Singaporean Consul General talks about Vietnam Pho Festival: Opportunities can start from the pho table

Vietnam Phở Festival - Ảnh 1. — Majestic Hotel's beef rib pho ( Saigontourist ) was introduced at the Vietnam Pho Festival in Seoul (Korea) - Photo: QUANG DINH

Tuoi Tre Online published his story:

When I started working at the Singapore Embassy in Hanoi 20 years ago, I was introduced to pho. As I don’t eat beef, I chose chicken pho and discovered its delicate flavours.

Chicken Pho, Southern Pho, Northern Pho

To me, the chicken pho broth is strangely sweet, like a pleasant whisper, while the chicken is both tender and nutritious.

Like a bowl of clear sunshine warming people from the inside out, chicken pho is especially comforting when enjoyed on chilly winter days in Hanoi .

What I enjoyed even more about pho was learning the story of Northern and Southern pho. The Southern version of pho has more character, energy and drama, and to what degree is up to the diner.

While Northern pho emphasizes the originality and richness of the broth, Southern pho is a symphony of bean sprouts, vegetables, and many of the spices you add yourself. In comparison, I see Northern pho as a classical sonata, while Southern pho is an improvisational jazz piece. Both are beautiful, but distinctly different.

Vietnam Pho Festival 2025: When Vietnamese pho flavor becomes a 'cultural ambassador' in Singapore

And pho needs no introduction to Singaporeans. Just mention Vietnam and pho almost immediately comes to mind.

However, the Vietnam Pho Festival will be another opportunity, taking Singaporeans on a deeper culinary journey - to discover the subtle variations of pho, taste the rich, soul-stirring broths, or enjoy the artistic flavors of dry pho.

Like me, Singaporeans who come here will also feel how geography and culture can transform a pho dish into a distinct experience.

Vietnam Phở Festival - Ảnh 2. — Mr. Pang Te Cheng, Consul General of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: HUU HANH

Opportunity from eating pho together

I sense that there is some strange dynamic that can transform strangers into partners through shared meals, and ideas into opportunities.

So, when enjoying a bowl of pho or any other Vietnamese dish, a Singaporean businessman can find special inspiration from the dishes' reminders of Vietnam: perhaps in the simplicity yet sophistication of their presentation, or in the way Vietnamese cuisine blends tradition and innovation.

And it is in moments like these that business “miracles” can happen.

Vietnam Phở Festival - Ảnh 3. — Diners enjoy pho at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan on the morning of October 8, 2024 - Photo: QUANG DINH

Trust is the foundation of every lasting business relationship, whether it is between multinational corporations, between small businesses, or between everyday buyers and sellers.

What better way to build trust than through the common language of delicious food and mutual cultural appreciation? When people eat together, in this case, over a bowl of pho, barriers seem to melt away, and countless new opportunities open up.

The opportunity from Vietnam Pho Festival will not only be an occasion for Vietnamese - Singaporean culinary exchange, but also a bridge connecting the two nations, a catalyst for understanding, and above all, a foundation for cooperation that will continue to blossom in countless fields in the coming years.

After all, the strongest relationships often begin simply over a meal.

Vietnam - Singapore culinary exchange

Pho, banh mi, spring rolls and spring rolls in Singapore are recognized as typical dishes of Vietnamese cuisine. But, I know that Vietnam still has a treasure trove of culinary quintessence waiting to be discovered by Singaporeans.

These "hidden gems" include crispy fried banh xeo, a bowl of beef noodle soup that is strong but soothing, or crab noodle soup with its complex yet delicate blend.

Speaking of "culinary diplomacy", Singapore also possesses a rich store of "soups" that can become interesting "ambassadors". As if to tell the story of Chinese-Malay cultural exchange in every spoonful of soup, Singapore has the spicy Peranakan Laksa, with a rich coconut curry broth.