In the heart of the peaceful capital of Brussels, Belgium, a small but passionate discussion filled with love and national pride took place with the theme: "We Love Pho and the Map of Vietnamese Cuisine in Europe."
The event is not only a highlight in the series of activities celebrating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the European Union (EU), but also a place where overseas Vietnamese people come together to look back to their homeland through a very familiar symbol: Vietnamese pho.
According to a VNA reporter in Brussels, the discussion was co-organized by the “We Love Pho” network in collaboration with the Association of Young Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in Europe (VYBE), the Association of Vietnamese Businessmen in Belgium (VBAB) and the Vietnam- Pacific Intercultural Center in Brussels (IVB).
A large number of Vietnamese people from all over the “Old Continent”: Ireland, England, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium… have gathered, not only as chefs, businessmen or journalists, but first of all as children far from home who still carry in their hearts the flavor of a bowl of pho from their homeland.
For Mr. Mai Hai Lam, a Vietnamese living in Poland, pho is not just a dish, but a part of his memories, a part of his identity. It is the cool mornings with a steaming bowl of pho, the affectionate call from his mother, the fragrant aroma of the broth that reminds him of his childhood. From that deep love, he and other Vietnamese living abroad established the network “We Love Pho,” with the hope that pho will become a bridge connecting cultures, bringing the image of Vietnam closer to the world .
Currently, “We Love Pho” is present in 17 European countries, from Western Europe to Eastern Europe, from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean. Each pho restaurant and each Vietnamese chef is a silent “cultural ambassador”, bringing the flavors of the homeland to serve international diners, so that through each bowl of pho, Vietnam is mentioned with love and respect.
Sharing with VNA reporters, Mr. Dinh Dinh Thuy, a photographer who has lived in Ireland for more than 30 years, could not hide his emotions when talking about pho: "Pho to me is not just a dish, but a memory that will never fade. I brought pho with me when I went abroad and until now I still have a burning desire to introduce this dish to international friends."
By joining the "We Love Pho" network, Mr. Thuy feels more clearly the affection that Vietnamese communities around the world have for this dish.
Stemming from his special affection for pho, Mr. Doan Thai Hop, a businessman living in Istanbul (Türkiye), shared his wish to bring this traditional dish to the place where he is currently attached - a city with less than 200 Vietnamese people.
According to him, pho is the bridge to "tell the story of Vietnam" to the world, even in remote lands where few people know about the S-shaped country.
Not stopping at individual pho restaurants, the project "Vietnamese Cuisine Map in Europe" is being implemented by the "We Love Pho" network. This is the first Vietnamese cuisine map in the world, gathering nearly 5,000 Vietnamese restaurant/food stall addresses in European countries, a dedicated project to help the community and tourists easily find Vietnamese flavors in foreign lands. The map is expected to be completed and officially launched next September.
Another notable project is "500,000 bowls of pho for the world," a campaign that runs until 2028, with the goal of spreading Vietnamese culinary culture through each bowl of pho cooked and served.
Each bowl of pho is not just a dish, but a story, a preservation of memories, an invitation for international friends to come to Vietnamese culture in the most intimate and rich way.
Despite knowing that there are many difficulties ahead, from convincing businesses to expanding community connections, Mr. Lam and his companions always keep the faith. Because they believe that with love, perseverance and connection, one day Vietnamese pho will not only be present on the dining table but also recognized as a world culinary heritage.
Mr. Lam shared emotionally: “We Love Pho, my dream, your dream, has now become the common dream of all of us... We love Pho, not only because of its delicious taste, but because it is our homeland, our identity, and what connects all Vietnamese people around the world together.”
In the midst of modern life, when geographical distance is no longer a barrier to love for one's homeland, pho still quietly does wonders: holding tight the thread connecting Vietnamese people living abroad with their national roots and spreading a part of the Vietnamese soul to every corner of the vast world./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/we-love-pho-khi-huong-vi-que-nha-lan-toa-khap-troi-au-post1043360.vnp
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