One of the details that most delighted Vietnamese audiences after the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day was an unexpected reference to one of the country's best-known street foods: banh mi.
In one scene, Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland, visits the apartment of Ned Leeds, portrayed by Jacob Batalon. As they chat, Ned's watch suddenly goes off and he enthusiastically says, "Banh mi time."
Although the line lasts only a few seconds, it quickly became a talking point among Vietnamese moviegoers.
The reference to banh mi in Spider-Man: Brand New Day drew the attention of many Vietnamese viewers (Photo: Screenshot from clip).
What particularly impressed audiences was that the filmmakers chose to keep the Vietnamese name banh mi rather than replacing it with "sandwich" or "Vietnamese sandwich". Its appearance in the dialogue of a major Hollywood production suggests the term has become widely recognised by international audiences.
It is not the first time Vietnamese cuisine has appeared on foreign screens. Banh xeo and fresh spring rolls featured in the South Korean television series Can This Love Be Translated?, while hu tieu appeared in King the Land. However, those dishes largely served as background details or appeared in dining scenes.
In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, by contrast, banh mi is mentioned directly in the dialogue while retaining its Vietnamese name, reflecting its growing acceptance as a globally recognised culinary term.
The sandwich has received increasing international recognition in recent years.
In March 2024, food guide TasteAtlas ranked Vietnamese banh mi first on its list of the world's 100 best sandwiches, ahead of well-known varieties from the United States, Italy and Turkey.
Earlier this year, TasteAtlas also placed roast pork banh mi at the top of its ranking of the 100 best Vietnamese dishes.
CNN has included Vietnamese banh mi among the world's 25 best sandwiches, making it the only representative from Southeast Asia on the list. Beyond critical acclaim, the sandwich has become one of the foods many international visitors consider essential to try when travelling in Vietnam.
Banh mi has long become one of the most prominent symbols of Vietnamese cuisine (Photo: Moc Khai).
Speaking to Dantri, Australian tourist Shane Moxom said he ate banh mi every morning during his seven-day stay in Ho Chi Minh City without ever growing tired of it.
"Every shop has its own flavour, from the way the meat is marinated to the sauces they use. Whether it's a roadside cart or a tiny shop in an alley, every banh mi is different, but they're all delicious," he said.
For Christian Weizenegger from Germany, banh mi became more than just a meal; it was one of the reasons he decided to explore Vietnam. After trying the sandwich in several parts of the country, he said the version in Ho Chi Minh City stood out for its variety and balance of flavours.
Christian Weizenegger said what makes banh mi so striking is the balance between the crisp crust, filling and sauce (Photo: Screenshot from clip).
According to Weizenegger, a great banh mi is defined not by the amount of filling but by the harmony between the crisp baguette, pate, herbs, pickled vegetables and sauces. Compared with sandwiches in Europe, he said, Vietnamese banh mi offers greater complexity of flavour and more attention to detail.