Along with many other Vietnamese immigrants, my family found themselves in Houston– one of the largest Vietnamese enclaves due to its proximity to the ocean and warmer climate (source). Along with them, the immigrants brought their recipes and baguettes. The Saigon Square, adjacent to Chinatown, is most recognizable by the southern Vietnamese flags that line the sidewalk and a statue commemorating the Vietnam War. Here you can find imported durian and rambutan in supermarkets, the popular Vietnamese dessert, chè, that sells out before 2p.m. every day, the cajun hotspots with the spiciest crawfish, and of course, the bánh mì shops at almost every corner you turn. 

However, the most famous baguette and bánh mì shop is Lee’s Sandwiches. The restaurant has expanded from Houston to Orange County to serve one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the U.S.. Lee’s baguettes have become such a commodity for the community that their stores feature a drive through (Krishna). Although Lee’s baguettes are hard to beat, my family prefers the bánh mì sold by the quaint shop directly diagonal to Lee’s, Nguyễn Ngọ French Cafe. I sometimes think my family is the only one keeping this small shop in business; however, the bánh mì are created with a nostalgic taste forever linked to my childhood. We always enjoyed their bánh mì before we went on a family vacation or on a long road trip as its convenience and economical price made it the perfect meal on the go. The baguette’s shell would flake onto the tongue while the chopped carrots and cucumbers would soften the intense flavors of chả lụa and the jalapeño. The sandwich is pure satisfaction. The simple sandwich is rich with flavor and cross-cultural history. It is a symbol of how the Vietnamese people endured French colonialism, the Vietnam War, and immigration. The baguette is not only my favorite bread but a telltale symbol of my heritage.