Vietnamese Pho is a traditional dish of Vietnam, originating from Hanoi, and is considered one of the typical dishes for Vietnamese cuisine. Have you ever tried Pho or learned about its history? Let’s figure it out with Go Travel in this article!

Vietnamese Pho – A traditional dish of Vietnam

Many tourists travel to HCM City and have a chance to try Vietnamese Pho, one of the best traditional dishes in Vietnam. However, there are not many people who know clearly about its history as well as taste its original flavor. Pho is a traditional dish of Vietnam, and can also be considered one of the most typical dishes in Vietnamese cuisine.

Vietnamese Pho – A traditional dish of Vietnam
Vietnamese Pho – A traditional dish of Vietnam

The main ingredients of Pho are noodles and broth along with thinly sliced beef or chicken. In addition, there are also spices such as soy sauce, pepper, lemon, fish sauce, chili, etc. These spices are added depending on the taste of each user. Pho is usually used as a breakfast dish, or for dinner.  

Vietnamese Pho’s “Delicious” History

There are many controversial theories about where the origin of Vietnamese pho came from. Around 1908-1909, there were many steamboat routes from Hanoi to Hai Phong, to Nam Dinh, and to Phu Lang Thuong. Gifts piled up on the riverbank, but the most popular “buffalo stir-fry” dish, more and more women actively carried it to the riverbank. Soon the new beef dish spread all the way from O Quan Chuong down to Hang Mam.

Vietnamese Pho’s “Delicious” History
Vietnamese Pho’s “Delicious” History

From the Red River bank, on thin shoulders, the “pho burden” has spread throughout the “cave and alley” of Hanoi and then spread to other urban areas. The most popular is probably the Nam Citadel to serve the workers of a new textile factory opened in the late 20s of the last century, so much so that many people misunderstood and wanted to attribute the honor of “the birthplace of pho” to Nam Dinh. 

According to the pho families in Van Cu, around 1925, Mr. Van was the first Nam Dinh in the village to go to Hanoi to open a restaurant on Hang Hanh Street northwest of Sword Lake, but Hanoi pho appeared before that time which is at least 15 years.

Best places to try Pho in Vietnam

Pho Bat Dan (Phở Bát Đàn)

Located in Bat Dan, every time tourists come here, they always want to visit Bat Dan Pho to enjoy the most authentic and flavorful pho. Although the store is not too large, it is always crowded, especially on weekends when people are resting or during peak hours, waiting in line for a long time. 

Pho Bat Dan (Phở Bát Đàn)
Pho Bat Dan (Phở Bát Đàn)

The soft, fragrant Pho combined with the elegant broth, mixed with the smell of green onions and rare beef will make you hard to forget this taste. You can also serve it with crispy crackers.

  • Address: 49 Bat Dan, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
  • Opening hours: 08:00 – 10:00; 18:00 – 20:30.
  • Reference price: 30,000 – 55,000 VND.

Pho Thin (Phở Thìn)

Having existed for more than 30 years, Pho Thin has become the most delicious traditional restaurant in Ha Thanh. There are not many menus like other Vietnamese pho restaurants, only serving pan-fried beef noodle soup. The number of patrons of the restaurant is also very large, with many families saying that eating at Pho Thin restaurant is an inevitable part of their life, and definitely do not eat at other Vietnamese pho restaurants.

Pho Thin (Phở Thìn)
Pho Thin (Phở Thìn)

With different ingredients, the beef here is quickly sautéed on high heat with spices such as butter, pepper, fish sauce, etc., making the beef more delicious and richer. Besides, the broth of Pho Thin is also very special, combined with beef stir-fry will give you a unique taste of the restaurant that nowhere else can be found.

  • Address: No. 61 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
  • Opening hours: 6:30 – 20:30.
  • Reference price: 40,000 – 60,000 VND.

Pho Khoi Hoi (Phở Khôi Hói)

Khoi Hoi is familiar to the people of Ha Thanh who love Vietnamese pho. It is known that the coaching staff and players in the Vietnamese national team also often come here to enjoy themselves. In order to keep diners sticking with the restaurant for a long time, Khoi Hoi must have a unique pho recipe. According to the share of the shop owner, Ms. Nguyet, that is the secret made in the Mau Dich period.

Pho Khoi Hoi (Phở Khôi Hói)
Pho Khoi Hoi (Phở Khôi Hói)

The space of the restaurant is not too large, but the seats are just enough and look very cool and clean. Therefore, the feeling of eating a bowl of pho is even more delicious. In addition, there is air conditioning and free wifi, so diners are free to surf the web.

  • Address: 50C Hang Vai, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
  • Opening hours: 6:00 – 21:30.
  • Reference price: 20,000 – 55,000 VND.

Pho xao Thanh Beo (Phở xào Thanh Béo)

Thanh Beo hawker stall is famous for its long-standing stir-fried noodle soup, every dish is full of bulging beef, extremely attractive to customers. In Hang Buom, everyone must have eaten this dish once in their life, because when passing by, the incense sticks flutter in the street.

Pho xao Thanh Beo (Phở xào Thanh Béo)
Pho xao Thanh Beo (Phở xào Thanh Béo)

The flavor of the meat here is very typical because the beef is fresh, and marinated with spices before stir-frying, especially when it is never cooked or over-heated, so the meat is always soft and sweet to eat. The elastic noodle is mixed with melon in a hot pan because it absorbs fat, it will taste fatty and eat a lot, but in return, this hawker stall has pickles and iced tea to eat with it effectively.

  • Address: 11 Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
  • Opening hours: 18:00 – 03:30.
  • Reference price: 50,000 – 110,000 VND

Through this article, Go Travel ensures that you can get all the necessary information about Vietnamese Pho. Besides, let’s pocket those addresses and start your journey today!

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