OpenAI chief Sam Altman big fan of Vietnam's banh mi

By Hoang Phong December 7, 2023 | 01:11 am PT

Loafs of banh mi filled with cucumber, pickled carrots and salted shredded pork are served at a stall in HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Sam Altman, the American chief executive of OpenAI, has revealed that he loves Vietnam's banh mi, and it has become a regular part of his meals.

"I love banh mi, Vietnamese-style sandwich filled with meat," he said during an online conversation with CEO of VinAI Bui Hai Hung at AI Day 2023 event held in HCMC on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Hung asked the chief of OpenAI about his favorite Vietnamese food, and Altman quickly answered, "banh mi," Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.

Banh mi is a fusion of cold cuts and vegetables like coriander, cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon combined with condiments from French cuisine like pate and mayonnaise.

However, a wide variety of popular fillings are used, including cha lua (Vietnamese pork bologna), fried eggs, grilled pork, and meat balls. Vietnamese baguettes can be easily found at street vendors and food carts.

This is not only a popular breakfast, lunch and dinner for many Vietnamese people, but also well-known and beloved by many foreign visitors.

A banh mi costs from VND15,000 ($0.65) to VND50,000.

Banh mi is a symbol of Vietnam's cuisine and has built quite a global reputation.

Last year, it was named among 50 best-rated street foods in the world as compiled by international food magazine TasteAtlas.