Pho is considered the “soul” of Vietnamese cuisine, highly praised internationally for its delicate flavors and cultural depth. In 2025, Vietnamese beef pho was honored by Taste Atlas as one of the Top 100 Most Delicious Dishes in the World. Earlier, in 2024, CNN Travel also ranked pho among the Top 20 Most Appealing Soups Globally.
Whether traveling in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, or other destinations, travelers can easily enjoy pho on nearly every street corner. However, each region offers its own distinctive flavor, creating a diverse and unforgettable pho experience across Vietnam. The following article provides an overview of Vietnamese pho and suggests some of the most renowned pho restaurants in the North, Central, and South for travelers to explore.
Overview of Vietnamese Pho
Vietnamese pho originated in the early 20th century in Hanoi, emerging from a fusion of local cuisine with Chinese and Western influences. Initially, pho was a humble street food, sold by vendors and small eateries, primarily serving laborers at the ports. Over time, through historical changes and migration, pho gradually spread across the country and eventually reached the international stage. It became one of the most globally recognized Vietnamese dishes.
The key elements that make pho so appealing are its broth and noodles. Traditional pho broth is simmered from beef (or chicken) bones, combined with aromatic spices such as cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, roasted ginger, and onions. It creates a naturally sweet taste and deep fragrance. The pho noodles, made from rice, are soft yet chewy, forming the dish’s texture. Common accompaniments include rare or well-done beef, brisket, flank, fatty beef, or shredded chicken, depending on the region and personal preference.
Pho is presented in a simple yet elegant manner. The noodles are neatly arranged in the bowl, topped with slices of meat. It is then bathed in hot broth and garnished with chopped scallions, sometimes with a sprinkle of ground pepper. When enjoying pho Vietnam, diners can briefly dip rare beef in the hot broth to cook it to their liking, add fresh herbs, squeeze in some lime, or season with hoisin sauce and chili sauce according to personal taste.
In the North, Pho Hanoi is considered the original version, known for its delicate flavors, clear broth, subtle sweetness, and a light sprinkling of scallions. Diners often add a squeeze of fresh lime or a touch of vinegar. Central Vietnamese pho stands out for its unique ingredients, sometimes including fresh seafood, with a richer flavor and a characteristic mild spiciness typical of coastal cuisine. Southern pho features a more pronounced sweetness, complemented by fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and hoisin sauce, enhancing the dish’s overall flavor.
Vietnam’s iconic dish has also inspired numerous enticing variations, offering diners a diverse culinary experience. These include rolled pho (pho cuon), mixed pho (pho tron), stir-fried pho (pho xao), crispy pho (pho ran), and convenient instant pho versions. Each variation retains the distinctive flavors of traditional pho while introducing new ways to enjoy the dish. This combines different ingredients and cooking styles, keeping pho fresh, exciting, and continually appealing.
The cultural significance of pho in Vietnam
For Vietnamese people, pho is more than just a dish. It embodies memories and cultural identity. In the capital, especially among those with Hanoi roots, pho is a culinary pride, cherished and celebrated across generations. As it spread to other regions, pho adapted to local cuisines, reflecting a spirit of openness and flexibility. Despite slight variations in flavor and serving styles, pho remains a symbol of community connection, enjoyed in quick breakfasts, family meals, and friendly gatherings alike.
Abroad, pho carries a special significance: it serves as a strong link to one’s homeland, a tangible form of memory through its aroma and flavor. Pho helps Vietnamese people living far from home maintain their language, preserve culinary habits, and pass on cultural roots to the next generation. A bowl of pho affirms identity and soothes homesickness, while also offering overseas Vietnamese a genuine and relatable way to introduce Vietnam to international friends.
Recommended pho Vietnamese restaurants from North to South
Pho Bat Dan in Hanoi
Pho Bat Dan is one of the oldest and most renowned pho restaurants in Hanoi. It preserves the essence of “Hanoi pho,” with a delicately sweet broth that has been perfected and passed down for nearly a century. The restaurant attracts both tourists and locals, many of whom are willing to line up and serve themselves a steaming bowl of pho.
Pho Bat Dan serves three main varieties: well-done beef pho, rare beef pho, and a combination of rare and brisket, priced from 50,000 to 60,000 VND. Diners can also order a side of eggs or fried dough sticks (quay) for around 5,000 VND. The restaurant operates from 6:00 AM to 8:30 PM, allowing travelers to enjoy this distinctive Hanoi flavor in the morning, at lunch, or in the afternoon.
Pho Thin Hoan Kiem in Hanoi
Pho Thin Hoan Kiem is a family-run brand spanning three generations, with a history of 70 years. Today, it has four locations in Hanoi:
- 61 Dinh Tien Hoang, Ly Thai To Ward, Hoan Kiem District
- 1 Hang Tre, Ly Thai To Ward, Hoan Kiem District
- 1 Le Van Huu, Pham Dinh Ho Ward, Hai Ba Trung District
- 289 Kim Ma, Giang Vo Ward, Ba Dinh District
Pho Thin Hoan Kiem holds an irreplaceable place in the hearts of Hanoians and has been recognized in international programs as well as city- and nation-level events. Its menu has grown increasingly diverse, offering traditional rare beef pho, well-done beef pho, pan-seared rare beef pho, and even stir-fried beef pho. Prices range from 60,000 to 80,000 VND, and the restaurant is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Phở gà Nguyệt (Chicken pho Nguyet) in Hanoi
Nguyet Chicken Pho is located at 5B Phu Doan, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. The restaurant specializes in traditional chicken pho, as well as an improved version of mixed chicken pho, offering a rich and flavorful taste.
The menu is quite diverse, allowing diners to choose from drumsticks, wings, breast, keel, gizzard, or mix different ingredients. Prices for chicken pho range from 50,000 to 120,000 VND. Nguyet Chicken Pho operates in two shifts: morning from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and evening from 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
Co Ba Beef Pho in Da Nang
Co Ba Beef Pho is a unique destination for those wanting to experience pho the Da Nang way. In addition to beef and chicken pho with rich, mildly spicy broth, the restaurant also offers seafood pho and flavorful stir-fried pho dishes. This represents a refined culinary twist, blending traditional Vietnamese pho with fresh local seafood such as shrimp, squid, and fish.
Co Ba Beef Pho also serves other popular Vietnamese dishes, including shrimp and pork spring rolls, Mi Quang chicken, tamarind shrimp, and more, which are well-loved by travelers. Pho dishes are priced between 89,000 and 135,000 VND, while other dishes range from 69,000 to 235,000 VND. The restaurant is open daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Phở Hồng in Da Nang
Phở Hồng, located at 10 Ly Tu Trong, Thach Thang, Hai Chau, Da Nang, offers travelers a more authentic taste of Da Nang-style pho. The menu features various beef pho options, including rare, brisket, meatball, etc. In addition, diners can enjoy chicken pho, chicken vermicelli, chicken sticky rice, pork pho, and roasted pork with thin rice sheets, among other dishes. Prices range from 60,000 to 120,000 VND, and the restaurant is open daily from 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM.
Phở Hùng in Ho Chi Minh City
Hung Pho is a long-established and well-known pho brand in Ho Chi Minh City, recognized for its distinctive Southern-style flavors. The restaurant has popular branches at 243 Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1 (open from 6:00 AM to 3:00 AM the next day) and 288 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ward 4, District 10 (open from 6:00 AM to midnight).
The highlight of Hung Pho is its traditional pho broth combined with a very diverse selection, offering 18 varieties of beef and chicken pho along with a wide range of soup dishes. Pho dishes are priced between 75,000 and 100,000 VND, while side dishes range from 35,000 VND. The restaurant operates almost all day, allowing travelers to enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late-night meals while exploring Ho Chi Minh City’s nightlife.
Phở SOL in Ho Chi Minh City
Pho SOL is an ideal destination for travelers seeking traditional pho with a refined fusion of Asian and European cuisine. The restaurant stands out for its modern space and creative presentation, combining traditional elements with the elegance of European culinary style. Its signature menu features traditional Hanoi pho, pan-seared rare beef pho, and premium stone pot pho, offering a unique Asian-European dining experience.
In addition, Phở SOL offers other unique Vietnamese pho dishes, such as vang sauce pho, five-colored mixed pho, and crispy fried pho.
Pho SOL has seven branches:
- 32 Pham Hong Thai, Ben Thanh Ward
- 27 Hai Trieu, Sai Gon Ward
- 37 Xuan Thuy, An Khanh Ward
- 117 Nguyen Co Thach, Sala Area
- 45 Nguyen Truong To, Xom Chieu Ward
- 53 Nguyen Duc Canh, Tan Hung Ward
- 1 Tieu Nam Street, Tan Hung Ward
The restaurant is open from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM, with prices ranging from 90,000 to 200,000 VND.
