Phan Thiet has bread with dipping sauce and bread served while waiting.

Việt Nam•06/06/2024

Vietnamese bread, in general, is celebrated worldwide ; it's not elaborate, but it embodies the essence of Vietnamese cuisine in its own unique way, specific to each region. Phan Thiet bread, in particular, is a must-try, attracting many tourists.

Honored

Taste Atlas magazine (a travel and food guide) recently published a list of the 100 best dishes in the world. Vietnam had two dishes honored on the list: Vietnamese banh mi, ranked 14th with 4.6 stars, and Vietnamese pho, ranked 100th with 4.4 stars. Along with pho, banh mi is considered one of the most famous Vietnamese dishes worldwide. It's a type of sandwich influenced by French, Chinese, and Vietnamese cuisine. Although sharing the same name, the Vietnamese baguette is different. Vietnamese banh mi is made with dough, with a little added rice flour to make the inside fluffy but the crust crispier. It's also smaller in size and filled with various fillings. These characteristics make it easier to enjoy compared to the long, denser bread. (Reference and translation from Taste Atlas).

The Banh Mi Cho (Waiting Bread) stall is located on the corner of Nguyen Hue Street, Phan Thiet City.

Vietnamese banh mi, of Western origin, has been present in Vietnam for a long time – since around the 19th century – and is widely known. In the 2000s, the word "banh mi" was included in the Oxford Dictionary. This affirms the sovereignty of Vietnamese cuisine. The dictionary defines "banh mi" as a type of Vietnamese sandwich, with a filling of various cold cuts, pate, and vegetables inside the bread. Furthermore, Vietnamese banh mi has been praised and promoted by many culinary experts and international media outlets. Because it's not overly elaborate, it embodies the essence of Vietnamese cuisine in its own unique way, specific to each region of the country. Traditional banh mi is filled with pate, cold cuts, ham, and shredded pork; accompanied by pickled carrots, white radish, cucumber, chili peppers, cilantro, and butter or mayonnaise.

A long-standing, famous street food stall selling banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches).

However, over time, along with the evolution of culinary culture, the fillings inside the bread have also become quite diverse, adapting to different regions and localities. For example, bread with fried eggs, roasted pork, grilled meat, or bread with condensed milk… In Phan Thiet, the bread fillings have a unique characteristic of the coastal region, unlike anywhere else.

Phan Thiet-style banh mi is served with various toppings such as steamed fish cake, fried fish cake, shumai, char siu pork, boiled egg, pork skin, and crescent-shaped dumplings. These toppings are placed in a plate or bowl, along with a dipping sauce consisting of thick fish sauce, shumai sauce, fried onions, cilantro, and pickled vegetables (carrots and white radishes). All of this creates a colorful and visually appealing banh mi with a bowl of toppings. Depending on the choice of toppings, a serving of banh mi costs approximately 15,000 - 25,000 VND. Customers can purchase it at any time of day.

Phan Thiet has many famous sidewalk banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) stalls that have been operating for decades. For example, there's a banh mi stall that's been around for over 20 years, where customers have to queue to buy, earning it the nickname "waiting banh mi"; and the banh mi with dipping sauce stall in Hung Long, which has been around for over 40 years. Tourists visiting Phan Thiet can't miss trying Phan Thiet banh mi. Many tourist groups comment: "These are affordable eateries serving both locals and tourists. Phan Thiet banh mi is delicious, with a distinct coastal flavor, and the prices are reasonable for everyone."

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