Vietnamese Baguette (Banh Mi)


Bread and wheat products occupy a unique position in the cuisines of every country on Earth. From Europe to Asia, Africa to America, everybody loves bread, and certainly, Vietnamese is no exception. Although bread made of wheat and rice flour is not the tradition dish, it plays an essential role in Vietnam daily life.

Vietnamese baguette in the past
Vietnam has a long history as an agriculture country with rice being the main staple. Not until 1859 when the French colonials entered Southern Vietnam did bread appear widely throughout the country.
An imported food, bread speedily became popular and assimilated in Vietnam. The most apparent evidence is the shape of the bread, which is typically small and long. Vietnamese bread originally came from the bread made à-la- Françe!, the kingdom of bread, yet Banh mi in Vietnam was first made for the working class such as drivers, porters, blue-collar workers. That accounts for the reason why “banh mi Viet Nam” had the shape of a baguette instead of a bun or roll. With the shape of a baguette, it would be much easier for people to hold it by one hand and eat while working. Through times, the plain French baguette has adapted in various ways to become the present “Banh mi Viet Nam”.

Distinctive “Banh mi Vietnam”
The very first thing about “banh mi Vietnam” that amazes foreign travelers is that they can hardly find Vietnamese-style baguette in a shiny shop, in which cakes and fancy Western bread with pretty high price are displayed for sale.

Banh mi Vietnam can be purchased right at the roadside stalls or from the street vendors, in many the alleys of the city or even in the bus terminals and train station. Small freshly hot baguettes are kept warm in the red hot coal brazier; or inside the bamboo basket fully covered with a woolen blanket.
Not only foreigners feel nostalgic when hearing the voices of street vendors resounding on every alley of Hanoi “Crisply hot bread for sale! Crisply hot bread for sale” (Bánh mì nóng giòn nào!) but Vietnamese loves that as well.
Years ago, when Hanoi was quieter, the cry of the street vendors is considered a symbol of tranquility. Even now, it still invokes special feelings among Hanoians, especially those who come back to visit Hanoi after a long time living far away from the city. Those sellers have become a typical image of the good old days, of the past full of unforgettable memories.

“Banh mi Viet Nam” is also special for its diverse tastes. Those who have taken a bite of Vietnamese baguette will never forget the crunchiness of the crust since it is very light, airy and crispy. Bakers making Vietnamese-style baguette does not add butter, shortening or chicken fat. The dough contains only wheat, rice flour and quick-rise yeast. “Banh mi Viet Nam” has a pretty low price, only VND2000-VND3000 per loaf, which answers the question why Vietnamese rarely bake their own bread at home.
Vietnamese baguette is also very versatile, and it can be served any time of the day. Moreover, depending on their personal taste, people can enjoy their Banh mi in their own way: with fried eggs, liver pâté, mayonnaise or even condensed milk. There are many “versions” of “banh mi Viet Nam” that each area has its individually famous kind, which can even stunningly astonish Western travellers coming from the motherland of bread.

Source: vietnamfood.org

Fried Pho Noodle (Phở Chiên Phồng)

Today I will present one more Vietnamese Food Pho which is really popular in Hanoi. It is called Fried Pho Noodle (Phở Chiên Phồng). You might know one fried Pho which the noodles are cut in pieces of square. However there is one more fried Pho which the noodles are in long pieces like traditional Pho.


There is one restaurant which located on 48 Tran Nhan Tong. It is not really big or beautiful. It has small banner and some tables which are put on the street. However, it is always crowded due to the customers come there frequently until the last dish is sold. The most popular dish there is the Fried Pho Noodle. The cookers will cut the noodles as long small pieces and then he put all of them into the hot oil pan.

The sound of frying noodles is so interesting, I feel like listening the rain is dropping outside the door. So it is one reason why I and my friends like going there to eat this Vietnamese Food Pho. After frying the noodles, they turn to the bold yellow, looking delicious that I cannot keep my mouth to bite it immediately. Next, the cookers will add the fried beef onto the dish and includes fried green broccoli as well as delicious sauce.

Even frying the noodles in the hot oil pan, the taste of noodles is not different too much. The crispy crunchy of the noodles, the brittle of beef, the brittle and sweet of broccoli and the tasty of sauce make this Vietnamese Food Pho is completely different with other Pho.

The price of one Vietnamese Food Pho bowl is around 40,000VND ($2). It is not cheap comparing with the average dish on the street like traditional Pho or Bun Bo hue. However, it is really delicious, so try it if you have chance. Make sure you will not miss any type of Pho when visit our beautiful country. Hope you have a safe and happy trip with your family and friends.

Ba Khía (Freshwater Crabs)

Besides of the natural landscape and the pristine beauty, people who to come to canal would enjoy a dish that has long been a local specialty: Ba Khía (Freshwater Crabs). This ingredient is really popular to create many Best Vietnamese Food.  However there are some little can enjoy it because the flavor and smell is quite hard.


Rạch Gốc Ba Khía has a brand over the years as only the third local areas truly delicious, more attractive. Around July, August is the annual lunaris the Ba Khía’s season. This type of Ba Khía eat black fall fruit sauce, therefore it has lipstick brick, aromatic meat and just three ways to make more elsewhere.

After catching Ba Khía, washed and salted it on the spot. Salt permeability for about 5 to 7 days and nights can be eaten. Next is salt Ba Khía, you need to be careful that salt it not too salty, not too light salt. So if the meat salty gasoline, even if the flesh colors too weak stomach, loss of appetite. Here is also the important way to create Best Vietnamese Food from my country.

In addition, Ba Khía is also cooked with lemongrass sauce. Sauce is made very simple but no less special, including minced lemongrass, mixed with fresh rice, the spicy little pepper to create and give a little more seasoning to taste. When I write this article, I could not stop thinking about this Best Vietnamese Food.

With this food, very sweet flesh of three ways, by air fragrant with the chili pepper, lemon and a little sour, warm batch of rice. Three ways with boiled sauce is a dish will not be forgotten for visitors. Hope you can satisfy with this post which gives you enough information about this amazing ingredient to create many Best Vietnamese Food in my country. Have a happy trip with your family and friends.