European Pho Week spreads traditional Vietnamese culinary culture worldwide

THE HANOI TIMES — Slated to take place from December 8 to 14 across Europe, European Pho Week aims to promote Vietnamese culinary culture and spread the country’s traditional dish around the world, according to the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said that culture has always served as a strong bridge, connecting Vietnamese communities around the world.

"Culinary culture, Pho in particular, helps shape Vietnam’s identity in the eyes of the international friends," said Kien, supporting the initiative to organize the week.

He expressed his hope that the event will be successful, creating a wide-reaching European and global impact.

Kien said that the committee will accompany associations and groups in preserving and promoting Vietnam’s cultural identity and value, including the "We Love Pho" network.

The European Pho Week will also celebrate Pho Day on December 12.

Mai Hai Lam, a Vietnamese in Poland and Chairman of the "We Love Pho" network, said that the event will offer a chance for overseas Vietnamese and international friends to enjoy a variety of Pho dishes, including traditional beef Pho, chicken Pho, Pho rolls, mixed Pho and vegetarian Pho, as well as modern adaptations suited to international tastes.

"Participants are urged to create displays showcasing images and documents on the history and development of Vietnamese Pho, offer live cooking demonstrations and host interactions with well-known chefs and culinary experts," said Lam.

He highlighted that Vietnamese Pho has repeatedly been recognized as one of the world’s most delicious and famous dishes. It was named among the best 30 dishes of the world in 2018, the most delicious 10 soups in the world in 2021 and the 100 most popular dishes worldwide in 2022.

The "We Love Pho" network was founded in Brussels in June 2025, gathering oversea Vietnameses from across Europe, including Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

The mission of the network is to promote and preserve Vietnam’s culinary culture, with Pho as its central symbol. It works to connect the overseas Vietnamese community with local residents through cuisine.