What is Pho? Exploring the “National Soul and Essence” of Vietnamese Cuisine

What is Pho?

Pho is a traditional and distinctive dish of Vietnamese cuisine, famous for the harmonious combination of rice noodles, broth, meat (usually beef or chicken), and various fresh herbs.

A typical bowl of pho consists of soft rice noodles, clear broth simmered from bones and spices, along with meats such as beef or chicken. The flavor of pho comes from the balance between the natural sweetness of the broth, the aroma of herbs, and traditional spices such as cinnamon, star anise, ginger, and onions.

More than just a dish, pho is also considered a symbol of Vietnamese culinary culture, appearing in many stories about daily life, people, and the national identity of Vietnam.

Where did Pho originate from?

Although pho is a distinctive dish of Vietnamese cuisine, its origins remain quite unclear. There are no official documents recording the early history of pho. What we know about pho today has mainly been passed down orally from one generation to another.

Pho is believed to have appeared in the early 20th century in Northern Vietnam, especially associated with the areas of Hanoi and Nam Định. In Nam Định, pho is said to have originated from Vân Cù Village (now Nam Đồng Commune, Ninh Bình Province), which is famous for the Cồ family, who brought their traditional pho-making craft to many places while establishing their livelihoods.

Pho also appeared in Hanoi, which is known as the place that helped make this dish famous. However, some writers, poets, and historians have researched and agreed that pho first appeared at Ô Quan Chưởng in Hanoi. During the French colonial period, Ô Quan Chưởng was a place where discarded beef bones that were no longer used were gathered. Local people used these bones to simmer broth and created the dish of pho from there.

What are the ingredients of Pho?

To create a delicious and authentic bowl of pho, a perfect combination of the following ingredients is needed:

Ingredient	Characteristics
Rice noodles	Pho noodles are made from rice flour, with a soft and slightly chewy texture and a white color. High-quality pho noodles should be fresh and should not break easily.
Broth	The broth is considered the soul of pho. To create its distinctive flavor, chefs often use beef bones, chicken bones, and pork bones combined with spices such as cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, grilled ginger, fish sauce, and more. The broth is simmered for many hours to extract the natural sweetness and create a clear, flavorful soup.
Meat	There are two common types of meat used in pho: chicken and beef.
Herbs and condiments served with pho	Green onions, cilantro, bean sprouts, lime, chili, and other fresh herbs are commonly served with pho.

2 Popular Types of Pho

1. Beef Pho (Phở Bò)

Beef pho is considered the national dish of Vietnam. This dish is a perfect combination of broth, rice noodles, sliced beef, and fresh herbs such as green onions, cilantro, onions, and more.

There are 5 familiar types of beef pho:

• Rare Beef Pho (phở bò tái):
Rare beef pho is a type of beef pho where fresh beef is thinly sliced, placed on top of the rice noodles, and then covered with boiling broth to cook the beef until it is lightly rare.

• Well-done Beef Pho (phở bò chín):
Well-done beef pho uses beef that has already been boiled or fully cooked, then sliced and added to the bowl of pho with rice noodles and hot broth.

• Stir-fried Rare Beef Pho (phở bò tái lăn):
Stir-fried rare beef pho is a variation of beef pho in which fresh beef is thinly sliced and quickly stir-fried over high heat before being added to the bowl. This cooking method makes the beef tender, aromatic with a slightly charred flavor, and more flavorful.

• Brisket Beef Pho (phở bò gầu):
Beef brisket pho uses the brisket cut of beef, which contains layers of fat and soft connective tissue. The brisket is simmered until tender, giving it a rich, soft, and fragrant taste.

• Flank Beef Pho (phở bò nạm):
Flank beef pho uses the flank cut of beef, which combines lean meat, tendons, and a small amount of fat. The meat is simmered until tender, creating a flavorful taste with a slightly chewy texture and a pleasant aroma.

2. Chicken Pho (Phở Gà)

There are 2 familiar types of chicken pho:

• Chicken Thigh Pho (phở gà đùi):
Chicken thigh pho uses chicken thighs as the main ingredient. Chicken thigh meat is tender, juicy, moderately fatty, and richer in flavor compared to other parts of the chicken.

• Chicken Breast Pho (phở gà lườn):
Chicken breast pho uses chicken breast meat as the main ingredient. Chicken breast is lean, low in fat, and has a soft texture.

Conclusion:

Pho is a traditional dish of Vietnam. With its long history, unique flavor, and deep cultural value, pho has become one of the most representative symbols of Vietnamese cuisine.

More than just a delicious dish, pho is also a story about Vietnamese culture, people, and spirit, conveyed through every bowl of hot and flavorful broth.

If you have any questions related to pho or anything about Vietnam that you would like to learn more about, please contact us here.

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