Bánh mì is the Vietnamese sandwich that combines a split baguette with fillings such as pâté, pickled vegetables and fresh herbs.
A typical bánh mì may contain pork, chicken, grilled meat, pâté, mayonnaise, cucumber, cilantro and pickled carrot and daikon. The contrast between a crisp, airy baguette and savory, acidic and herbal fillings is central to the sandwich’s appeal.
The baguette entered Vietnam during French colonial rule. Vietnamese cooks adapted it to local tastes and ingredients, creating a distinct sandwich tradition rather than simply reproducing a French loaf with European fillings. The modern filled sandwich became especially associated with urban street food.
“Bánh mì” can refer to bread itself as well as the prepared sandwich, depending on context. Fillings also vary by region and vendor, so there is no single mandatory recipe. The term is often incorrectly used to mean only a meat sandwich, although vegetarian and egg-filled versions are common.