The festival, that highlights the growing global appeal of Vietnam’s iconic bánh mì and its role in promoting the country’s culinary identity, has brought together around 150 booths from local and international brands. Running through April 26, the event offers a vibrant culinary space alongside a wide range of cultural and experiential activities.

A key highlight of this year’s festival is a showcase of 50 vegetarian dishes paired with bánh mì, reflecting evolving food trends and expanding the traditional appeal of the dish.

Visitors can also explore creative installations blending Vietnamese and French culinary influences, including bánh mì-themed art displays inspired by the Eiffel Tower, a “bánh mì airplane” model, and decorative landscapes made from bread - all of which have become popular photo spots.

International visitors have expressed strong impressions of Vietnam’s signature sandwich. Margot Blaise, a tourist from France, said she was particularly struck by the crisp texture and bold flavours of Vietnamese bánh mì, noting that it offered a richer taste experience compared to traditional French baguette.

Similarly, Australian visitor Colin Thompson praised both the food and the organisation of the event, highlighting the freshness, variety of ingredients, and distinctive crunch of Vietnamese bánh mì.

According to Nguyen Thi Khanh, chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, the festival continues to demonstrate the strong appeal of large-scale culinary events. She noted that its expanding scale and diverse activities contribute to positioning bánh mì as a symbol of Vietnamese cuisine on the global stage, while ensuring food safety standards remain a priority.

This year’s theme, “Vietnamese Bánh Mì: A Global Culinary Value – Spreading Across Continents,” underscores the ambition to elevate the dish from a popular street food to an internationally recognised brand.

In addition to food experiences, the festival features thematic discussions, including a seminar on positioning bánh mì as a global culinary brand, as well as competitions such as the Baguette Award, further enhancing professional exchange and industry engagement.

More broadly, the festival reflects Ho Chi Minh City’s strategy to develop culinary tourism into a key pillar of its tourism offering, showcasing the city as a dynamic, culturally rich destination.

CNN ranks Bánh mì among world’s top 25 sandwiches again

VOV.VN - Bánh mì (Vietnamese baguettes) has been ranked third among the world’s top 25 sandwiches, marking its second appearance on CNN’s global list.