Chosen by VnExpress for their location, longevity, recipes, and online reviews, the following four stalls are among Hanoi’s most popular baguette places.

Banh mi Mama

Located near St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Banh mi Mama draws crowds daily, including many foreigners. Peak hours are around lunchtime, with customers having to wait up to 20 minutes to be served.

The stall offers 20 banh mi options, including mixed fillings, egg, pate, and vegetarian. Prices range from VND12,000 to VND35,000 ($0.50 to $1.30) per baguette. Staff take orders from each customer, and a few seats are available for eating on site.

Some Vietnamese customers say the fillings are nothing special compared to other shops in Hanoi, and many foreign visitors stop by out of curiosity or because the stall is trending online.

Cara Sy, an American visiting Hanoi, said she decided to try it after seeing the long line. On Tripadvisor, the stall has a rating of 4.7 out of 5.

Address: 54 Ly Quoc Su Street

Hang Gai Banh Mi

Without a signboard, this banh mi stall on Hang Gai Street has been in business since 1979 and is arguably one of the oldest in town. Owner Nguyen Thi Linh took over the business from her mother-in-law in 2014, preserving the recipe that has remained unchanged for decades.

The fillings include pate, sausage, char siu pork, butter, and pork floss, and are seasoned with salt and pepper, and the banh mi is served without vegetables or pickles. Its distinguishing feature is the red sausage, made from pork and pork skin, ground and steamed for five hours before being sliced.

The stall is busiest from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Three staff members work nonstop, grilling bread, preparing fillings, packing orders, and collecting payments. The stall previously stood at the corner of To Tich Street but moved a short distance after Typhoon Yagi in September 2024.

Many customers praise the banh mi for its traditional flavors and low prices, which some call it the cheapest in Hanoi at VND12,000 ($0.50) per baguette. But some say the VND15,000 option is more filling.

Address: 62 Hang Gai Street

Banh mi Pho Hue

Customers wait in line to buy banh mi on Pho Hue Street in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of KaBi

Located opposite Dai Nam Cinema, the Pho Hue banh mi stall has 50 years of history and remains a familiar address for many Hanoi residents. The banh mi comes with pate, pork floss, char siu pork, and red sausage. Customers can choose individual fillings or order a mixture, all accompanied with butter and cucumber.

House-roasted salt and pepper as well as homemade chili sauce are placed at the counter for customers to season their banh mi with. Prices start at VND30,000 ($1.15), with mixed fillings costing up to VND40,000 ($1.50).

Customers often speak about the owner’s expressionless and strict demeanor. Recently the stall has drawn mixed reviews, with some saying its popularity rests on loyal patrons and nostalgia without anything special. Others point to limited seating and long queues that can stretch to dozens during peak hours.

Address: 118 Pho Hue Street

Banh Mi Lan Ong

Situated in the heart of the Old Quarter, Banh Mi Lan Ong has been operating since 1989. Like many baguette stalls, its fillings include pate, pork floss, sausage, egg, and ham.

Customers can choose from sandwiches priced at VND25,000 or VND30,000 ($1 or $1.15), while a beef stew banh mi option, served for eating in, is available at VND50,000 ($1.90). A pot of pate sits at the counter, as it is regarded as the stall’s standout filling. The shop attracts both tourists and locals, many of them long-time regulars.

In recent years the business has expanded under the name Banh Mi Bao Quyen, opening at three more locations across Hanoi. But many customers say the original shop on Cha Ca Street offers the best food. It has a 4.2/5 rating on Tripadvisor. Some complain that prices have increased without a matching rise in portion size.

Address: 8 Cha Ca Street