Foreigners are fascinated by Pho Day: Surprised by many types of pho they've never heard of.

phở - Ảnh 1. — Foreign tourists at Pho Day 2025 - Photo: QUANG DINH

Whether they stumbled upon the bustling atmosphere and decided to visit, or read about it in the newspaper and sought it out, they all have one thing in common: they are already familiar with pho, and some are so fond of it that they eat it every week.

I have to eat a bowl of pho every week.

On the morning of December 14th, Ashley Els and Nico Beneke, both from South Africa, attended Pho Day (taking place at the former Tax Department Store, 135 Nguyen Hue Street, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) to enjoy pho.

As a daily reader of Tuoi Tre News (the English version of Tuoi Tre newspaper), Nico saw information about Pho Day and "persuaded" Ashley to come along. Of course, Ashley readily agreed because pho is her favorite dish.

"I usually eat pho every week, especially on Saturday mornings when we go out for pho. Pho is delicious, it gives me a familiar, warm, and satisfying feeling. It's especially light in the morning but still flavorful. Pho is always delicious!" Ashley said with a smile.

"I still remember the first bowl of pho I ate in Ha Long, and I've been hooked ever since," Ashley recounted. Ashley and Beneke have been in Vietnam for about six years, and before moving to Ho Chi Minh City, they also lived in Hanoi, so they know all kinds of pho, both Southern and Northern. Ashley herself says she prefers Southern-style beef pho.

Meanwhile, Dana and her husband Jamie Buchan were surprised to learn that Pho Day brought together nearly 30 pho brands from across Vietnam and many types of pho she had never heard of, such as roast duck pho and crab pho.

"There are many Vietnamese restaurants in Houston, Texas, so we're not unfamiliar with banh mi and pho," Jamie said, while Dana added that she likes the texture of pho, which has protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables all in one bowl, and that she can choose her own toppings.

Before leaving, the couple also asked how to pronounce the word "pho" correctly in Vietnamese.

Tourists take advantage of the opportunity to capture their experience at Pho Day 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City on December 14, 2025 - Photo: QUANG DINH

My first time eating fresh pho.

For Lee Exell's family from New Zealand, enjoying pho at Pho Day was a very special experience because it was their first time eating fresh pho! Visiting Pho Day just two days after arriving in Vietnam, each person devoured a bowl of pho before leaving.

"The pho was delicious, but a little spicy because I added too much chili," Lee said, laughing and exclaiming. His family of four was divided into two groups: one preferred beef pho, the other chicken pho. "We passed by, saw the lively atmosphere, and noticed the Pho Day logo with the picture of a bowl of pho, so we decided to stop in," Rachel shared.

phở - Ảnh 5. — Rachel's family from New Zealand enjoys pho at Pho Day 2025 - Photo: TRAN PHAM TRAM ANH

Previously, the whole family only knew instant pho, so when they got to enjoy a steaming hot bowl of pho cooked on the spot, and saw the artisan making fresh noodles right there, all four of them were very delighted.

Lee and Rachel visited Vietnam 22 years ago and this time wanted to bring their children, Jacob and Cleo, to see firsthand the vibrant country with its delicious food, which they had only known about through their parents' stories.

Meanwhile, Sarah and her daughter, Marion Maclaeod, Australian tourists, stopped by Pho Day because they were captivated by the lively atmosphere of the festival on their very first day in Vietnam.

The two expressed regret for having already had lunch before stopping by, as they couldn't bring themselves to eat the crab pho despite its appealing appearance. "Pho is very popular in Australia and one of our favorite Vietnamese dishes. We often eat it in Melbourne; it's delicious and healthy," the daughter said.

Meanwhile, American tourist Alex Cruz and his parents attended Pho Day with a Vietnamese friend. Having eaten pho in both Pennsylvania and Vietnam, Alex noted that the pho he ate in America had a stronger flavor than the pho here, suggesting that it had been modified to suit American tastes.

He also knew that Northern pho broth was clearer, while Southern pho broth seemed a bit richer.

phở - Ảnh 6. — Alex Cruz (right) gets the seasoning for pho at Pho Day 2025 - Photo: TRAN PHAM TRAM ANH

Upon hearing that crab pho was available at Pho Day, Alex, feigning knowledge, asked, "Is it similar to bun rieu?" and nodded in satisfaction upon learning that it wasn't.

Many foreign tourists spent their time leisurely strolling around the stalls, attentively watching the rice paper making and pho cooking, and not a few brought video cameras and cameras to capture the lively atmosphere of the festival.