Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival 2026 draws flock of visitors in Ho Chi Minh City

With more than 160 stalls showcasing a wide range of varieties and flavors, the festival drew thousands of domestic and international visitors even before its official opening, as crowds gathered to explore and sample the iconic Vietnamese banh mi, a type of baguette filled with cold meats, pâté, and vegetables.

Nguyen Thi Dao, a resident of Go Vap Ward, said her family arrived early but still had to queue for popular stalls due to the heavy turnout at the event.

“There are many new and unique flavors with different styles of preparation, including well-known brands like Banh Mi Huynh Hoa. It’s worth the wait,” she said, adding that her family enjoyed taking photos and experiencing something new.

Foreign visitors also expressed excitement at the diversity of Vietnamese banh mi, with many trying unusual variations for the first time, such as ice cream banh mi, squid cake banh mi, and pork patty banh mi.

In addition to banh mi stalls, participating vendors offered live demonstrations of banh mi preparation and introduced related food products such as noodles, egg noodles and rice vermicelli, along with fast food options.

Many vendors also rolled out promotions and giveaways to attract customers.

At Sugar Town stall, customers purchasing banh mi could receive soursop tea or join a lucky draw, while Banh Mi Huynh Hoa offered a 10-percent discount for payments made via Grab, an app offering ride-hailing and food delivery services.

Among the many participating vendors, a representative of Banh Mi Tuan Bay Keo said the festival offered an important opportunity for brands to promote themselves and highlight their distinctive flavors.

“Our family has made banh mi for generations, so preserving our unique taste is the most important thing, from ingredient selection to preparation, everything follows our own recipes and techniques,” the representative said.

Nguyen Thi Khanh, chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, said the city has seen a surge in entertainment and culinary activities during the holiday period, with the Banh Mi Festival standing out as a key highlight.

“Over the years, the festival has demonstrated a strong growing appeal, with expanding scale, a rising number of stalls, and more brands joining each edition,” she said.

“This shows that banh mi is not only a familiar dish but is gradually becoming a culinary cultural symbol of Vietnam, with the potential to reach global audiences."