Making Vietnamese Pho a Global Culinary Icon
	Vietnam, South Africa Pave Ways to Further Traditional Friendship

Vietnam Pho Day 2024 took place at the famous Hazel Food Market in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa on December 7th.

Preparing ingredients for pho at the Vietnam Pho Day event in South Africa 2024. (Photo: Hong Minh)

This marks the second consecutive year that the event has been held in the Rainbow Nation and it has been warmly embraced by the local community.

Vietnam Pho Day in South Africa is an initiative by the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa, in collaboration with other Vietnamese representative offices, aiming to spread the essence of Vietnamese cuisine to local and international friends.

Early on, many South Africans, members of the diplomatic corps, and the Vietnamese community in South Africa enthusiastically queued at the Vietnamese pho and culinary area.

Dressed in striking red and yellow star T-shirts and colorful conical hats, the staff and their anticipations from the Vietnamese Embassy and other representative offices proudly served traditional Vietnamese beef and chicken pho. Visitors were keen to learn about ingredient selection, broth preparation, and accompanying garnishes.

On this occasion, alongside pho, South African and international runs had the chance to savor traditional spring rolls and Vietnamese coffee. Around 400 servings of beef and chicken pho, 1,000 spring rolls, and pre-brewed Vietnamese coffee served were free of charge, catering to a variety of tastes. Additionally, Vietnamese-branded products such as rice, coffee, rice paper, candy, and instant noodles were showcased at the event.

Speaking to reporter, Keith Dali, a South African attendee, shared:

“I really enjoyed the Vietnamese dishes today. I had some iced coffee, which was incredibly refreshing. The spring rolls were delicious, soft, and light. And of course, I tried pho. What I like about pho is its lightness and the aromatic broth, which makes it very easy to digest. I truly enjoyed it.

This is my first time trying Vietnamese food, and it has inspired me to visit Vietnam. In fact, I am currently applying for a visa to travel to Vietnam and explore more of its cuisine. This event is an excellent introduction to Vietnamese food, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Beyond promoting Vietnamese cuisine, Vietnam Pho Day in South Africa was also seen as an opportunity for South Africans and other countries to learn more about Vietnam's culture, land, and people.

“My friend here has had Vietnamese pho before and told me I had to come to this event to truly experience it. And indeed, Vietnamese food is delicious and healthy. Coming to this event, I found it quite fascinating to experience different cultures and meet Vietnamese friends here who are very friendly and warm,” shared Zuné Naudé, a South African attendee.

Meanwhile, Zuné Naudé's friend enthusiastically added:

“Every time I think of Vietnam, I think of pho. As my friend mentioned, I've had pho several times, but the bowl I had today is the best I've ever tasted. I've also tried making pho at home, but it clearly wasn't as successful as the one I had here today.

This event taught me so much about pho, and it makes me want to visit Vietnam. As my friend said, I feel that Vietnamese people are very kind and sweet. And the spring rolls are absolutely delicious. The coffee also surprised me with how good it was.”

Not only South Africans, but many international shows also expressed their love for Vietnamese food and culture. Carlos Feo Acevedo, the Venezuelan Ambassador to South Africa, shared:

“Today is a fantastic day in Pretoria, especially with the Vietnamese culinary festival we are attending. The food is wonderful, diverse, and very delicious.

This event not only showcases Vietnamese cuisine but also reflects the camaraderie and friendship of the Vietnamese people. We can feel a joyful and happy spirit in the Vietnamese community, and it's truly amazing to share that spirit with our Vietnamese friends.”

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