BEST BANH MI IN SAIGON

BLEEDING GUMS AND HAPPY BELLIES

Scant experiences rival biting into a perfectly crispy, fluffy Banh Mi in Vietnam, loaded to the nines with great, fresh toppings, a smattering of homemade chilli paste and a stack of coriander. Though the roof of your mouth has suffered those crisp shards, the overall satisfaction of that magical mix of meat, pate, herbs, pickled vegetables and sauce does something to a persons soul.

Ho Chi Minh City has a million Banh Mi stalls on every conceivable corner, supplying the local inhabitants with a quick bite on the go. Rock up on a scooter, shout your order, pay, and within 2 minutes you'll be back on the road balancing a baguette between the brakes and side-mirror.

In our honest estimation, the general standard of sandwiches in the city are high. However, as with everything in life, a bit of digging ends up getting you some gold. In this case, a few Banh Mi that stand out from the middle. Authentic local sandwiches that are worth risking your life on a Grab bike to experience. Below are our five favourites in Saigon to sink your teeth into.

1. Banh Mi 37
2. Phuc Hai Quan
3. Banh Mi Hong Hoa
4. Banh Mi Bay Ho

BANH MI 37

The queen of Banh Mi in downtown Saigon. Head here around 4pm when the lady has started grilling her pork patties over hot coals, and wait in line whilst being perpetually wafted with smells of other realms, grab your sandwich and sit down on the sidewalk and partake while its still hot. This place is our go-to in HCMC.

PHUC HAI QUAN

After risking your life in the traffic, order the pork belly Banh Mi with crackling, ask them to smooch on some chilli paste, and have yourself a delectable little lunch on the go.

HONG HOA

Not to be confused with the (in)famous Huynh Hoa around the corner (too much mystery meat and mayo for our liking), this humble stall rocks out solid sammies to a loyal cult.

BANH MI BAY HO

Unfortunately (or fortunately), this great Banh Mi stall was subjected to Netflix's hype, and therefore seemed to have enjoyed a rise in popularity. Not that that's a bad thing for them, but for a seasoned traveller who doesn't like waiting in lines, it presents new issues.

Still, a veritable box on the Saigon Banh Mi list that you need to tick off.

Food is forever evolving, and sometimes it devolves. Owners change, locations change, chefs change. We can only assure you that when we visited, we liked it.