The Vietnamese street food sandwich made with a baguette, filled with meats, pickled vegetables, and herbs is bánh mì.
The sandwich uses a short Vietnamese baguette with a thin, crisp crust and airy interior. Common fillings include pork cold cuts, Vietnamese sausage, pâté, grilled meat, or meatballs. Pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, cilantro, chili, and mayonnaise or other sauces add contrasting acidity, freshness, heat, and richness.
The baguette reflects French influence in Vietnam during the colonial period, when French-style bread was introduced in the 1860s. Vietnamese cooks and vendors adapted it with local ingredients, creating the distinctive sandwich associated especially with southern Vietnam and Saigon. The term bánh mì can also mean bread generally, while bánh mì thịt specifically means a meat-filled sandwich.
It is often confused with a generic baguette sandwich, but the pickled vegetables, herbs, and Vietnamese-style fillings are central to its identity. Bánh xèo is a savory Vietnamese crêpe, phở is a noodle soup, and gỏi cuốn are fresh spring rolls.