Taking a stroll down memory lane, Mai Hai Lam, a Vietnamese in Poland, said “pho” transcends being a mere dish to part of the national identity. He recalled his old mornings beside a steaming bowl of “pho”, with the fragrant broth conjuring an entire childhood.
Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, has been ranked 11th among the world’s top 15 cities most favoured by tourists in 2025, according to a recent article by Time Out titled “The cities tourists are ditching – and where they’re heading instead.”
The renowned culinary website Taste Atlas has announced its list of the top 100 best dishes in the world for 2024. Notably, pho bo (“beef” pho) is the only representative from Vietnam, ranking 93rd with a rating of 4.44 stars.
A recent workshop on preserving and promoting the national intangible cultural heritage of “Pho Hanoi” was held in the capital, bringing together culinary experts, artisans, and managers to share insights into the origins, evolution, and cultural significance of this iconic Vietnamese noodle dish.
Hanoi Pho, along with Nam Dinh Pho, has been recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. At the recent Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2024, the debut of "digital pho" captivated visitors, drawing large crowds eager to experience this innovative concept. This initiative not only preserves traditional “Pho” but also demonstrates its evolution in the digital age, highlighting Hanoi's creativity in the cultural industry.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy, in partnership with national-flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, hosted the inaugural "Pho and Nem Day" in Rome, showcasing Vietnam's rich culinary heritage and promoting tourism.
Pho, the iconic Vietnamese noodle soup, has transcended its traditional roots and won hearts worldwide, with its latest milestone being the opening of “Pho Hanoi 1979” restaurant in the heart of Sydney, Australia, on December 2.
The Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2024 with the theme “Hanoi ket noi nam chau” (Hanoi connects the World) is underway at Thong Nhat Park in the capital city.
Vietnamese cuisine, delicious food that even just hearing about makes all of us, as Vietnamese, want to take a bite. We take great pride in having such diverse, unique, and palatable dishes in all regions in the country. This is also one of the reasons that draws international visitors to Vietnam. In this episode, let’s listen to the experiences of foreign tourists as they indulge in Vietnamese dishes.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently added Hanoi’s Pho (rice noodle soup) and traditional craft of making lotus tea in Quang An ward, Tay Ho district, to the list of national intangible cultural heritage.
“Pho” (Noodle soup) of Hanoi capital city and the northern province of Nam Dinh has been named in the national intangible cultural heritage list by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
At the Asian food stall, 'pho' is served during all three main meals, while 'nem' is kept with its original Vietnamese name instead of using "spring roll" in English.
The Paris Olympics organising committee has chosen two Vietnamese dishes, pho (noodle soup with beef or chicken) and nem (fried spring rolls), to serve athletes at the Games.
Pot Au Pho, located on the third floor of a building at 89 Ton That Dam Street in District 1, specializes in serving Vietnam’s pho bo (beef noodle soup). It was ranked as one of the best new restaurants in the world in 2024 by the American magazine Condé Nast Traveller.
Vietnamese cuisine in the US has come of age in the past decade or so, however, taste buds are still looking for truly authentic Hanoi specialties, especially for Hanoians in the host country or people who fall in love with the thousand-year city’s quintessence of foods.
Pho, a Vietnamese traditional noodle soup, left an impression among diners at ASEAN Cook Show 2024, which was hosted by the ASEAN Committee in Prague (ACP) on May 16.
