Stalls Overflowing with Delights to Cater to the Thriving Crowd at Vietnam Phở Festival 2024, Seoul.

Organizers decided to double the servings to accommodate the influx of festival-goers.

The Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 commenced in Seoul on Saturday, introducing culinary enthusiasts to the unique flavors of Vietnam’s iconic national dish.

The festival is a collaborative effort between the Embassy of Vietnam in South Korea, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, and Saigontourist Group, under the guidance of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

On Sunday morning, a large crowd gathered at Pie Factory, 441 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, eager to indulge in the symbolic Vietnamese pho.

Huynh Nhu, a Vietnamese student in South Korea, shared that she returned to the festival on Sunday after an enjoyable experience the day before.

“The Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 is a special event that not only showcases Vietnam’s culinary culture but also provides memorable experiences for both Vietnamese and South Koreans,” Nhu expressed.

She added, “The festival serves as a bridge between our two nations, connecting Vietnamese expatriates in South Korea and fostering a sense of community and joy.”

Nguyen Dinh Tuyen, owner of Pho Khoe Restaurant, mentioned that his staff had to make a late-night trip to the supermarket to purchase additional ingredients as the number of festival-goers exceeded their expectations.

“We added over 40 kilograms of beef and pork and stocked up on extra vegetables to ensure we could cater to the high demand on the second day of the festival,” Tuyen stated.

In anticipation of the increased demand, the organizers also boosted the supply of paper bowls, plates, spoons, and chopsticks, ensuring that all vendors had sufficient cutlery.

Bui Thanh Loan, owner of the Pho Thin Bo Ho – Hang Tre brand, described a bustling scene at her stall, with a constant stream of customers from morning until noon on the first day.

“We were honored to host many YouTubers and TikTokers who visited our stall and shared their reviews of our dish,” Loan said.

She added, “We hope to maintain this momentum and continue serving a high volume of customers on the second day.”

Miss Grand Vietnam 2022 Doan Thien An, who attended the festival on Sunday, shared that she arrived early in the morning to introduce prestigious pho brands to visitors.

Bich Hoang, owner of the Pho Dau brand, revealed that she, too, had to increase the volume of meat and broth to meet the demand of festival-goers on the second day.

Nguyen Tien Hai, a recipient of the ‘Hoa Hoi Vang’ (Golden Star Anise) award, noted that the stalls of Pho‘S and Pho Ngoc Linh Ginseng served an impressive 200 bowls of pho within just two hours on Sunday morning, matching their entire day’s sales from the previous day.

The ‘Hoa Hoi Vang’ award is presented annually during the ‘Day of Pho’ (December 12) to recognize exceptional pho chefs from across Vietnam.

“To keep up with the demand, we tripled our ingredient supply for the second day, ensuring we had more than enough to serve our customers,” Hai said.

Vietnam Airlines Offers Eight Daily Flights Between Vietnam and South Korea

Vietnam is South Korea’s third-largest trade partner, with bilateral trade reaching nearly US$80 billion in 2023.

In the first half of 2024, revenue from import and export activities between the two countries totaled $38.4 billion.

Both nations have set an ambitious target of $100 billion in bilateral trade for 2025.

Approximately 330,000 Vietnamese citizens reside, work, and study in South Korea.

During the first six months of the year, over two million South Korean tourists visited Vietnam.

Lee Soo Bhin, representing Vietnam Airlines in South Korea, shared that the airline operates eight daily flights connecting Vietnam and South Korea.

These flights depart from Busan and Incheon, offering convenient travel options to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Khanh Hoa Province, and Da Nang City.

The Vietnam Pho Festival 2024, a two-day event, featured a performance stage and nearly 70 booths, including over 40 vendors offering pho and a variety of Vietnamese and Korean delicacies.

The festival was made possible through the joint efforts of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, the Association of Vietnamese Communities in Korea, the Business Association of Vietnamese in Korea, and the Korea-Asia Economic Cooperation Association.

With the theme ‘Enjoy Pho, Discover Vietnam,’ the organizers aimed to promote cultural exchange, strengthen the bond between the two nations, and celebrate their culinary heritage.

Additionally, the event sought to foster trade connections, leveraging the economic and tourism potential of both countries.

The festival attracted the participation of prominent brands such as Bin Corporation Group, Pho Atiso, Pho Ta Binh Tay Food, Pho’S, Gobi, Saigontourist Group, Sasco, and Vietnam Airlines, as well as renowned pho brands from five-star restaurants and hotels like Grand Saigon, Saigon Morin Hue, Majestic Saigon, Vietnam Golf & Country Club, and Caravelle Saigon.

Other well-known brands that joined the festival included Pho Thin Bo Ho, Pho Phu Gia, Pho Ngoc Vuong, Pho Dau, Pho Sen – SASCO, Pho Ta, Pho Ngoc Linh Ginseng, Pho Atiso, Nhut Pho, and local favorites in Seoul like Pho Khoe and Pho Viko.

FPT Corporation, the K-Medical brand, and the Picare brand also showed their support for this year’s event.

This marks the second international edition of the Vietnam Pho Festival, following its successful debut in Japan last year.

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