Banh mi chay (or Vegetarian Banh mi) is one of the best vegetarian foods in Hoi An Vietnam. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will provide more information about it.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Vegetarian Banh Mi in Hoi An
– Other name(s): Banh mi chay
– Origin:
– Ingredients: (see below)
– Where to find: (see below)
– Served for: breakfast, lunch, dinner
– Price: 15,000-30,000 VND per bread
– Vegetarian:
– Foodie guide: https://hoiandaytrip.com/vegetarian-banh-mi-hoi-an
– Fact:
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Ingredients of Vegetarian Banh Mi in Hoi An
The ingredients of Banh mi chay (vegetarian banh mi sandwich) in Hoi An are:
1. The Bread
- Crispy Baguette (Bánh Mì): the foundation is a fresh, crusty Vietnamese baguette—crispy on the outside, light and airy on the inside.
2. The Savory Fillings (The “Meat” Substitutes)
- Tofu (Đậu Hũ): this is the main protein. It’s often fried or pan-seared and usually marinated with turmeric, chili, and soy-based sauce to make it savory and flavorful.
- Vegan pâté (Pa-tê Chay): a creamy spread made from mushrooms, nuts (like cashews), and spices. This is crucial for replicating the rich, umami base of a traditional bánh mì.
- Mock meats (optional): some vendors may use vegetarian mock sausage (chả lụa chay) or seitan for extra substance.
- Roasted peanuts (Đậu Phộng): often crushed and sprinkled on top, providing an essential nutty crunch and flavor.
3. The Vegetables and Herbs
- Pickled vegetables: a blend of thinly sliced, pickled carrots and daikon radish, which adds a necessary tangy, sweet, and crunchy element.
- Cucumber: sliced or julienned for a fresh, cool contrast.
- Fresh herbs: a generous mix, most often including coriander/cilantro (rau mùi)8 and sometimes mint or Vietnamese basil (húng quế).
- Soy-based sauce: used to moisten the fillings and add a salty, savory layer of flavor.
- Chili sauce/paste: a signature spicy sauce, often a homemade recipe unique to the vendor, providing the heat.
- Vegan mayonnaise (optional): a creamy spread on the inside of the baguette for richness, though not all strictly vegan stalls use this.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
How to Eat Vegetarian Banh Mi in Hoi An
Here are steps to enjoy Banh mi chay (vegetarian banh mi sandwich) like a local:
1. Ordering Your Bánh Mì Chay
The request: when you order, specify that you want the vegetarian one: “Bánh Mì Chay” (pronounced “banh mee chai”).
For vegans: if you are strictly vegan, it’s best to ask: “Không trứng, không sữa” (No egg, no milk/dairy) to ensure no egg-based mayo, cheese, or dairy butter/margarine is used, as some “vegetarian” versions may include these.1 Many dedicated bánh mì chay stalls are already vegan, but it’s always good to check.
Spice level: they will typically add chili sauce (tương ớt) or fresh chili. If you want a lot, say “cay nhiều” (a lot of chili). If you want none, say “không cay” (no chili).
2. How to Eat It (The Local Way)
The bánh mì is designed to be a grab-and-go meal.
Eat it immediately: the best way to enjoy bánh mì is right after it’s made. The baguette is warmed and at its crispiest, and the cold herbs and pickled vegetables provide the perfect temperature contrast.
Hold firmly: the baguette is usually wrapped in paper, which is used to hold the sandwich. Hold it firmly and eat from one end to the other. Be prepared for a delicious mess—the crusty bread and slippery fillings can make for a crumbly experience.
Embrace the mess: don’t worry about being perfectly tidy. The fillings are often piled high.2 The paper wrapper is there to catch crumbs and sauces.
The full bite: the entire experience is about getting a bit of everything in a single bite: the crunch of the baguette and pickles, the savory richness of the vegan pâté and tofu, the freshness of the herbs, and the zing of the chili.
3. Where to Eat It
On the sidewalk: in Hoi An, many of the best bánh mì stalls are small street-side operations. Locals often just stand or perch on a low plastic stool near the stall to eat, or they take it to go.
With a drink: A traditional pairing is often a local Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá), or for something refreshing, a fresh cold drink like sugar cane juice (nước mía).
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Where to Eat Vegetarian Banh Mi in Hoi An?
Visitors can go to these places in Hoi An to find Banh mi chay (vegetarian banh mi sandwich):
– Bánh Mỳ Chay Cô Hội at 3 Nguyen Hue Street, Hoi An (near crossroad of Phan Chu Trinh Street)
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Best Food Tours in Hoi An Vietnam
Here are the best food tours with local guide in Hoi An Vietnam:
– Hoi An Old Town Food Tour with Lantern Boat Ride & Night Market
– Hoi An Night Walking Food Tour (Best Food Tour in Hoi An)
– Hoi An Night Market Food Tour with Lantern Boat Ride
– Hoi An Morning Walking Food Tour with Local Market
– Hoi An Street Food Walking Tour
– Hoi An History & Food Tour – Famous Landmarks & Specialty Dishes
– Hoi An Food Tour by Motorbike
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Other Foods to Try in Hoi An
Besides tofu pudding, visitors will see these dishes in Hoi An: Mi Quang noodles, White rose dumplings, Hoi An style Banh Mi sandwich, Hoi An style chicken rice, Cao Lau noodles, Fried wonton, Hoi An style Pho (beef noodle soup), Banh xeo (crispy rice pancake), Banh xoai (mango cake), Banh uot thit nuong (Hoi An grilled pork), Nem lui (Hoi An pork skewers), Banh dap (smashing rice paper), Stir-fried baby clams with rice cracker, Banh beo (steamed rice cake), Banh trang nuong (grilled rice paper or rice paper pizza), Chuoi nep nuong (grilled banana sticky rice), Hoi An banana pancake, Che (sweet soup), Black sesame soup, Kem cuon (ice cream rolls), Dau hu (tofu pudding), Bo la lot (grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf), Bun thit nuong (grilled pork noodle), Bun mam nem (fermented anchovy rice noodle), Banh canh (thick noodle soup), Chao ngheu (clam porridge), Banh trang cuon thit heo (rice paper rolls), Banh bot loc (tapioca cake), Banh da lon (pig skin cake), Banh it la gai (Ramie leaf rice cake), Banh to (ancestor cake), Green/Mung bean cake, Banh can (mini pancake), Banh cam (fried sesame balls), Banh tieu (hollow donut), Banh phu the (husband and wife cake), Banh bo (cow cake), Banh u tro (Lye water rice dumpling), Mot herbal tea, Da tron (pig skin salad), Banh khoai mon (taro cake), Com tam (broken rice), Bun dau mam tom (rice noodle, shrimp paste and fried tofu), Bun cha ca (fish cake noodle), Trung lon (fetal duck egg or balut),…
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Better to Know about Eating Local in Hoi An
– Local family-run restaurants always serve better local foods than tourist restaurants. Places inside small alleyways potentially are hidden gems. The price is even more affordable at these lesser known spots.
– Restaurants where you can see a queue or crowds, food or drinks there are absolutely better or safer than others. Vietnamese people also avoid places without people eating, such as roadside eateries.
– Hot foods are often safe to eat for non-Vietnamese people. Refuse cold food (especially ones sold on the street, markets) or things you don’t see people cooking.
– Make sure that you learn some basic Vietnamese words or sentences to order foods, such as xin chao (hello, hi), cho toi mot (something) (I want one…), toi an chay (I am vegetarian), khong cay (no spicy), cam on (thank you), tam biet (goodbye) or numbers (mot/one, hai/two, ba/three, bon/four, nam/five, sau/six, bay/seven, tam/eight, chin/nine, and muoi/ten).
– Ask any local people you know (tour guide, driver, hotel receptionists, bellmen, etc) to receive their recommendation for good places to eat local.
– Raw vegetables are popularly used in local dishes, such as noodles or noodle soup or sandwich. They are often washed by tap water or unwashed. If can not drink tap water, remove or refuse them. Likewise, in most iced drinks (such as coffee or herbal tea), people add ice made by tap water also.
– On the 1st day and 14th-15th days of each lunar month, Hoi An citizens eat vegetarians. Many local restaurants and street businesses will be closed by that.
– If you don’t eat pork or beef, due to diet or religious restrictions, be careful when want to try local food here, if don’t see the ingredient description. Pork and beef are very popular meats, so they will be in numerous dishes. Street vendors may say ‘no pork’ or ‘no beef’ for better business, but please check before buying!
– Consider joining a food tour guided by locals who know much better about dishes in the city, including things never mentioned in guidebooks or on the internet.
– If have an allergy (milk, egg, peanut, wheat,…), ask anybody you know before trying or search for ingredients on the internet. By the way, fish sauce is popularly used to marinate Vietnamese foods, so make sure that you know this information if you’re fish allergic.
– Food portion (or size) here is often not really big (locals prefer eating with their family at home). You may try double or some different dishes for main meals.
– If don’t see the price on the menu, please ask in advance to avoid overcharging, especially when you are not a local. In Vietnamese, how much is bao nhieu.
– Most popular cutleries are chopsticks and spoons. To know how to use it, browse here
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes food tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Vegetarian Banh Mi in Hoi An
Here are photos, videos about vegetarian Banh mi in Hoi An Vietnam:
