Hanoi airport says $8 banh mi at its store uses imported Brazilian pork

The airport said the banh mi is sold at a Bigbowl shop at the international terminal, where all prices are clearly listed and visible at the counter in accordance with current regulations, Dan Tri newspaper reported.

In addition to the Brazilian pork banh mi, the shop also offers other kinds of banh mi, with prices starting from $2.10, it said.

Noi Bai Airport said it strictly adheres to legal regulations in its management, operations, and service delivery to ensure quality for all passengers.

The clarification came after a female tourist's complaint went viral, as she noted that the price she paid for the bread was higher than at most airports around the world.

"VND208,000 for a loaf of bread at Noi Bai International Airport, more expensive than most airports in the world. Look at neighboring airports in Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Indonesia... their airport food is delicious and reasonably priced. A similar loaf costs only about VND40,000–50,000 ($1.53-1.91)," the tourist wrote in a Facebook post on July 1.

Banh mi, a symbol of Vietnamese cuisine, has been widely praised by international travel publications. The classic version features a blend of cold cuts and vegetables such as coriander, cucumber, pickled carrots, and daikon, often paired with French-style condiments like pâté and mayonnaise.

Other popular fillings include cha lua (Vietnamese pork bologna), fried eggs, grilled pork, and meatballs.

A loaf of banh mi typically costs between VND15,000 and 30,000 at street-side stalls across Vietnam.