After marrying a Singaporean and settling in the city-state in 2009, Banh Thi Hue, a mother of two, initially worked at a Vietnamese restaurant for about 10 years before deciding to open her own banh mi stall. However, challenges such as rising rent and disagreements with landlords forced her to pivot to selling food from home. 

“After closing the stall, my husband and I researched how to run a home-based business. We invested about SGD 3,000 (around VND 56.7 million) in equipment,” she explained.  

This decision led to the creation of Hue Banh Mi, operating from her family’s four-room apartment in Choa Chu Kang.  

Initially, Hue had a contingency plan to sell off all the equipment if the business didn’t take off. But to her surprise, after over a year, sales remained strong. On weekends, she sells up to 60 banh mi sandwiches a day.  

The turning point came when a TikTok user, ninjabread, posted a video about Hue’s banh mi in September. The clip humorously recounted the user's awkward experience waiting for food in Hue’s living room, which resonated with viewers and garnered over 40,000 likes.  

Thanks to the viral video, customers now travel long distances - from areas like Orchard and Tampines - to buy her banh mi.  

Hue has since expanded her menu beyond banh mi to include other Vietnamese dishes like nem rán (fried spring rolls) and bò hầm (beef stew). Customers can place orders through food delivery apps or visit her home for takeout.  

However, she advises pre-ordering, as wait times can stretch to an hour during peak periods. One couple reported driving 50 minutes just to taste her famous banh mi.  

Before starting the business, Hue was concerned about whether her banh mi would suit local tastes. After many trials, she perfected a recipe that balances traditional Vietnamese flavors with Singaporean preferences.  

The preparation process is meticulous, involving various ingredients like pickled vegetables and sauces. Hue often stays up until 3 a.m. to ensure everything is ready.  

“The key is using high-quality ingredients. If the food isn’t good, customers won’t come back,” she said confidently.  

Dang Duong