Vegan in Saigon: which banh mi to try first

What actually trips visitors up

Most visitors are happy to try a Vietnamese banh mi. What they hesitate over is whether it is really vegan, or only vegan on the sign. At Banh Mi XANH the whole menu is plant-based, so there is nothing to check with the counter staff. All you have to choose is taste: spicy or not, light or filling.

Five to order first

Thập Cẩm — 59,000d — order this if you want to taste everything at once

The loaf with the most going on: tofu, plant-based cold cuts, herbs and pickled vegetables. The right first bite if you have never had a vegan banh mi before.

Chả Lát Chay — 53,000d — familiar to anyone new to vegan food

Thin slices of grain-based cold cut, close in texture to the pork roll Vietnamese sandwiches usually carry, so it feels familiar rather than unusual.

Đậu Hũ Cay — 56,000d — for people who like heat

Pan-seared tofu with a moderate chilli marinade. If chilli is not your thing, take the Thập Cẩm or the Chả Lát Chay instead.

Bơ Đường — 28,000d — a light one, or an afternoon snack

The cheapest on the menu and the least filling. Good between meals, or alongside a coffee.

Thượng Hạng Premium — 75,000d — big size, one loaf and you are done

A larger loaf with more filling. For a big appetite, or for two people sharing something light.

What to drink with it

Vietnamese people usually take a banh mi with coffee or tea. The Black Coffee at 35,000d and the Nut Milk Coffee at 45,000d both come without dairy, so strict vegans are safe with either. If coffee is not for you, the Jasmine Lemon Tea at 36,000d is the cool option, and the Nut Milk Bubble Tea at 45,000d — or the Brown Sugar version at 48,000d — is the sweet one.

Is a vegan meal here balanced

Tofu and plant-based cold cuts are ordinary sources of plant protein; the herbs and pickles add fibre. This is a normal vegan meal, not a treatment plan and not a substitute for medication. If you follow a special diet for health reasons, ask your own doctor — for everyday eating, order what you like.

Any hour works: the shops never close

All five shops stay open through the night, so jet lag at two or three in the morning is not a problem. There is no opening time to plan around.

Delivery, when you would rather stay in

If your hotel or apartment is near one of the five shops, call 0923.183.183 or order from the Banh Mi XANH delivery page. Orders from 500,000d within 5km are delivered free.

Pick the shop nearest you

Four shops sit inside District 1, convenient if you are staying downtown: 38 Lê Thị Riêng, 15B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, 2B Trần Hưng Đạo and 148B Đề Thám. The fifth is at 210 Bùi Văn Ba in District 7, which suits anyone in Phú Mỹ Hưng or along Nguyễn Văn Linh towards the airport.

If you cannot decide, start with the Thập Cẩm. Whichever part of it you liked most, order that one on its own next time.

Quick questions

Is a vegan banh mi filling enough for a meal?

It depends which one. The Bơ Đường at 28,000d is a snack; the Thập Cẩm, Chả Lát Chay and Đậu Hũ Cay each make a meal. For a proper appetite, take the Thượng Hạng Premium at 75,000d — the big-size loaf is enough on its own.

Can a strict vegan eat everything on the menu?

Yes. All five banh mi are plant-based, and there is no fish sauce or meat hidden in any of them to ask about.

Is it spicy? I cannot take chilli.

Only the Đậu Hũ Cay is noticeably spicy. The other four — Thập Cẩm, Chả Lát Chay, Bơ Đường and Thượng Hạng Premium — are not, so order any of those.

How do I get one delivered?

Call 0923.183.183 or use the Banh Mi XANH delivery page. Orders from 500,000d within 5km are delivered free.

Are the shops really open in the middle of the night?

All five are open 24 hours, through the night and into the morning. There is no need to check the time before you go.

I am near Phú Mỹ Hưng — which shop is closest?

210 Bùi Văn Ba in District 7. The other four are all in District 1, which is a longer ride from that side of the city.