Saigon is a city where many cultures converge and there is food on offer from all over the world but the locals’ love of Saigon bread is undiminished.
To distinguish it from the many different kinds of bread, Saigon bread is normally long-shaped with a crunchy crust, soft and solid crumb. Different from many other kinds of bread, in that lightly salted butter is an important part of the cooking process, so Saigon bread has a very sweet smell and taste.
Centuries ago, when the French invaded Saigon, they brought with them their love of bread. Western food, in turn, soon invaded a rice-dominated society and has ever since become an integral part of the local lifestyle. Pork pie, pate, grilled pork, a few slices of cucumber, onion and coriander
are arranged inside the bread to make ‘banh mi thit’ (meat bread). Finally, the seller adds sauce and chili. It’s time to eat and it only costs VND10,000-20,000.
There are many ways to eat Saigonese bread. Instead of pork and the other ingredients some people prefer dipping it in milk, covering it with butter or eating with fried eggs.
As a popular fast food, Saigon bread can be eaten everywhere and often for breakfast, students eat it in their classroom, workers in construction site, clerical officers munch in their offices, some young people also eat it while walking on the street.
It is not only for breakfast, though, as Saigon bread is also a great snack for lunch, dinner or supper. Some people also keep bread in their bag in case they feel peckish during the day, especially students. Saigon bread is also a popular choice for a picnic or trips to rural areas or a trek to the mountains.
It’s easy to buy bread. You can find it in every street corner where women with a pedaled glass sideboard have tons of bread and cucumber, potatoes, pork pie, grilled pork, salted shredded pork and some chicken eggs. They often have a small oil stove to fry eggs.
Everyday you hear the shout Banh mi Saigon, dac ruot, thom bo! (Saigon bread! solid core, butter-smelling!) from hawkers as they pedal bicycles through alleys in early morning, sunny noon or late afternoon.
Some popular brand names of Saigon bread are Ngan Saigon, Ha Noi or Nhu Lan. Now, many famous brands have come to town such as Tous Les Jour, Kinh Do, Duc Phat, Givral in many shapes, sizes and flavors but Saigonese still love to buy their bread in sidewalk booths for the authentic taste of Saigon.
(Sourcel: SGTO)
