Nam Dinh and Hanoi pho and Quang noodles recognized as national heritage

Three famous dishes in Hanoi, Nam Dinh and Quang Nam are recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage because of their many values from history, knowledge to community connection.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) on August 9 announced the list of national intangible cultural heritage, in the form of folk knowledge, for Hanoi pho, Nam Dinh pho and Quang noodles.

According to the Ministry, all three intangible cultural heritage items were presented by the localities with full value, such as their representativeness, reflecting the identity of the community and locality; reflecting cultural diversity and human creativity, passed down through many generations; having the potential for restoration and long-term survival; and being nominated and protected by the community with consensus and voluntary commitment.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism considers pho a popular dish in Vietnamese culinary culture, loved by many people at home and abroad.

According to the Hanoi People's Committee's introduction to "Hanoi pho," the signature dish is pho soup, served with beef and chicken. The cooking techniques, dining atmosphere, and cultural practices have created a unique identity for Hanoi pho. Long-standing pho restaurants in Hanoi are typically small in scale, with a storefront for preparing the pho and often utilizing sidewalk space or house space in alleyways for dining tables.

Most famous pho restaurants in Hanoi have secret recipes for their broth, known only to the owners; others cannot know the precise proportions and specific spices used in the broth. The recipes are passed down through family or clan members only through hands-on training.

Photo of a bowl of pho taken in August 2023 at a restaurant in Dong Da district, Hanoi - where customers still queue like in the subsidy period. Photo: Quynh Mai

Regarding Nam Dinh pho, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism commented that pho has become a source of pride for the land and people of Nam Dinh; affirming the value of its culinary brand through unique features in all stages, from preparation and selection of ingredients and food, the method of making the distinctive pho noodles, the processing steps, and the completion of a delicious bowl of pho ensuring flavor and nutritional quality.

According to the People's Committee of Nam Dinh province, long-standing pho restaurants are mainly concentrated in Nam Dinh city, and mobile pho stalls first appeared there. Selling pho has become a livelihood for many villagers, but most serve customers in large cities. Many people from Nam Dinh have opened pho restaurants in other provinces and cities, mainly in Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Quang noodles in Hoi An. Photo: Huynh Nhi

Quang noodles are also on the newly announced heritage list. According to the People's Committee of Quang Nam province, the Quang noodles processing profession is currently well preserved and developed, people working in the profession have a stable income, and the risk of extinction is not high.

However, nowadays, many noodle factories use advanced technology lines that are much faster and more convenient, so traditional noodle factories are at risk of shrinking. Young people are less likely to participate in this profession because they are pursuing easier jobs with higher income.

Hanoi pho is also facing problems as the younger generation tends to choose jobs more suited to the modern era instead of selling pho. Hiring outside the family to help with sales is also a difficult issue for many shop owners in order to maintain their family business.

Regarding Nam Dinh pho, the province's investigation shows that there are about 500 pho shops in the area, but nearly 1,500 households have gone to other big cities to open pho shops.

The recognition of national cultural heritage is a driving force to preserve and promote heritage values. Currently, localities say they have plans to protect and promote the values of newly recognized heritage.

According to the website of the Department of Cultural Heritage, the list of national intangible cultural heritages currently has nearly 500 heritages.

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