Banh Mi Huynh Hoa

Banh Mi Huynh Hoa is one of the most famous banh mi shops in Ho Chi Minh City. It has been in business for more than 35 years and has received awards and international press coverage. It is on Le Thi Rieng Street in Ben Thanh ward, in central District 1.

The speciality is a baguette filled to bursting. Vietnam Airlines' city guide describes up to 13 layers of fillings, including Vietnamese pork ham, jambon, roast pork, pork floss and cold cuts, spread with house-made pate and butter. One sandwich is large enough to share between two people with smaller appetites.

The shop is geared to takeaway. Fillings can be adjusted for allergies or dietary needs, and the shop also sells vacuum-sealed or frozen versions for travel, which some visitors take on flights or back to their hotels. The national tourism board lists banh mi as one of the foods you should try in the city, and this is an easy place to start.

The shop opens early in the morning and stays open into the evening. The same guide recommends buying banh mi early in the morning, when the bread is freshest and lines are shorter, and avoiding the midday heat, when some shops run low on fresh bread. Prices are higher than at street carts, but still modest, and it is best eaten soon after buying.

Banh mi is the most portable of Vietnamese dishes and a good introduction to the food of the city, with its blend of French bread and pate and Vietnamese cold cuts and pickles. Comparing Huynh Hoa's lavish version with a simple sandwich from a street cart is a good way to see how varied the dish can be, and the same Vietnam Airlines guide lists many other specialists across the city, from charcoal-grilled meatball rolls to banh mi served sizzling in a pan. Bring small notes in Vietnamese dong, and be prepared to queue at busy times.

The shop is in central District 1 and easy to reach on foot or by ride-hailing from most downtown hotels. It makes a good stop before a long walk around the centre or a quick dinner on the go.