Pho

Pho is arguably the most recognized Vietnamese dish worldwide, a fragrant and comforting rice noodle soup that has become synonymous with Vietnamese cuisine. The soul of pho lies in its broth, which is painstakingly simmered for 12 to 24 hours using beef bones, charred onions, ginger, and a carefully balanced blend of whole spices including star anise, cinnamon bark, cardamom, cloves, and coriander seeds. The result is a clear yet deeply flavored liquid served over flat rice noodles (bánh phở) and topped with thinly sliced meat, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lime. While pho is available throughout the day, most Vietnamese eat it as a breakfast dish, starting their morning at small sidewalk stalls where the broth has been simmering since before dawn.

Region: Northern Vietnam (Nam Dinh / Hanoi)

Pho originated in the early 20th century in northern Vietnam, most likely in the Nam Dinh province or Hanoi area. The dish is believed to have been influenced by both Chinese and French culinary traditions — the slow-simmered bone broth technique resembles Chinese cooking methods, while the use of beef may have been spurred by French colonial demand for the meat. The word 'phở' may derive from the French 'pot-au-feu' (a French beef stew) or the Cantonese 'ngau yuk fun' (beef noodle soup). After the 1954 partition of Vietnam, many northerners migrated south, bringing pho with them and giving rise to the distinctly different southern style. Today, pho is recognized as Vietnam's national dish and was inscribed on Vietnam's National Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Pho is far more than just a soup in Vietnam — it is a cultural institution woven into daily life. For many Vietnamese, the day begins at a familiar pho stall where the owner knows their regular order. Pho also serves as a social equalizer: business executives and motorbike taxi drivers sit on the same tiny plastic stools at the same sidewalk stalls. The dish gained international prominence after the Vietnam War, when the Vietnamese diaspora brought it to cities around the world. In 2024, pho was added to Vietnam's National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and there is even a 'Day of Pho' (Ngày của Phở) celebrated annually on December 12th, organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper since 2017.