5 banh mi stalls draw crowds at Ho Chi Minh City festival

The third edition of Vietnam’s annual banh mi festival in downtown Ho Chi Minh City saw the number of visitors increase by 30% compared to previous years, with five stalls serving 1,000-1,500 loaves of bread per day.

Trang Bread

Nguyen Quang Huy, owner of Trang Bread, said his shop sold 5,000 loaves during the three days of the festival, which concluded on March 23.

“We were packed with customers from 8 a.m. until night. At times, we even had to pause sales just to prepare more ingredients,” Huy said.

Opened in 2024, the brand initially gained attention for its VND79,000 (US$3.09) loaves. For its festival debut, the shop reduced both the size and the price, offering each loaf for VND39,000.

Bay Ho

Bay Ho banh mi shop owner Ho Quoc Dung said it sold around 2,000 loaves per day during the festival, marking a more than 30% increase compared to last year. On the first day, over 1,000 loaves were prepared beforehand but they sold out even before the shop officially opened.

“Our staff could barely keep up with the crowd,” he said.

Founded in 1930, Bay Ho banh mi has been passed down through three generations. Each loaf is priced at VND25,000. While the crust is sourced from a different bakery, all the fillings—pate, meatballs, sausage, pork, and shredded pork—are homemade. The shop has preserved its original recipe for more than 90 years.

Mr. Ly’s

Nguyen Hoang Quoc Thien, owner of Mr. Ly’s Bread, a shop with a 70-year history in Ho Chi Minh City, said he sold over 1,000 loaves on the first day, matching last year’s peak.

Over the following two days, he ramped up production to meet growing demand. In addition to bread, the shop also sold sausage, cold cuts, and shredded pork, producing several dozen kilograms each day.

“We were surprised by how many customers returned for two consecutive days, each time buying five to ten loaves to share with friends and family,” Thien said.

The bakery is known for its simple yet distinctive loaves, filled with just ham, onion, and cucumber, and sold only during a three-hour window each morning.

Tang’s

Established in the 1950s, the shop is renowned for its grilled pâté and meatball sandwiches, priced at VND30,000–35,000 each.

Customers line up to buy banh mi at Tang’s stall at HCMC banh mi festival, March 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Owner Tang Chieu Quan, who has participated in the festival since its inception, remarked on this year’s larger scale and increased number of visitors.

The shop sold 1,500 loaves a day, double last year’s figure.

On the first day, Quan’s stall sold twice as many loaves as in previous years, with the Chinese-style pâté and meatball sandwich emerging as the best seller.

Huynh Hoa

On the festival’s opening night, Huynh Hoa bakery saw a 40% increase in visitor number compared to previous years, with more than 1,000 loaves sold on the first day.

Huynh Hoa stall’s banh mi is cut in half. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Huynh Hoa’s stall located near the main stage of the festival at Le Van Tam Park constantly drew large crowds, although a portion costs VND73,000.

The bakery, over 30 years old and located in downtown District 1, is a favorite among food bloggers and foreign visitors. During peak hours in the morning and afternoon, lines can stretch up to 200 meters outside the shop.

Each loaf weighs around 400 grams and includes a generous mix of pâté, ham, pork roll, sausage, and char siu pork.

By Tuan An – VnExpress