Several renowned artists from Vietnam and South Korea have confirmed to join the Vietnam Phở Festival 2024 this weekend.

Kim Jung Nam, a prominent member of the renowned Turbo group, has confirmed his participation as a guest at the Vietnam Phở Festival 2024, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Seoul. 

Turbo, which rose to fame in the 1990s to 2000s, became one of the biggest stars of the South Korean entertainment industry, selling millions of albums throughout Asia from 1995 to 2001.

In addition to his role in Turbo alongside Kim Jong Kook and Mikey, Kim Jung Nam is associated with popularizing the beriberi dance in South Korea during the 1990s.

Today, he is known as a famous DJ in South Korea.

Meanwhile, members of KTGRZ ONE are expected to infuse traditional taekwondo moves with the melodies of popular K-pop hits at the Vietnam Phở Festival 2024.

Formed with an 11-member lineup, KTGRZ ONE has emerged as a phenomenon thanks to their unique blend of taekwondo and K-pop covers of hits from the girl groups NewJeans and RIIZE, and most recently 'Rock Star' from Blackpink’s Lisa.

Despite being newly established, they have received high praise for their balanced group dynamics and professional performance skills.

South Korean singer Jang Song Ho is another big name set to perform at the Vietnam Phở Festival 2024.

Born in 2003, the artist entered the entertainment industry at the age of 10 and has released an album featuring 12 songs.

He is hailed as a Korean Trot music prodigy, having made appearances on popular television shows such as Star King.

Vietnamese stars

One of the earliest confirmed participants is Vietnamese rapper Ricky Star, who shares the desire to spread the value of Vietnamese culinary culture to friends around the world.

"Participating in the Vietnam Phở Festival 2024 in Seoul, South Korea is an opportunity for me to introduce the flavors and heartfelt stories of the chefs behind phở, helping international friends better understand and love the dish," he told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. 

The artist, who rose to fame after his participation in the viral rapping contest Rap Viet 2020, has previously taken part in numerous activities and events organized by Tuoi Tre.

He has a deep love for Vietnamese cuisine, believing that every dish carries its own story, with phở being an essential part of Vietnam's culinary heritage.

The rapper said that his favorite is phở bò tái (rare beef phở)because of its enticing flavor lying in the rich broth and the tenderness of the beef.

Ricky Star loves phở so much that he can eat it for several consecutive days without getting tired of it. "I usually choose to eat phở in the morning,” he said.

“For me, a good bowl of phở must have a clear, fragrant broth, fresh meat, and soft, chewy noodles. Starting the day with a hot bowl of phở feels amazing."

The rapper enjoys eating at small street-side phở shops, where the broth is made from well-simmered bones, offering a bold and unique flavor that is hard to find elsewhere.

Still, it is no surprise that his favorite phở is his mother’s, which he describes as "incredibly delicious and filled with the warmth of family love."

Meanwhile, singer Phung Khanh Linh expressed her honor to perform at the Vietnam Phở Festival 2024, contributing to promoting the Vietnamese delicacy to friends around the world.

Linh fondly recalled that when she was young, her father would take her out for phở every weekend, creating some of her most cherished memories.

As she grew older, each bowl of phở brought back those familiar moments and reminded her of her family.

While working on her album 'CITOPIA' in the U.S. in 2022, Linh also saw how much people around the world appreciate phở, further deepening her connection to the dish.

“Every time we went out to eat, phở was the dish most frequently chosen by my international friends,” she recalled.

“I was quite surprised at how much they enjoyed Vietnamese phở and how delicious they found it.

"After every performance, I would always choose to eat phở, as it's my favorite dish. It soothes my hunger, warms my stomach, and helps me sleep better after a show.”

Having performed in many places across Vietnam, Linh has had the chance to enjoy phở at various shops in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An, Hai Duong, Nam Dinh, and others.

She confirmed each shop has its own unique flavor, making it difficult to pick the best one.

Linh's criteria for a perfect bowl of phở "is a clear broth with a rich umami flavor from the bones. Then, it needs to have scallions, fresh herbs, quẩy (fried dough sticks), and a dash of pepper. Chili sauce also enhances the flavor of the phở even more."

Similar to Ricky Star's mother, Linh's also has a delicious family recipe.

"My mom often cooks phở for our family. She makes incredibly delicious chicken phở,” the singer said. 

Currently, Linh is dedicating her time to preparing for her gigs at the phở festival in Seoul.

"This is a precious opportunity for a young artist to introduce Vietnamese music to international audiences,” Linh shared.

“I've also prepared an áo dài to showcase at the event.

“Korean friends love Vietnamese phở and cà phê sữa [iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk]. I hope to be welcomed as warmly as phở.

"Try phở at least once! I believe the taste of phở will leave a lasting impression on everyone."

Sharing the same deep love for the noodle soup, Vietnamese singer, songwriter, and book author Hamlet Truong said he can eat phở a whole week without getting fed up with it. 

"I had beautiful memories from participating in Tuoi Tre’s Vietnam Phở Festival 2023 in Japan, so I want to return this year to join the festival once again,” Truong explained.

"This time, in addition to performing, I’ll take more time to observe the festival and see how international guests enjoy phở.

"We have more reasons than ever to take pride in Vietnamese phở and share it with the world. I want to help spread that pride."

The singer highlighted that in August 2024, Hanoi's phở was officially recognized as part of Vietnam's national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Reflecting on his love for Vietnamese cuisine, Truong shared that seeing foreign stars in Vietnam savoring simple dishes like bánh mì, or hearing them praise dishes like gỏi cuốn and phở gà, has deepened his appreciation for his homeland’s food.

Hamlet Truong admitted he can enjoy phở at any time of day, whether early in the morning or late at night.

His fondness for the dish transcends national borders, as he often seeks out phở restaurants while traveling abroad for performances.

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