Banh Mi Sandwich at Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa - Amazing Vietnamese Street Food in Saigon, Vietnam!

Bánh Mì (also spelled banh mi), actually just means bread in Vietnamese. However, outside of Vietnam, the term often refers to the Vietnamese sandwich, wrapped into a crusty baguette. In Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), you seriously can’t go more than a few meters without seeing the next banh mi vendor or stall. It’s one of the most popular Vietnamese street foods, and it is great for both takeaway and sitting down for a nice bite.

Banh mi sandwiches are often eaten for snacks, or for light meals. The personal sized baguettes, which have influence from the French, are very light and airy, and they are not overly filling. The outside of the bread is incredibly crusty and crunchy, and the inside is very soft and airy. Together, the contrast of textures, makes it perfect for a sandwich. Like I said before, there’s a near infinite amount of places to get banh mi in Saigon, but on this day I went to a place not too far from where I was staying called Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa. While some of the other famous banh mi restaurants in the area are only open in the afternoon and evening, this restaurant is mostly open in the morning, and served a crowd of people for takeaway every morning.

I ordered their most basic normal banh mi, a sandwich that began with a nice freshly baked baguette (and by the way, they were also selling freshly baked baguettes, which were hot and fresh), that was cut in half, then filled with a mixture of pate, mayonnaise, a few different slices of Vietnamese cured meat, meatloaf, and some grilled pieces of pork. On top of that, she also loaded in a nice amount thinly sliced crisp veggies like cucumber, green onions, and cilantro, and then some Vietnamese pickled, including daikon radish and carrots. Finally, she added a little more seasoning, and finally added some fresh red crushed chili to give it some heat.

I have to be honest and say that this was one of my first banh mi sandwiches I had when I arrived in Saigon, and it turned out to be one of my favorites of my entire trip. It wasn’t the most impressive one, but I thought it was the freshest and the most well balanced of all of them. It had just the right ratio of meat to sauces, and it had a nice touch of all the fresh vegetables. The ratio and mixture was perfect for me, and their bread was also fresh and crusty. On top of having a wonderful banh mi, the staff, and all the owners of Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa were all extremely friendly and were happy that we were there enjoying their sandwiches.

I ate the banh mi and filmed this food video at Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa:
Open hours: I think open mostly during the morning
Price: This beauty of a sandwich cost just 17,000 Vietnamese Dong - money well spent and fully enjoyed.

[MarkWiens]

I was searching for a more famous banh mi restaurant in #Saigon  when I bumped into this one... and it turned out to be one of my favorites of my trip to #Vietnam ...

#travel   #food  

[Sweetysalado]

The bread looked beautiful, even in a basket sitting on the ground, it still looked delicious. Yum, yum, yum!

[fireflychen]

I still remember my first bite of a vietnamese baguette... to this day, still the best bread Ive ever tasted! :) your video makes me want to revisit my motherland asap! :D

[GlendaMarx]

This is by FAR my favorite sandwich ever. This week at work, company is going to treat us sandwiches, so they ask Quiznos or Subway, somebody blurted out loud " Banh Mi instead ! then everybody in the conference room said : YES BANH MI

[junk]

The look on his face when he dives in to that sandwich is priceless !

I totally agree, the banh mi is the KING of sandwiches !!!

[arabesque]

On my first trip to Saigon 10 yrs ago, I chanced upon this middle aged lady selling banh mi from her push cart near Caravelle Hotel where I stayed. The taste was heavenly! After that first Banh Mi, I would go looking for that push cart every single evening AFTER dinner, just to savour that delicious sandwich. Your video made my mouth water, and I could almost taste a hint of the Banh Mi in my mouth!!!!

[tosht]

For people who don't understand, this is exclusive to the banh mi that Mark touched on in his original "exploring Saigon" video. It's a great vlogging technique. Rick Steves, one of the world's most famous travel vloggers will do a 90 minute video on Paris and then chop it up in to dozens of videos focusing on specific topics, usually adding additional video that was edited out in the original.

Great video Mark.

[paulwombat]

I just spent over a week in Saigon. I tried 5 different banh mi places, including My Banh Mi (Bobby Chinn's) where they go for up to 105 000VND each and Banh Mi Huynh Hoa (which is famous in Saigon and has fast-moving queues all day - 33 000VND for really huge banh mi).

Hong Hoa Bakery was my favourite by far. Much tastier than the others. It looks a little different now cos the counter where they make the banh mi has been turned around so the banh mi makers now face the street. Also, in the 7 or 8 times I went there, only young girls were working.

Mark didn't get any roast pork on his roll. Make sure you point it out or get your translations right. (They have 2 types of basic pork banh mi, they're both good but the one with roast pork is incredible). It's big chunks of roast pork with crackling. I think the one with roast pork is 18 000VND and the one Mark got is 17 000 - but they seemed to randomly charge me 17 or 18 for either. Also grilled pork 'burger' banh mi is excellent but is usually sold out by 1 or 2pm (17 000VND). Fresh coconut in the fridge, 15 000VND each.

[HKKetoRecipes]

Visited this place 5 times over 2 trips to Saigon and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this Banh mi.

[jonwatanabe]

Hey Mark! Thanks for this video on the Banh Mi sandwich! You're a GENIUS at presenting food as my mouth was watering listening to you explain in detail the sandwich and watching how you ate it. You also made it a great journey in itself of obtaining the sandwich and especially eating it, a journey I'm now dreaming of trying myself!

[auroramori]

Had that like a million times already but I never get bored of the taste cause there are a lot of things u can put in it

[Chapchup]

i was there 3 hours ago for my first banh mi in vietnam . and tastiness confirmed!

[deadfarang]

That looks immense Mark. I cant wait to get back to Vietnam to try one of these out.

[wimjackmaer]

I'm having my first ever banh mi tomorrow and might add that this is more than partially inspired by you, Mark. Love your work, man! Mark Wiens

Yes. In 2014, its cost 17.000, exactly is 0.79$, now, 6/2017, it is 32.000, exactly is 1.45$. It is the best in quantity, and price too. But it is the best banhmy in HCM city.
Anyway, in my countryside, banhmy is sold: 4.000, exactly is 0.22 cent.
VietNam, my country, my love.

[TheCbach]

I cannot watch your videos while hungry..especially this one..your expressiobof satisfaction is so. contagious. .

[Reddragondiaries]

That was a killer sandwich.  $.79???  That's unbelievable.  I'd have 5!

[anhdao]

i am a true vietnamese and tbh i have not got myself a banhmi for a WHILE but after watching your video, i think imma get one immediately. It looks so delicious and tempted!!!

[Myownbs]

Mark I can't stop but laughing (in a good way) each time you take a bite your head turns to the right and delicious.
How I did not find your channel before - LOVE IT!

[jeffreycross]

When I see Mark eat it's always a great time he is very respectful and glad to eat at different places great times and hopefully a great future eating and visiting other country's glad for him and