A giant bánh mì model with around 150 fillings and toppings is on display at the HCM City Bánh mì Festival in Lê Văn Tám Park. - Photo baotintuc.vn

HCM CITY - The Việt Nam Records Organisation has acknowledged the record for the highest number of fillings and toppings in a bánh mì made by the Saigon Professional Chef Association.

150 fillings and toppings are displayed in a giant bánh mì model at the festival in District 1’s Lê Văn Tám Park.

They were prepared by chefs to honour the wide variety of regional flavours that make up the unique Vietnamese bánh mì, such as pate and chili salt, salmon, vegetable and cheese, grilled beef with lolot leaves and many others.

Nguyễn Thị Khánh, chairwoman of HCM City Tourism Association, said this year’s bánh mì festival has more features for visitors than last year.

It has 131 stalls, 25 per cent more than last year, set up by 85 businesses, including leading local and foreign brands, restaurants, vendors, and food suppliers, and an area where visitors can see the bánh mì making process and try them.

The festival is crowded with local and foreign visitors alike coming to try the wide variety of baguettes and taking photos.

As part of the event, bánh mì carts were gifted to women as a means to start up businesses, and conferences are being held to discuss bánh mì’s history and cultural significance.

The festival, to go on until May 19, is expected to attract around 100,000 visitors.

The festival has stalls promoting a wide variety of bánh mì. - Photo plo.vn

​Nguyễn Thị Ánh Hoa, director of the city Department of Tourism, said to spread the image of bánh mì, her agency would work with the HCM City Tourism Association to organise the festival annually.

Bánh mì is well-known to international travellers as one of the country’s iconic dishes.

Last year the festival attracted over 50,000 visitors. - VNS