Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper will organize the ‘Vietnam Pho Festival 2023’ in Tokyo, Japan on October 7 and 8 with the aim of enhancing the global recognition of Vietnamese culinary culture, particularly the Southeast Asian country’s popular beef noodle soup.

The ‘Vietnam Pho Festival 2023’ marks a significant milestone in celebrating the seventh edition of the ‘Day of Pho’ (December 12), initiated and annually held by Tuoi Tre to honor the world-renowned food since 2017.

The festival also serves as a tangible commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

Through the ‘Vietnam Pho Festival 2023,’ Vietnamese pho artisans are expected to transport, for the first time, the essence of Vietnamese pho from their homeland to Japan.

Scheduled to attend the event are several stars from Vietnam’s culinary scene, including winners of the ‘Hoa Hoi Vang’ (Golden Star Anise) award Cao Van Luan and Pham Quang Duy.

The 'Hoa Hoi Vang' award is granted each year during the 'Day of Pho' event to honor pho chefs from across the country.

Restaurants slated to participate in the festival include Pho Dau, Pho Hai Thien, Pho Sam Ngoc Linh, and Pho Thin Bo Ho.

Though this is the event's first year going international, Tuoi Tre is excited at the prospect of sharing Vietnam’s national dish with the Japanese public.

The festival is also expected to create a fresh avenue for the Vietnamese agricultural sector by highlighting the significance of Vietnamese rice grains, the primary ingredient in pho noodles.

According to agriculture experts, as pho gains popularity worldwide, it will unlock prospects for exporting rice-based products, ultimately boosting export values and local incomes.

Miss Intercontinental 2022 Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc, this year’s ambassador for the festival, expressed her profound honor in participating in the event in Japan.

“As the reigning Miss Intercontinental, it is my responsibility to connect continents and countries,” Ngoc said.

“In my endeavor to fulfill this mission, it’s meaningful for me to promote the homeland’s pho in countries worldwide because pho is not only a dish but also a representation of an entire art and culinary culture.”

This year’s 'Day of Pho' will be co-hosted by Tuoi Tre and Saigontourist Group, with backing from the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association, and Japanese partners.

In addition, Aoyagi Yoichiro, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives and the head of the Vietnam-Japan Festival organizing committee, along with Mainichi newspaper, have been providing significant support.

The program also enjoys sponsorship from national carrier Vietnam Airlines, Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO), the Ngoc Linh Kontum K5 Ginseng Pho brand, and several other domestic and international companies.

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