The Vietnam Phở Festival wrapped up in Seoul, South Korea on Sunday with thousands of festival-goers staying to the last minute despite a light afternoon rain.

After two days of festivities, the event proved that phở is not just a dish but also a strong bond that connects people, families, friends, and communities.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, emphasized the significance of hosting the Vietnam Phở Festival 2024 in Seoul as it contributed to introducing the Vietnamese culinary essence of phở to Korean and international friends. 

Deputy Minister Ngoc remarked that in Vietnam, phở is not only an indispensable part of daily life but also a distinctive cultural symbol.

The dish reflects a fusion of culinary influences, blending Chinese and French elements with Vietnamese cuisine, while also showcasing the regional diversity of Vietnam. 

Savoring phở in Hanoi, Nam Dinh, Hue, Hoi An, Phan Rang, or Ho Chi Minh City provides distinct flavors, enhancing the dish's diversity.

Moreover, the process of making the specialty is an art itself as it requires meticulous care, skill, and dedication. 

Ngoc attended the Vietnam Phở Festival 2024 immediately after a business trip to South America.

He unfortunately caught a cold and nearly lost his voice. However, after arriving in Seoul, two steaming, flavorful bowls of phở helped him quickly regain his energy.

Soup dish that bridges Vietnam and South Korea 

Deputy Minister Ngoc also highlighted the great success of the Vietnam Phở Festival 2024. 

According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly valued and applauded the efforts and dedication of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, along with all organizations, businesses, and individuals involved, for holding such a meaningful cultural diplomacy event.

The festival highlighted Vietnamese cuisine, as well as the country's image, people, and culture, he said.

Though the event concluded, it helped strengthen the bond between Vietnam and South Korea through culinary arts and fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation of each nation’s cultural, historical, and traditional values.

It also contributed to enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Speaking at the closing ceremony on Sunday, Le The Chu, editor-in-chief of Tuoi Tre, expressed his satisfaction in witnessing the connection between Vietnamese phở artisans and the South Korean public, the collaboration of Vietnamese and Korean artists onstage, and the engagement between businesses from both nations over the two-day fest.

“This is an important bridge that helps our countries better understand each other and allows us to walk hand in hand toward a brighter future,” he stated.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to the South Korean government, the city of Seoul, and all partners and organizations that supported us in making this event a success.

“We also sincerely thank the phở artisans, the artists, and especially the South Korean people and the Vietnamese community in South Korea for attending this event.

"We would also like to express our sincere thanks to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for supporting the program, and to Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc for flying 30 hours to attend the event.

"We also thank the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea for their support."

According to the newspaper's deputy chief editor Tran Xuan Toan, head of the organizing committee, over 28,000 visitors attended the festival on Saturday and Sunday. 

Over 100 business meetings were held between Vietnamese and Korean enterprises in tourism, trade, service, and investment, with more than 20 memoranda of understanding signed during the festival.

“Through this festival, we hoped to connect and boost trade, tourism, and investment,” Toan said in his remarks.

“These numbers indicate the festival's significant success, particularly in tourism and trade connection, and we hope to see more trade connectivity after this festival.”

Toan noted that the organizing committee had received suggestions for more phở festivals in South Korea in the coming time. 

“We deeply appreciate this support and trust, and with the love for phở that you have shown us over the past two days, we are confident that we will return soon,” Toan said.

"We hope that after this fest, more Koreans will visit Vietnam to enjoy phở, explore other Vietnamese dishes, and experience Vietnamese culture, as well as more Vietnamese will visit South Korea to enjoy kimchi, Korean cuisine, and culture. 

“We hope more Vietnamese goods will hit the Korean market and more Korean commodities will be available in Vietnam soon.”

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