Australian broadcaster looks into Australians’ obsession with Vietnamese banh mi

Updated: 09:40, 14/05/2025

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) recently published an article explaining why Australians are obsessed with banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich.

The article begins by describing banh mi as a crispy, fresh baguette with briny pickled vegetables, a slick of pate and mayo, fresh coriander, chillies and a hearty protein, making it one of Australia’s favourite lunch options.

Australians have become obsessed with Vietnamese banh mi as an affordable lunch option that can be enjoyed on the go.

It then tells the history of banh mi, which dates back to the French colonial time, noting that the humble dish signifies Vietnam's ability to maintain its cultural integrity despite colonial pressures.

Banh mi first appeared in Australia in the 1980s along with the arrival of Vietnamese migrants. Initially, the majority of banh mi customers were mostly from that background.

But there has been a shift over the last decade, and now banh mi is accepted and loved by everyone, said Jasmine Dinh, a banh mi shop owner in Bankstown, Sydney.

According to Dr Anh Nguyen Austen, sandwich culture saw the banh mi quickly rise in popularity, due to its affordability and convenience.

“The price point of banh mi made it extremely affordable to the working class … that kind of brought the assimilation possibility.”, said Dr Nguyen Austen as quoted by the ABC.

Kelly Le, a restaurant owner in Carrum Downs, Victoria, shared that when she opened her business in 2017, one of the locals knew what banh mi was.

Initially, her customers asked for burgers instead of banh mi, but after one factory worker tasted a banh mi, word of the delicious crispy rolls soon spread.

She said, “When they get to know us and all the food that we serve, and they know more about all the Vietnamese dishes, they want to try different dishes.”

According to Dr Nguyen Austen, food is a great way to learn about and appreciate new cultures. After trying her food and learning about Vietnamese culture, some of Le’s customers have travelled to Vietnam.

When she opened her business, Le was the only person who sold banh mi, but has since seen at least five other local businesses start selling the Vietnamese sandwich.

The demand for banh mi also extends to regional Australia, with country dwellers enjoying another option to the standard fish and chip shop, states the ABC.