VietKings, the Vietnamese record organization, awarded a certificate for a national record of 150 types of fillings and side dishes for banh mi (Vietnamese baguette), showcased on a giant model of banh mi at the second Vietnam Bánh Mì Festival inaugurated in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

Banh mi, which is a Vietnamese baguette filled with paste, cold cuts, herbs, cucumber, chili sauce, and pickles, is ranked fourth on a recent list of 60 of the world’s best sandwiches.

The expansive banh mi model set up at the second Vietnam Bánh Mì Festival features an assortment of variants of the dish, including banh mi with pâté and chili salt sauce, banh mi with salmon and lemon sauce, banh mi with vegetable and cheese, and Saigon (an old name of Ho Chi Minh City) style mixed banh mi. 

Taking place at Le Van Tam Park in District 1, the fest adopts the theme ‘Vietnamese Bánh Mì - World Cuisine Value,’ anticipating an attendance of 100,000 visitors over the course of three days, from Friday to Sunday. 

Nguyen Thi Khanh, chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, emphasized the festival’s enhanced features this year, with numerous enticing spaces for public exploration and interaction. 

The event boasts the participation of renowned banh mi brands, some with over five decades of history, alongside restaurants serving banh mi-based dishes, bakeries, and vendors offering banh mi-making seasoning ingredients and equipment. 

In total, there are about 130 booths.

VietKings, the Vietnamese record organization, awards a certificate for a national record of 150 types of fillings and side dishes for 'banh mi' (Vietnamese baguette), showcased on a giant model of 'banh mi' at the second Vietnam Bánh Mì Festival inaugurated in Ho Chi Minh City May 17, 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

During the opening ceremony on Friday, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, praised the festival’s organization, content, and unique activities, which highlighted the distinctive essence of Vietnamese baguette compared to its global counterparts.

Hoa pledged to collaborate with the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association to effectively introduce the festival to tourists and businesses. 

She also committed to continuing research efforts to develop more impactful activities aimed at showcasing Vietnam’s unique culinary offerings to the world, thereby bolstering Vietnam’s culinary and tourism reputation.

Additionally, the festival will host seminars centering on banh mi, cuisine, and tourism.

Furthermore, the organizing committee will distribute carts to newbies in the bakery industry, facilitating experiential sessions in baguette-making using rice flour, cereals, and Vietnamese agricultural products.

The first Vietnam Bánh Mì Festival took place in Ho Chi Minh City in late March last year, attracting some 100,000 visitors.

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