one or more meats, accompanying vegetables, and condiments.

Accompanying vegetables typically include fresh cucumber slices or wedges, leaves of the coriander plant and pickled carrot and daikon in shredded form (đồ chua). Common condiments include spicy chili sauce, sliced chilis, seasoning sauce, and mayonnaise.[14][17] These sandwiches can even be filled with seared tofu. [32]

Varieties

[edit]
Bánh mì to eat with bò kho

Many fillings are used. A typical bánh mì shop in the United States offers at least 10 varieties.[33]

The most popular variety is bánh mì thịt, thịt meaning "meat". Bánh mì thịt nguội (also known as bánh mì pâté chả thịt, bánh mì đặc biệt, or "special combo") is made with various Vietnamese cold cuts, such as sliced pork or pork belly, chả lụa (Vietnamese sausage), and head cheese, along with the liver pâté and vegetables like carrot or cucumbers.[34][16][10][35]

Other varieties include:

  • Bánh mì bì (shredded pork sandwich) – shredded pork or pork skin, doused with fish sauce
  • Bánh mì chà bông (pork floss sandwich)
  • Bánh mì xíu mại (minced pork meatball sandwich) – smashed pork meatballs
  • bánh mì thịt nguội (ham sandwich)
  • Bánh mì cá mòi (sardine sandwich)
  • Bánh mì pa-tê (pâté sandwich)
  • Bánh mì xá xíu or bánh mì thịt nướng (barbecue pork sandwich)
  • Bánh mì chả lụa or bánh mì giò lụa (Vietnamese sausage sandwich)
  • Bánh mì gà nướng (grilled chicken sandwich)
  • Bánh mì chay (vegetarian sandwich) – made with tofu or seitan; in Vietnam, usually made at Buddhist temples during special religious events, but uncommon on the streets
  • Bánh mì chả (fish patty sandwich)
  • Bánh mì bơ (margarine or buttered sandwich) – margarine / butter and sugar
  • Bánh mì trứng ốp-la (fried egg sandwich) – contains fried eggs with onions, sprinkled with soy sauce, sometimes buttered; served for breakfast in Vietnam
  • Bánh mì kẹp kem (ice cream sandwich) – contains scoops of ice cream topped with crushed peanuts[36]
Bánh mì chảo
Bánh mỳ que

Nowadays, different types of bánh mì are popular. For example, bánh mì que is thinner and longer and can be filled with various ingredients just as normal bánh mì.

Notable vendors

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Bánh mì sold in Lee's Sandwiches.

Prior to the Fall of Saigon in 1975, well-known South Vietnamese bánh mì vendors included Bánh mì Ba Lẹ and Bánh mì Như Lan (which opened in 1968[18]).

In regions of the United States with significant populations of Vietnamese Americans, numerous bakeries and fast food restaurants specialize in bánh mì. Lee's Sandwiches, a fast food chain with locations in several states, specializes in Vietnamese sandwiches served on French baguettes (or traditional bánh mì at some locations) as well as Western-style sandwiches served on croissants. In New Orleans, Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery is known for the bánh mì bread that it distributes to restaurants throughout the city. After 1975, Ba Lẹ owner Võ Văn Lẹ fled to the United States and, along with Lâm Quốc Thanh, founded Bánh mì Ba Lê.[37] The Eden Center shopping center in Northern Virginia has several well-known bakeries specializing in bánh mì.[14]

Mainstream fast food chains have also incorporated bánh mì and other Vietnamese dishes into their portfolios. Yum! Brands operates a chain of bánh mì cafés called Bánh Shop.[17] The former Chipotle-owned ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen chain briefly sold bánh mì. Jack in the Box offers a "bánh mì–inspired" fried chicken sandwich as part of its Food Truck Series.[38] McDonald's and Paris Baguette locations in Vietnam offer bánh mì.[39][40]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The best Vietnamese Sandwich to Fall in Love With". Authenticfoodquest.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b Moskin, Julia (7 April 2009). "Building on Layers of Tradition". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  3. ^ "banh mi". OxfordDictionaries.com (British & World English). Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  4. ^ "banh mi". OxfordDictionaries.com (North American English). Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  5. ^ "banh mi". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Banh Mi". Merriam-Webster. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  7. ^ "banh mi". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  8. ^ Young, Daniel (25 September 1996). "East Meets West in 'Nam Sandwich". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020.
  9. ^ Saigon-Style Banh Mi Archived 29 May 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Los Angeles Times
  10. ^ a b "Bánh mì Sài Gòn ở Mỹ". baomoi.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  11. ^ Lorenzo, Sandra (21 April 2013). "Banh Mi : le sandwich vietnamien qui va pimenter votre pause déjeuner". HuffPost (in French). Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  12. ^ Trần Nhân Tông (c. 1300) [13th century]. 居塵樂道賦 第九會 Cư trần lạc đạo phú, đệ cửu hội  (in Vietnamese) – via Wikisource.
  13. ^ Jean-Louis Taberd (1838). "Panis". Dictionarium Latino-Annamiticum. Dictionarium anamitico-latinum (in Latin). p. 453. hdl:2027/uc1.b000742998. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2018 – via HathiTrust.
  14. ^ a b c Nicholls, Walter (6 February 2008). "The Banh Mi of My Dreams". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  15. ^ a b c d Vũ Hồng Liên (2016). Rice and Baguette: A History of Food in Vietnam. London: Reaktion Books. pp. 147–150. ISBN 9781780237046. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2018 – via Google Books.
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  17. ^ a b c d e f Lam, Andrew (2015). "The Marvel of Bánh Mì" (PDF). The Cairo Review of Global Affairs (18). American University in Cairo: 64–71. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  18. ^ a b c d e Hương Giang (10 September 2016). "Bánh mì Việt Nam và hành trình chinh phục cả thế giới". Người Lao động (in Vietnamese). No. 212. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  19. ^ a b Lê Văn Nghĩa (11 June 2017). "Chuyện xưa – chuyện nay: Bánh mì Sài Gòn trong thơ" [Then and now: Saigon sandwiches in poetry]. Tuổi Trẻ (in Vietnamese). Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  20. ^ Phong Vinh (21 November 2015). "Bánh mì Hòa Mã 50 năm ở Sài Gòn" [Hòa Mã bakery at 50 years in Saigon]. VnExpress (in Vietnamese). FPT Group. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  21. ^ "5 quán ăn lâu đời nhất Sài Gòn" [The 5 oldest eateries in Saigon]. Barcode (in Vietnamese). Indochine Media Ventures Vietnam. 8 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  22. ^ P.V. (5 June 2013). "Vào hẻm tìm ăn bánh mì cụ Lý" [Searching the alleys for grandpa Lý's sandwiches]. Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). Vietnam United Youth League. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  23. ^ "Xe bánh mì phá lấu 60 năm tại góc phố Sài Gòn". Ngôi sao (in Vietnamese). VnExpress. 8 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  24. ^ Trịnh Quang Dũng (22 January 2010). "Phở theo thời cuộc" [Pho in the present day]. Báo Khoa Học Phổ Thông (in Vietnamese). Ho Chi Minh City Union of Science and Technology Associations. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  25. ^ "The Vietnamese Po-Boy". WWNO. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
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  27. ^ "An Viet House in de Beauvoir could become Asian community's answer to Jamie Oliver's training restaurant Fifteen". 27 February 2018.
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  29. ^ Andy Bloxham. "Heart symbol enters Oxford English Dictionary". The Daily Telegraph, 24 March 2011.
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  32. ^ "Banh Mi Sandwich". loveandlemons.com. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  33. ^ Ngọc Lan (10 May 2013). "Chuyện kinh doanh bánh mì tại Little Saigon (kỳ 2)" [Tales of sandwich shop tales in Little Saigon (part 2)]. Nguoi Viet Daily News (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  34. ^ Andrea Nguyen. "Master Banh Mi Sandwich Recipe" Archived 30 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Viet World Kitchen, retrieved 2010.04.03
  35. ^ "Bánh mì Sài gòn nức tiếng thế giới" Archived 28 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine, TuanVietNam, 2012/10/20
  36. ^ "Sài Gòn: Mua 'vé về tuổi thơ' với bánh mì kẹp kem siêu rẻ" [Saigon: Purchase a "ticket to childhood" with super-cheap ice cream sandwiches]. Trí Thức Trẻ (in Vietnamese). Hội Trí thức Khoa học và Công nghệ Trẻ Việt Nam. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
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  38. ^ Wiesberg, Lori (29 January 2018). "Jack vs. Martha: A Jack in the Box fast food showdown begins". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  39. ^ Ives, Mike (7 February 2014). "McDonald's Opens in Vietnam, Bringing Big Mac to Fans of Banh Mi". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
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