#pho
On July 24, the Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports, in coordination with Ha Noi Radio and Television, and Acecook Viet Nam Joint Stock Company, unveiled a competition on forging cultural intellectual property (IP) assets from the intangible cultural heritage of Ha Noi’s ‘pho’ (noodle soup).
Viet Nam's signature noodle soup took centre stage in Berlin on July 15 as the Pho Cultural Roadshow Europe 2026 concluded a three-week, six-country tour aimed at showcasing the country's rich culinary heritage and strengthening cultural ties through food.
More than a food showcase, the programme combines live cooking demonstrations, cultural talks, chef-to-chef exchanges, and business networking to strengthen the global profile of Vietnamese cuisine and promote deeper international connections through gastronomy.
The three-day Pho Festival 2026, held in Thien Truong Ward in Ninh Binh Province, has recorded the strong appeal of Vietnamese pho, while also setting new requirements in organisation and the promotion of heritage values.
Pho (Noodle soup) Festival 2026, themed “Vietnamese Pho — A Living Heritage in the Modern Era”, officially opened in Ninh Binh Province on March 20. The event not only honours the cultural value of traditional cuisine but also helps affirm the position of Vietnamese pho in the process of international integration, with the goal of becoming a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
A Vietnamese Pho Day was held in Beijing on February 5, spotlighting pho as a signature of Viet Nam’s national brand while promoting cultural exchange between Viet Nam, China and the wider international community, and supporting Vietnamese businesses in China in promoting their products and services.
According to information from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Government Office has issued a document to the minister as well as the chairpersons of the People’s Committees of Ha Noi, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, and Hai Phong, conveying the directive of Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh on the preparation of scientific dossiers for “Pho” (Vietnamese noodle soup) and “Water Puppetry” to be proposed for inscription on UNESCO’s Lists.
The Viet Nam“Pho” Day, in response to the Pho Week in Europe 2025, kicked off in Germany and Bulgaria on December 12.
The Viet Nam Pho Festival 2025 officially opened on October 18 at Our Tampines Hub in Singapore, drawing large crowds of visitors eager to experience the iconic Vietnamese dish.
‘Pho’ (noodle soup) is a unique intangible cultural heritage of Ha Noi. However, how to elevate its value and effectively integrate this culinary icon into the creative industries remains an important question.
Several Ha Noi street-side eateries have earned recognition from Michelin, but the question remains: is this enough to elevate the city's vibrant street food scene?
