Pho Anh Hai is 'famous' even though it's not real

The game Anh Hai's Pho Shop, developed by Vietnamese students, has suddenly become a hit. The two phrases "Anh Hai's Pho" and "number 10 Dan Phuong" also became the top search trend on the internet, even though they are not real.

Fictional pho restaurant causes fever on social networks.

In the past 2 days, the phrases “Pho Anh Hai” and “10 Dan Phuong” suddenly entered the top search trends on Google Trend and a ride-hailing and food ordering app. Accordingly, the search giant’s data recorded a sudden increase in the number of searches related to these 2 keywords, even though in reality there is no pho restaurant with that name at the mentioned address.

The reason comes from the influence of Brother Hai's Pho Restaurant , a Vietnamese indie game that is "making waves" on social networks. On its fanpage, the Xanh SM application said that a large number of searches for the pho restaurant and address in Dan Phuong appeared after the launch of the game. Although in reality, this is a fictional product.

The game was developed by a student of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, launched for free on the itch.io platform, supporting both Vietnamese and English. Brother Hai's Pho Restaurant is set in a Northern countryside, allowing players to transform into "Anh Hai", the owner of a pho restaurant in the suburbs of Dan Phuong, Hanoi.

With a storytelling style that is both everyday and mysterious and humorous, the game quickly spread thanks to its unique ideas and bold Vietnamese style.

What makes the game a phenomenon is the way it combines a business simulation, where players cook, serve and expand their own pho restaurant, with a very Vietnamese cultural element. Every detail in the game, from the sign “Pho Anh Hai - No. 10 Dan Phuong” to the guests with their own unique personalities, evokes a familiar and close-knit village atmosphere for Vietnamese people.

The phrases "10 Dan Phuong" and "Pho Anh Hai" have seen a sudden increase in search volume.

The spread of Anh Hai's Pho Shop has gone beyond the gaming community. A series of social media users have shared images, even opened maps to find Pho Anh Hai - No. 10 Dan Phuong in real life. On various platforms, many domestic and foreign streamers have also experienced the game, contributing to making the phrase "Pho Anh Hai" a new phenomenon.

Although it is just an indie product, Anh Hai's Pho Shop has shown the potential of the Vietnamese gaming industry in creating a trend associated with local culture. From a student project, the game has turned a fictional address into a highly searched destination on social networks in recent days.

Source: https://znews.vn/pho-anh-hai-noi-nhu-con-du-khong-co-that-post1599515.html