Mr. Thin cooks pho to serve customers in Hanoi, posts a 'letter of the heart' amid brand controversy

Recently, Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc has received public attention surrounding the conflict over brand and franchise.

On the afternoon of February 28, Mr. Nguyen Trong Thin (71 years old) - the "father" of Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc restaurant (Lo Duc, Pham Dinh Ho, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi ) was present at an establishment named Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc located in Luu Quang Vu (Trung Hoa, Cau Giay, Hanoi). Many diners were quite surprised when they met the owner of the famous Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc restaurant in person. At some times, Mr. Thin stood in the kitchen, quickly making the signature rare beef pho dish for customers. According to him, amid the controversy, Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc was even more crowded.

"Recently, there has been a lot of conflicting and untrue information about Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc. I am working with a lawyer to successfully protect the Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc brand in Vietnam. I still cook pho every day. I have been cooking pho for more than 40 years. I, like many other chefs, am only happy when I cook and am recognized by customers," Mr. Thin shared with VietNamNet reporter.

"I don't care much about the gossip on social networks. In fact, my brand has been in the hands of my people for 44 years. Legally, I have submitted the trademark application to the Intellectual Property Office. I am looking for ways to protect the brand so that it can last long," Mr. Thin affirmed.

Mr. Thin went into the kitchen to cook rare beef for customers. "I can tell the doneness of the meat just by looking at its color. I've been doing this job for half my life," Mr. Thin said.

Mr. Thin affirmed that the information that he was sick and bedridden was completely untrue. He had just left Ho Chi Minh City for Hanoi on February 27 to work with his lawyer to resolve legal issues related to the brand. Currently, Mr. Thin said that he was healthy, alert, and could "walk, run, and cook pho as usual".

Mr. Thin also confirmed that he does not use a "brick phone" but is using an Iphone 12 smartphone. He also uses the social network Facebook with the account "Nguyen Trong Thin". On February 27, Mr. Thin also publicly posted a "letter of intent" stating that many stores franchised by the company owned by Doan Hai Trung are not trained in "Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc" cooking techniques.

Mr. Thin holds up a smartphone he "bought in America" to introduce to reporters.

"With Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc, you and your guests can love it or hate it. If anyone compliments, I thank them. If anyone criticizes, I am grateful. Everyone has different tastes. I know not everyone will accept a bowl of Pho Thin Lo Duc because this is just a variation of the traditional Pho dish.

I have never boasted that my pho is the best in Hanoi, nor have I compared my pho to anyone else's. That is how I respect my achievements, because I know that no "child" likes to be compared by their parents. For me, the Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc brand is a brainchild that I am determined to protect and preserve to the end, no matter how much effort it takes and how many laws I have to resort to, from national to international law. No one is allowed to steal my Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc brand!", Mr. Thin wrote on his personal Facebook. He confirmed to reporters that this article was written and posted by him.

Mr. Thin expressed his hope that diners coming to Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc will only focus on enjoying the food and put aside the endless disputes.

According to Mr. Thin, there are currently 24 Pho Thin 13 Lo Duc establishments in Vietnam and several countries around the world that he directly trained in pho cooking. "When these pho restaurants opened, I was there, personally cooking and serving customers from a week to half a month," said Mr. Thin.

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