Experience of 'eating pho 50 times more expensive than usual in Vietnam' on American newspaper

Recently, writer Joshua Zukas, a reporter specializing in writing about Vietnam tourism , had the experience of eating pho in a new-style restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City with a price 50 times more expensive than usual.

Having been to Vietnam many times before, on this most recent return, Zukas wanted to find a new experience in the S-shaped land. Therefore, he went to the restaurant of Peter Cuong Franklin, an overseas Vietnamese chef, currently living and working in Ho Chi Minh City.

Franklin's restaurant, located in the Old Market district in the heart of the city, has been listed as one of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, is Michelin-starred and has been featured in publications including The New York Times and Time.

The author said he was extremely excited to learn that the restaurant served Vietnam's national dish - Pho, with a price of up to 100 USD (about 2.3 million VND), about 50 times more expensive than a normal bowl of pho.

Prices reflect Ho Chi Minh City’s transformation. Ho Chi Minh City is one of the world’s fastest-growing millionaire hotspots, according to a report released in April by investment migration consultancy Henley & Partners.

“A bowl of pho for $100 is no longer a strange thing in Vietnam,” Nguyen Manh Hung, author of five cookbooks and host of a cooking show on VTV, Vietnam Television, told Zukas. According to Hung, people certainly wouldn’t eat the dish every day at that price, but wealthier city dwellers are happy to spend money on new experiences.

As soon as he arrived at the restaurant, the American tourist was surprised when the waiter placed a glass of "phojito" in front of him - a mojito mixed with herbs and spices like a bowl of pho. Zukas later learned that the price of $100 was for two people, including two "phojitos", two molecular pho balls, two pieces of Vietnamese bread as well as a bowl of pho to enjoy together.

"This is not just a meal, it is an experience. Hanoi is traditional, sophisticated and elegant. In Saigon, people like bold flavors, new tastes and real experiences," chef Franklin told his foreign guests.

After a few appetizers, the main character finally appeared. A deep bowl of rich broth and six different types of beef, including marrow and homemade sausage. Raw wagyu beef was also served alongside. A smaller porcelain bowl contained rice noodles that were chewy but not soggy. A poached egg yolk was served in the smallest bowl.

For Zukas, however, it's the side dishes and dipping sauces that make the meal truly special. The $100 pho is like an "acrobatic show for the taste buds." Each bite delivers a different flavor.

After a satisfying meal, Zukas rated this "super expensive" bowl of pho 4.5/5. However, he said he only considered it an experience and was not sure if he would try it again. He suggested that tourists can visit this restaurant if they are looking for something different when visiting Vietnam.

According to Insider

Vietnamnet.vn