Bringing a corn grinder from Ha Giang (formerly) to Pho Day - Photo: HUU HANH
Unlike many other pho restaurants that opened for business at 7 am on December 13th, Pho H'Mong Village only opened in the afternoon of the same day on Pho Day.
This has caused those who brought corn pho from Ha Giang to promote it to locals and tourists in Ho Chi Minh City to feel restless and worried from the evening of December 12th until this morning.
Throughout the afternoon, this was one of the most popular stalls, with customers lining up in long queues to get a taste of its offerings.
Making corn noodle rolls attracts diners - Photo: QUANG DINH
Customers were excited by the corn noodle demonstration - Photo: QUANG DINH
I'm so happy, my fellow countrymen!
While queuing, watching Mr. Vuong Duc Bang, Ms. Vang Thi Sung, and Ms. Lo Thi Chang of Pho H'Mong Village grind corn, make rice paper, slice noodles, and pour broth into bowls of pho, customers exclaimed, "It's so good!", "It's so much fun, fellow countrymen!"
Ms. Ho Thi Cam Giang and her small family arrived at Pho Day in the afternoon. As soon as they entered, she decided to try the corn pho because it was so new and she had never heard of it before.
Taking the last sip of broth from her bowl, Ms. Cam Giang expressed her delight at trying a new type of pho: "This is the first time I've eaten corn pho. I can clearly taste the cornstarch in the pho, especially when mixed with the broth; it's very harmonious and delicious."
She praised the broth's light, fresh flavor, distinctly different from other types of pho she had eaten. "Compared to Northern and Southern pho, I prefer the taste of corn pho because it leaves me feeling very refreshed," she compared.
Corn noodle stall attracts customers on the afternoon of December 13th - Photo: HUU HANH, QUANG DINH
Standing in a long line to buy pho, one customer shared that he had worked in the Northwest region for a long time, and corn pho was one of his familiar dishes there. The special thing about corn pho is that it contains a higher percentage of corn than rice, while regular pho noodles are made from rice.
After changing jobs, he didn't have many opportunities to enjoy this pho, so today he was determined to try it to see if it tasted like the original version from Northwest Vietnam.
Also standing in line, Mr. Van Dung (Ho Chi Minh City) humorously shared that he didn't know what corn pho was, but seeing everyone else waiting, he decided to try it. "Who knows, maybe I'll discover another delicious type of pho? Besides, my wife and I also wanted to eat to support those who came from afar," he said with a smile to Tuoi Tre Online.
Ms. Ho Thi Cam Giang and her family enjoy corn pho at Pho Day - Photo: HUU HANH
Reuniting with home on Pho Day
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha (born in 1975, from the former Ha Giang province, now part of Tuyen Quang province ) has been in Ho Chi Minh City for 12 years and hasn't returned to her hometown for a long time.
Hearing that Ha Giang corn pho was available on Pho Day, my husband and I decided to try it this afternoon. She kept pacing back and forth around the corn pho stall, filming herself grinding corn, making pho noodles, and slicing them – she didn't want to leave.
"Ha Giang province has now merged with Tuyen Quang province to form Tuyen Quang province, like losing a part of my memory, but coming here and seeing corn pho is like rediscovering my homeland. I'm so happy," she shared.
Corn pho is not a traditional dish of Ha Giang people; this dish has only been created in recent years.
According to Ms. Ha, "back in the day, every child in Ha Giang ate men men - a familiar food of the H'Mong people made from steamed corn flour." Therefore, eating corn pho brought back "memories" from the past, making her extremely emotional.
Ms. Thu Ha (left) was moved when she reunited with her hometown at Pho Day - Photo: HUU HANH
People line up to enjoy corn pho - Photo: HUU HANH
Almost missed the appointment.
According to Vuong Duc Bang, winner of the 2022 Golden Star Anise Award, the journey of bringing pho from Ha Giang to Ho Chi Minh City faced many obstacles.
The truck carrying the materials broke down in the middle of the road, leaving the couple stranded all night. They only found another vehicle near dawn to continue their journey.
Pour broth into the bowl of corn pho.
A bowl of corn pho evokes fond memories on Pho Day - Photo: QUANG DINH
"We were so anxious, we couldn't sleep all night. We didn't get a ride to Ho Chi Minh City until 4 a.m.," Mr. Bang recounted, his voice still showing signs of exhaustion after the long journey.
Nevertheless, the greatest comfort for the couple came from the welcoming reception from customers on Pho Day.
Many people learned about H'Mong corn pho through articles in Tuoi Tre newspaper, while others were simply curious about a pho dish with such an unusual name. Many customers patiently waited, constantly asking about the opening time of the stall so they could experience the unique flavor of corn pho firsthand.
The Pho Day 12-12 program, now in its 9th year with the theme "Elevating Vietnamese Rice - Spreading Across Five Continents," will take place over two days, December 13th and 14th, at the former Tax Department Store area, 135 Nguyen Hue Street, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
The program features nearly 30 famous and unique pho brands from North to South Vietnam, showcasing a diverse range of pho dishes reflecting the characteristics of different regions and local cultures.
With a price of 40,000 VND per bowl, the Pho Day festival on December 12, 2025, is expected to serve more than 20,000 servings over two days. The organizers will donate at least 10% of the pho sales revenue to the "Pho of Love" program, cooking and serving pho to people in the flood-stricken areas of Dak Lak province (formerly Phu Yen ), which recently suffered damage from natural disasters.
The Pho Day 12-12 program is supported and coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Trade Promotion - Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association, with the diamond partnership of Acecook Vietnam Joint Stock Company for many years, and this year with the additional support of Ho Chi Minh City Development Commercial Bank (HDBank), Cholimex Food Joint Stock Company, Saigon Trading Corporation Limited (SATRA), Suntory Pepsico Beverage Company Limited, etc.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xay-ngo-tai-cho-lam-banh-pho-vui-va-da-qua-dong-bao-oi-20251213175330772.htm
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