File photo for reference only

A food safety scare has emerged in Ho Chi Minh City after 54 people, including 11 children, were hospitalized following the consumption of banh mi from a single street stall in Vung Tau Ward. The incident is part of a wider series of outbreaks that have plagued southern Vietnam since late 2025, raising concerns over food safety standards. After eating banh mi from the stall at 13 Do Chieu Street on March 2, the patients experienced severe gastrointestinal symptoms.

Get today's headlines by email

The street stall has been a notable establishment in the neighborhood, previously operating at a different location and shifting to its current spot earlier this year. Ingredients for the banh mi, such as pate, meat, and sausage, were sourced from another facility and transported to the stall. Following the outbreak, an inspection team collected samples for testing, but preliminary tests were negative for borax and formaldehyde.

Authorities have temporarily suspended the stall's operations while awaiting further lab results. This incident follows a similar case on March 1-2 in HCMC, where 22 individuals fell ill after consuming roast pork banh mi. These cases are part of a troubling trend of foodborne illnesses in the region, demanding attention from public health authorities.

Earlier episodes of food poisoning in Vietnam involved mass hospitalizations linked to contaminated banh mi. Notably, in late February, 72 people fell ill after eating at a Hong Ngoc 12 outlet in Dong Thap Province. The same outlet was fined and temporarily closed in 2024 for similar issues. Additional cases occurred in 2025, including significant outbreaks in HCMC and Quang Ngai Province due to Salmonella and Bacillus cereus contamination.

Public health officials are on high alert as these developments highlight the urgent need for improved food safety regulations. The outcomes of the current laboratory tests will be pivotal in determining further actions. Increased oversight and stricter regulations may be anticipated to prevent future incidents, reported VN Express.

Join the discussion?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · VN Express · 05 Mar 2026

One of my favorite sandwiches and had one every other day visiting Hanoi last March. Thailand itself has over 120,000 cases of food poisoning yearly. High temperatures, improper storing of food, not cooking long enough, not washing hands while preparing, and a lot of meat left out all day. Common all over SE Asia. Over 30% of tourists get it yearly here.

Use to enjoy them every 90 days at Vientiane, and a popular sandwich there. Washed down with Beer Lao. Does it get any better, riverside or people watching in town.