Customers line up and surround the H'Mông Village corn pho stall - Photo: HUU HANH
According to Tuoi Tre Online , as of 2 PM, even though it was past lunchtime, the number of customers waiting in front of the pho stalls at Pho Day was still very large.
Not only residents of Ho Chi Minh City, but also a large number of domestic and international tourists attended Pho Day 2025. Some came with family and friends, while others traveled alone, enduring long distances with the sole desire to enjoy a delicious bowl of pho.
Traveling nearly 100km just to eat pho.
After waiting for nearly 20 minutes, Mr. Truong Dac Thang ( Dong Nai ) happily received a steaming bowl of pho. Born and raised in the South, he had never heard of corn pho before. Finding it unusual and delicious, he decided to "try it out."
Share with According to Tuoi Tre Online , he said he started waking up at 4 am to prepare to travel from Dong Nai to Ho Chi Minh City: "I learned about Pho Day through TikTok, found it interesting, so I went. I was already here around 7 am, I ate a bowl of Pho Minh for breakfast, then went sightseeing, and came back here for lunch."
Mr. Truong Dac Thang sips the pho broth, always praising how delicious it is - Photo: HUU HANH
Having become accustomed to the taste of Southern-style pho, Mr. Dac Thang described his first experience with corn pho as "unusual," but after eating it for a while, he found it delicious. The pho noodles were distinctly different from regular pho, chewier and drier, with a golden yellow color from corn grown in the highlands. The broth had a very distinct beef flavor and a light taste that he really liked.
After experiencing half a day at Pho Day, he commented that the program was very meaningful, especially for pho enthusiasts like himself.
"Since I live in the South, I'm used to eating Southern-style pho; I don't have many opportunities to try Northern pho or other regional pho."
"There are so many types of pho here, I wanted to try them all but didn't have enough time. I heard the event lasts two days. Although I wanted to see everything, unfortunately I was busy on the 13th so I couldn't go," he shared.
Besides eating pho, Mr. Dac Thang also took the opportunity to "check-in" at Co Ba Cafe on Dong Khoi Street. He revealed that he saw these places on TikTok, thought they were cool, and just "packed his bags and went."
He expressed regret that Pho Day only lasted two days - Photo: HUU HANH
What's special is that he traveled alone. Explaining this, Mr. Dac Thang smiled kindly: "My wife doesn't like to travel, she prefers to stay home, but I like to travel alone. I went to Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, Phan Rang... all by myself."
Since I retired and got older, I enjoy traveling. Whenever I see something interesting or beautiful on TikTok, I go check it out."
I really miss the taste of pho from my hometown.
Not only does Pho Day attract visitors from neighboring provinces, it is also a destination for many people from Northern Vietnam living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, including Mr. Tran Anh Tuan.
As someone who is "addicted" to Northern Vietnamese pho, especially Hanoi pho, Mr. Tuan said that even though he has traveled to many places, including abroad, the taste of Vietnamese pho is still what he remembers most.
Anh Anh Tuan smiles with delight as he tries corn pho for the first time - Photo: HUU HANH
"I moved to Ho Chi Minh City for about 8 years now. I love pho, especially Hanoi pho. Whenever I see a restaurant with a sign that says 'Hanoi pho,' I want to go in and eat right away."
"When I was abroad, I often looked for pho restaurants to eat at, but it wasn't always to my liking. Sometimes I had to buy pho noodles and cook them with chicken or beef to ease my longing for the taste of home," he recounted.
Despite her advanced age, Mrs. Vu Thi Nhat (94 years old, from the former Nam Dinh province) still came to Pho Day to seek out the aroma that is imprinted in her memory.
According to Mr. Nhat, he is the second generation selling pho. His parents used to carry pho around Hanoi selling it, and in his generation, he "set up shop" on Duong Thanh Street. At that time, Hanoi didn't have as many pho restaurants as it does now. "In the old days, pho was very simple, not as fancy as it is now. Fewer shops, fewer dishes, mainly just to fill your stomach and keep you warm," he recalled.
Ms. Vu Thi Nhat (left) visits the pho stalls at Pho Day.
Today, the descendants of the late Mr. [Name] continue to be involved in the pho business. The family has many generations of pho makers, including his grandson, the owner of Pho Ngoc Vuong restaurant, who also participated in Pho Day.
Attending the event, Mr. Nhat said he couldn't help but feel nostalgic seeing the bustling atmosphere, the crowded pho stalls, and recalling his youth spent with the broth and noodles. For him, pho is not just a dish, but a part of his life, connected to family memories, the streets of Hanoi, and the years gone by.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-khach-di-120km-den-tp-hcm-chi-de-tham-gia-ngay-cua-pho-20251214145844887.htm
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