The Bánh Mì That Shaped My Life

I was born and raised in Central Vietnam, spending my early childhood in a quiet rural village with my grandmother.

When I turned 10, my parents moved our family to a small town across the Thach Han River in Quang Tri, near the National Highway 1.

I had three younger siblings at the time, and everything felt new and different from the countryside I used to know.

One morning, very early, I heard the soft reng reng of a bicycle bell – the kind that only Bánh Mì vendors used.

We had never tasted street Bánh Mì before. It was something only town kids got.

That day, my mother saw our neighbor buying two Bánh Mì for her children. So she stepped out, hesitated, then bought two as well – for the four of us to share.

And that… that was my very first memory of Bánh Mì.

The bread was still warm, the crust crackled when we broke it. Inside, just simple pork belly braised in caramel sauce.

No pate. No pickles. No herbs or butter. Just meat, sauce, and bread.

But the taste – oh the taste – it was pure joy.

We split the two Bánh Mì four ways and savored every bite like it was treasure. Because it was.

Back then, one Bánh Mì was expensive compared to our family’s income.

We only had it once, sometimes twice a week – always in the morning, before we walked to school.

And we continued that ritual until the day I left for university.

At university, I stayed in a dorm with seven other students from different regions of Vietnam.

Life was magical. I studied hard, earned scholarships, and worked as a tutor for math and English.

For the first time, I had money to eat whatever street food I wanted. And I did.

I roamed every alley in Hue City for six years. I ate every kind of street food – Phở, Bún Bò Huế, Noodle Salads, and of course… Bánh Mì every morning!

If a classmate told me a place was good, I’d go – not just once, but again and again.

Those street food years became the foundation of everything I cook today at BMCorner.

Each morning, I still remember the sound of Auntie Thủy walking down the dorm hallway, carrying her basket of Bánh Mì.

Her voice calling out reminded me of my mom waking me up for breakfast before school. That warmth, that memory – it’s woven into every Bánh Mì I serve now.

Fifteen years after graduation, I returned to visit my old university and walked back into the dormitory.

Auntie Thủy was no longer there.

But standing in her place, in the same hallway, was her daughter – continuing the family tradition, selling Bánh Mì just as her mother once did.

Bánh Mì has been with me since I was 10 – through hunger, through joy, through university and now adulthood.

I still eat Bánh Mì every week.
When I’m hungry.
When I need a quick bite.
When I want to reward myself.

Bánh Mì. Phở. Bún trộn. Bún Bò Huế.
These are not just foods to me.
They’re chapters of my life.

And now, after 30 years of eating, cooking, experimenting, listening to customers, and refining every drop of sauce, I’m proud to serve you the Bánh Mì that carries all those stories.

This week, enjoy 20% OFF our Roast Pork Bánh Mì – just download the app and place your first order.

Already part of our BMCorner family?

Open the app, check your rewards, and come back for your next Bánh Mì – we’ll be waiting with a smile 😊

But before you bite…

Start by tasting the two sauces I’ve prepared for you – the Grandma Sauce and the Volcano Sauce.

Taste them on their own.
Then, drizzle them onto your Bánh Mì.
You’ll feel the love, the care, the thousands of hours I’ve poured into perfecting those flavors.

You won’t find this anywhere else in Australia – or even Vietnam.
Because this sauce is born from memory, passion, and your feedback.

Every Bánh Mì I serve is a conversation.
A story.
A bridge between my past and your present.

One bite, and I hope you’ll remember something too.

With love,
Anna from BMCorner

PS: In the photo is my son, Feliz. He’s 4.5 years old and already has six months of “Customer Service” experience on his CV 😄

So don’t be surprised if, when you come to pick up your order, he greets you with: “What’s your name? What’s your order number? Please wait two minutes!”

And then… he’ll keep chatting and entertaining you while you wait.

He loves Bánh Mì just as much as I do – maybe even more.