The "Vietnamese Pho in My Eyes" Contest: Pho is Friendship

When my friends found out I was Vietnamese, they asked me about pho, if I knew how to cook it, and why pho was so delicious and they could eat it all the time without getting tired of it.

Young people enjoy a bowl of pho at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 in Seoul, South Korea - Photo: DUYEN PHAN

I don't know how to cook pho.

I don't feel proud of this aspect of being Vietnamese.

I'm studying abroad. When my friends found out I was Vietnamese, they started asking me about pho, asking if I knew how to cook it, and wondering why pho was so delicious and why they could eat it endlessly without getting tired of it.

We came from many different countries, had different nationalities, and thanks to pho, we talked to each other as if we had known each other for a long time, as if no one had ever been closer to us.

I introduced them to Vietnam, and they introduced me to some of the best pho restaurants here. I've only been here for a few months and haven't had a chance to try all the pho places yet.

"Pho is elegant. The broth is clear and naturally sweet. A perfect harmony, just like the quintessential dishes of French cuisine !"

"This pho is as delicious as my borscht! The broth is rich, warm, and makes you feel instantly healthier!"

"The broth is light and airy, similar to ramen but much milder. Absolutely delicious!"

"Pho really suits Korean tastes. We could eat pho three times a day here."

"There are many noodle dishes in China, but pho is completely different. I don't know how to describe it, but it's absolutely delicious."

"Of course! Pho is the pride of Vietnamese cuisine. The broth is light and naturally sweet from the simmered bones, not just from added spices. Pho is not just a dish, but also a culture, a memory for so many Vietnamese people."

We went to eat pho together. There were many other delicious dishes in the Vietnamese restaurant, but we ordered pho. It's not that the other dishes weren't good, but pho felt like a special symbol that connected us, two people so different in every way, bringing us together and bringing us closer.

I still don't know how to cook pho.

I've tried cooking it at home before. I want to show you that I'm Vietnamese, and I can cook pho too.

Pho connects friends from all over the world - Photo: DUYEN PHAN

The truth is that not every Vietnamese person can cook pho.

I looked up a recipe online, then called home to ask my mother. She said making pho requires patience. The bones must be washed clean, blanched briefly, then simmered for four to six hours, after which cloves, cinnamon, and star anise are added and cooked for another hour. Then, seasonings are added, and it's done. And there you have it, a bowl of pho.

What kind of pho is this? The stuff in my bowl can't possibly be called "pho."

I don't know where I went wrong; they look similar on the outside, but they taste completely different.

My friend's face contorted as he pretended to praise the food, then said that I must have been away from Vietnam for too long, and all the essence of Vietnam had vanished.

Nonsense! I am Vietnamese. I am Vietnamese in my heart. My blood and flesh are Vietnamese. Not knowing how to cook pho doesn't prove I'm no longer Vietnamese.

Perhaps I was in a hurry to cook quickly, or maybe I didn't use the right ingredients. Because I didn't have all the necessary ingredients for making pho abroad, I substituted similar ingredients for what was missing.

There's a Vietnamese saying: "Failure is the mother of success." This one failure of mine will pave the way for future success. I'm determined to cook the best pho in the future, so that people from all over the world will be amazed by Vietnamese cuisine.

Now, let's go eat some pho.

The Vietnamese Pho writing contest: "In My Eyes"

As part of the "Pho Day" program, a series of activities promoting Vietnamese culinary culture initiated by Tuoi Tre newspaper, the writing contest "Vietnamese Pho in My Eyes" was launched during the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024, held in Seoul, South Korea, on October 5th and 6th. The contest is open to Vietnamese students studying abroad, Korean students studying at universities in South Korea, Vietnamese citizens living and working in South Korea, and Korean citizens. It's a platform for them to share memorable stories about pho, memories of Vietnam or South Korea associated with pho, and memories of a real person or event connected to or influential in this traditional dish. Outstanding entries have a chance to win prizes: 1st prize: 20,000,000 VND; 2nd prize: 10,000,000 VND. 1 third prize: Worth 5,000,000 VND. 3 consolation prizes: Each worth 3,000,000 VND. 1 prize for the most liked article (the article with the highest number of likes on Tuoi Tre Online ): Worth 10,000,000 VND. 1 prize for the person with the most entries: Worth 5,000,000 VND. The organizers will accept entries before October 7, 2024, and the winners are expected to be announced on December 12, 2024. The "Pho Day 12-12" is a program initiated and continuously organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper since 2017. Since 2018, December 12 has officially been established as "Vietnamese Pho Day". Currently, "Pho Day" has become an important annual event promoting Vietnamese culinary culture, contributing to elevating and spreading the popularity of pho in particular, and Vietnamese cuisine in general, throughout the world . Many activities are organized on "Pho Day," such as: the Pho Memories contest; the Proposal for Developing Pho Day; the Pho Exhibition and Journey Back to Traditional Pho; the Voting for the Most Popular Pho Restaurants; and the Pho in My Heart photo and writing contest... Particularly, the "Searching for the Best Pho Chef" contest with the Golden Star Anise award attracts many young chefs to participate and win prizes. Many organizations, units, and famous pho restaurants across the country have joined and promoted Pho Day on December 12th for the past seven years.

It's fun to cook delicious pho in Korea.

Mr. Ha Dinh Kien - Deputy Head Chef of Thu Duc Golf Course Restaurant (Ho Chi Minh City) at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 in Seoul, South Korea.

"Very happy and proud" is how Mr. Ha Dinh Kien - deputy head chef of Thu Duc Golf Course Restaurant (Ho Chi Minh City) - felt after returning from the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 in Seoul, South Korea.

"I'm happy that I've been able to bring Vietnamese culture and cuisine to Korea and international friends. I'm also very touched to see people in Seoul lining up in an orderly manner to enjoy bowls of Vietnamese pho."

To bring delicious bowls of pho to the people of Korea and international tourists, the kitchen team overcame many difficulties, from sourcing ingredients and processing conditions to transporting them to the event venue...

"Cooking pho all night leaves everyone exhausted, but seeing the positive reception from locals and tourists makes all the fatigue disappear. It's truly wonderful to have the opportunity to bring the finest flavors of pho to international friends, so that through pho they can better understand Vietnamese cuisine and culture," he shared.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuoc-thi-pho-viet-trong-mat-toi-pho-la-tinh-ban-20241122110744462.htm