The 'Vietnam Phở Festival 2024' will take place in Seoul, South Korea from October 5 to 6, promising to spread the quintessence of Vietnamese pho to South Koreans.

'Pho' is a signature dish of fresh rice noodles with broth and meat.

Tens of pho brands which have put their names down for the festival are frantically preparing for their performance at the fest to satisfy diners and make the annual event successful.

The festival is co-organized by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and Saigontourist Group, under the direction of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the administration of Ho Chi Minh City.

The organization board has held a working session to make it ready for the upcoming festival in Seoul.

This year’s event will feature over 20 pho brands that will bring the essence of Vietnamese pho to South Korea, including Pho Dau, Pho Phu Gia, Pho Sen, Pho Thin Bo Ho - 1 Hang Tre, and Pho Ta.

Apart from the famous traditional flavor of pho, the participating brands will treat diners in South Korea to some unique versions of the dish such as pho combined with artichoke and corn.

Saigontourist Group will serve South Koreans with its popular dishes coming from four high-end hotels, namely Majestic Saigon, Grand Saigon, Caravelle Saigon, and Saigon - Morin in Thua Thien- Hue Province, as well as pho from Golf Thu Duc Restaurant.

Le Thi Giau, chairwoman of Binh Tay Food Company, said that the firm would accompany Tuoi Tre during the festival for the second time, after the 2023 edition held in Japan, in the hope of leveraging the value of Vietnamese rice and popularizing food made out of the grain among international friends.

Nguyen Van Tan, chef and representative of Sasco, which is well known for the Pho Sen brand, stated that he was preparing some solutions to keep rice noodles fresh to serve diners with the best food.

“We are confident to serve diners in South Korea thanks to our experience learnt from our participation in the past fest in Japan,” Tan said.

“We are ready to introduce the unique flavor of pho to international foodies by storing seasoning, ingredients, and rice noodles carefully,” said Tran Thi Hoai Thanh, representative of Pho Atiso, which will join the 'Vietnam Phở Festival' for the first time.

Tran Xuan Toan, deputy editor-in-chief of Tuoi Tre and representative of the organizers, said that South Korea was chosen to hold the 'Vietnam Phở Festival 2024' amid robust cooperation between the two nations in economic, tourism, and trade fields.

Pho represents Vietnam’s rich culinary culture, he emphasized, stating that the organizers will help participating brands heighten their efforts to spread the soul and essence of the dish across South Korea.

Aside from fresh and tasty materials used to cook pho, these brands will also tell diners some interesting stories through their dishes, making them a distinction of the event.

Nguyen Dinh Tuyen, owner of Pho Khoe Restaurant in Seoul, noted that the flavor of pho served outside Vietnam is about 70 percent similar to the authentic dish back home.

"Due to South Korea's strict food safety regulations, all meat and bones must be sourced locally and cannot be imported," Tuyen explained.

"As a result, pho restaurants here can only bring in Vietnam's traditional spices.

"Even fish sauce faces import restrictions."

Tuyen, who has joined countless culinary festivals, expressed his delight to support pho brands from Vietnam, and his pride in contributing his part to the 'Vietnam Phở Festival 2024,' which is aimed introducing Vietnamese food to the world.

As many as 35 booths of traditional Vietnamese pho will turn the spotlight on the 'Vietnam Phở Festival 2024,' alongside other dishes such as banh mi (a type of Vietnamese baguette filled with cold meats, pâté, and vegetables) and cha gio (fried spring rolls).

Luu Khanh Hiep, chef at Grand Saigon Hotel, said that following the success of the festival in Japan, the hotel would bring various types of banh mi to the pho event in South Korea this year.

“We will meticulously pick up ingredients and adjust the taste of banh mi to satisfy South Korean diners,” Hiep said.

The organizers expect participating pho brands to effectively introduce the signature dish and Vietnamese culinary culture to South Korean people to cement the position of pho in the world.

The festival is expected to foster cultural exchanges between Vietnam and South Korea, contributing to boosting tourism and economic partnership.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!