Held at Le Van Tam Park, the event attracted large numbers of residents and tourists, turning the venue into a bustling crowd on opening day.
This year’s festival features nearly 150 booths, showcasing renowned banh mi brands such as Banh mi Huynh Hoa, Banh mi Cu Ly and Banh mi Trang, alongside restaurants, ingredient suppliers and culinary equipment providers.
From early morning, popular stalls saw long lines of visitors eager to sample the iconic Vietnamese sandwich, with some vendors reporting sell outs within hours.
The festival, themed “Vietnamese bread, a global culinary value spreading worldwide”, aims to reinforce banh mi’s position on the international food map. It is organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association in collaboration with the Vietnam Culinary Culture Research, Conservation and Development Centre.
Pham Huy Binh, director of the city’s tourism department, said the event not only celebrates a signature dish but also promotes Vietnam’s culture and people, positioning the city as a dynamic and distinctive destination.
Vendors introduced special offerings for the festival. Representatives of Banh mi Huynh Hoa said they launched a smaller version of their signature oversized sandwich priced at VND 61,000 (approximately USD 2.4), making it more accessible to visitors, while keeping other prices unchanged.
At Banh mi Trang, more than 500 traditional sandwiches were sold on the first day alone, with the stall repeatedly running out of stock.
Meanwhile, Banh mi Cu Ly, a brand with more than 50 years of history, also drew continuous queues and strong interest from international visitors.
Visitors praised both the food and the lively atmosphere. Margot, a tourist from France, said she was impressed by the rich flavours, crispy bread and diverse fillings, describing banh mi as “simple yet refined”.
Beyond food, the festival features creative displays, including a nearly three metre tall Eiffel Tower model made from bread, drawing crowds for photos.
The event runs from April 23 to April 26, from 8 am to 10 pm daily, offering a vibrant mix of culinary and cultural experiences.
