The popular Vietnamese 'banh mi' recently ranked first in a list of 100 best sandwiches in the world compiled by TasteAtlas.

“Bánh mì (pronounced 'bun mee') is a popular Vietnamese variety of sandwiches that share the same core ingredient -- a baguette,” TasteAtlas wrote. 

According to the online food site, “the baguette was brought over to Vietnam during the colonial period, and nowadays it is one of the few happy legacies from the time.”

While the crusty bread, condiments, and meats are all a legacy of French and Chinese colonialism, TasteAtlas explained, cilantro, chili, and pickles reflect the Vietnamese taste for fresh vegetables and bright flavors.

Beside its most popular 'banh mi thit,' which separately made it to the ninth position in the TasteAtlas’ list, Vietnam has a wide range of 'banh mi' varieties, namely 'banh mi xiu mai' (filled with meatballs), 'banh mi cha ca' (filled with fishcake), 'banh mi heo quay' (filled with roasted pork), 'banh mi ga nuong' (filled with grilled chicken), 'banh mi op la' (filled with sunny-side egg), and others. 

TasteAtlas also recommended some 'banh mi' stalls in Vietnam, as well as in the U.S. and Australia, in its related articles. 

Other sandwiches included in TasteAtlas’ top ten are Tombik döner from Turkey; Shawarma from Lebanon, Egypt, Israel, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia; torta from Mexico; lobster roll from the U.S.; sandwich de lomo from Argentina; Montreal smoked meat from Canada; Mozzarella in carrozza from Italy; 'banh mi thit' from Vietnam; and Texas brisket sandwich from the U.S..

This is not the first time the Vietnamese 'banh mi' has been named among the best sandwiches across the globe.

In April 2023, CNN Travel ranked 'banh mi' fifth in its list of 24 of the world's best sandwiches.

'Banh mi' also made it to the world's dictionaries including Oxford, Cambridge, and Merriam-Webster, to name a few.

“'Banh mi' is a usually spicy sandwich in Vietnamese cuisine consisting of a split baguette filled typically with meat (such as pork or chicken) and pickled vegetables (such as carrot and daikon) and garnished with cilantro and often cucumbers,” Merriam-Webster defines.

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