Bringing delicious pho to Bau Bang.

12,000 bowls of hot pho were delivered to workers and laborers in Bau Bang commune (Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Binh Duong province) on the evening of March 7th and the morning of March 8th as part of the "Pho of Love" program.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Saigontourist Group and Mr. Tran Xuan Toan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre newspaper, serve pho to workers in Bau Bang commune - Photo: QUANG DINH

This is the inaugural event of the Vietnam Pho Festival 2026 project, an annual series of events co-organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper and Saigontourist Group, aiming to honor the value of Vietnamese pho in daily life and promote Vietnamese cuisine to the world .

More than just a culinary event, the Vietnam Pho Festival, Pho Day, and Pho of Love have become distinctive cultural landmarks, spreading the spirit of sharing and community bonding.

The afternoon rain on March 7th in Bau Bang couldn't deter the workers and laborers from coming to Pho Yeu Thuong (Pho of Love). After 60 minutes, the rain gradually subsided and then stopped completely. The cool weather was perfect for enjoying steaming bowls of pho.

"Pho of Love" is a meaningful humanitarian program that Saigontourist Group and Tuoi Tre newspaper have jointly maintained for many years. It's not just a culinary activity, but also a bridge of sharing between businesses and the community, demonstrating the social responsibility of businesses towards the people and workers.

Mr. Huynh Minh Thang (Deputy General Director of Saigontourist Group)

Love expressed through every bowl of pho.

From 4 PM on March 7th, the central square of Bau Bang commune began to liven up. The aroma of pho spread, attracting visitors. Taking advantage of their afternoon off, Ms. Hliem Niê (35 years old) and Ms. Y Khuê (22 years old) arrived at Pho Yeu Thuong early: "When we learned that Pho Yeu Thuong is for workers and laborers, we were all happy. This occasion feels like a second Tet (Lunar New Year)."

The atmosphere in the kitchens as pho is prepared is bustling yet full of excitement. Large pots of broth are neatly arranged, herbs are carefully washed, and sliced ​​meat is prepared in trays. The chefs meticulously attend to each step to bring the most delicious, hot bowls of pho to the workers after their busy workdays at the beginning of the year.

On March 7th and 8th, Pho Yeu Thuong (Pho of Love) delivered over 12,000 bowls of pho to workers and laborers in Bau Bang.

Prominent at the event area were seven booths from major hotels belonging to the Saigontourist Group. Mr. Pham Tien Cuong, Culinary Director and Head Chef of the Vietnam Golf & Country Club, said that pho is a traditional dish that most professional chefs in Vietnam must know how to cook: "Each chef has their own way of cooking, and diners are the most impartial judges."

Besides pho, Saigontourist Group also organized booths showcasing travel services, cable TV, and various interactive games so that customers who came to eat pho could receive small gifts.

In the kitchen of Pho Ta, Mr. Ha Van Ky was checking the broth pot while discussing ingredients with other chefs: "The ingredients for pho are brought directly from Ho Chi Minh City for preliminary processing, ensuring freshness and quality."

This is the second time we've participated in the "Pho of Love" program, and everyone is excited to be able to bring hot bowls of pho to the people in need."

Chef Ha Van Ky prepares a pot of fragrant chicken pho broth at Pho Yeu Thuong (Pho of Love).

Pho Thin Bo Ho from Hanoi arrived in Bau Bang late on March 6th to prepare pho for the workers. According to Ms. Thu, pho from each region has its own unique flavor, and not everyone has the opportunity to travel to Hanoi to enjoy it. Therefore, for her family, bringing the flavor of Northern pho, specifically Pho Thin Bo Ho, closer to the workers in the South is very meaningful.

To preserve the familiar flavor, on each trip, the chefs bring along their familiar pho-making tools: from knives and cutting boards to specialized utensils, which serve as "companions" to help create bowls of authentic pho.

Despite the heavy rain, many workers and laborers came to Pho Yeu Thuong to enjoy hot bowls of pho right after finishing work.

Journalist Tran Xuan Toan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre newspaper, shared that "Pho of Love 2026" holds special significance as it commemorates the 10th anniversary of Pho Day – an initiative to bring this unique Vietnamese dish to the world. "The workers in Bau Bang work in shifts. Today, we hope to bring warm, nutritious pho meals to give everyone more energy for their workday," he said.

Continuing the journey of sharing

At the opening ceremony of the "Pho of Love" program on the evening of March 7th, Mr. Huynh Minh Thang - Deputy General Director of Saigontourist Group - stated that during the two days of the program, reputable pho brands and chefs from hotels belonging to the Saigontourist Group will cook 12,000 free bowls of pho for workers, laborers, students, and residents in Bau Bang commune and surrounding areas.

"Each bowl of pho we give away is not just a heartwarming meal, but also a gesture of care, sharing, and good wishes that we want to send to our fellow citizens," he shared.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa presented gifts to workers and laborers in Bau Bang commune on the evening of March 7th.

The organizers also presented 350 gifts to disadvantaged workers and laborers in the locality, and directly visited and presented gifts to three families of policy beneficiaries and those who contributed to the revolution. These small gifts demonstrate gratitude and sharing with the community.

Besides delicious bowls of pho, Pho Yeu Thuong in Bau Bang commune also brought a vibrant "musical feast" to the opening night. Singer Minh Hoang livened up the atmosphere with the theme song "Pho Day," "Still Vietnamese in the Next Life," and a mashup of "E is Impossible" and "Pink Card with the Wrong Name."

Singer Quoc Dai performed "Horse Hooves on the Green Hill" and "One Drunken Night ." Quynh Hoa showcased her sweet voice with "I Love Vietnam So Much" and "Homeland of Three Regions ." Finally, the concert concluded with a powerful performance by Nguyen Phi Hung with "Her Figure" and "Rebirth ."

Singer Nguyen Phi Hung concluded the opening night of the "Pho of Love" event to the delight of the large audience.

"Pho of Love" is a community journey that brings warm bowls of pho to people in difficult circumstances, poor children, and especially workers and laborers who are contributing to socio-economic development every day.

For its 8th edition, Pho Yeu Thuong (Pho of Love) chose Bau Bang commune as its destination. This area has a large concentration of workers and laborers, and the organizers hope to contribute to caring for their well-being and express gratitude to the workforce of Ho Chi Minh City.

The "Pho of Love" event also serves as a kick-off for the Vietnam Pho Festival 2026, scheduled to be held in Australia, continuing the journey of promoting Vietnamese pho to the world. The event also commemorates the 116th anniversary of International Women's Day on March 8th and looks forward to important upcoming socio-political activities.

The smiles on the children's faces as they enjoy a delicious bowl of pho with their parents after a heavy rain.

On the afternoon of March 7th, representatives from Tuoi Tre newspaper and Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Saigontourist Group - visited and presented gifts to local veterans.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Chau (73 years old), a war invalid living with his family, was moved by the delegation's concern. With his main income coming from a war invalid allowance of over 4.6 million VND per month, his life is still full of difficulties.

Meanwhile, Ms. Huynh Thi Lang (74 years old), a former youth volunteer, now lives alone but still actively participates in the activities of the veterans' association. Hearing about the program coming to her locality, she said she would definitely come to help. "I rarely eat pho before. Now that there's 'Pho of Love,' I'll remember it for the rest of my life," she said with a happy smile.

Not far away is the home of Mr. Pham Van Cong (89 years old), a war invalid with many wounds left from the war. Upon receiving the gift from the organizers, he was moved: "I am very happy to be remembered and visited by everyone like this."

HOANG LE - LAN HUONG - QUANG DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dem-pho-ngon-den-voi-bau-bang-20260308091156864.htm