"Pho Festival 2026," themed on "pho," the national dish representative of Vietnam, opened March 20-23 inNinh Binh省で開幕した。全国から30以上のブランドが集結し、伝統から現代に至るフォーの歩みを体験できる4日間のイベントだ。ユネスコへの無形文化遺産登録申請に向けた取り組みの一環でもある。
News overview
Pho Festival 2026's theme is "VietnamesePhở—a tradition and heritage living in the present."Ninh BinhHeld this time at Chien Thang Square in Province, it recreated pho's historical evolution through cooking demonstrations and displays, with a lineup of programs where you can experience artisans' skills up close, from traditional broth-making to noodle-pulling.
Major food manufacturers including Masan Consumer also took part, and there were exhibits by national brands. Throughout the four days, seminars and panel discussions to deepen understanding and affection for pho were also held.
The Vietnamese government is advancing activities to apply to register pho as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and this festival also serves as a venue for collecting the foundational data for that. If registration is realized, pho's international fame will rise further.
Vietnamese readers' reactions
In response to the festival's opening report, various voices gathered from Vietnam's social media and news comment sections.
"Pho is Vietnam's soul. Aiming for UNESCO registration is only natural. I want people around the world to know this depth." (from a reader comment)
「Ninh Binh"It's good that it's held in.HanoiBeyond, they should increase cultural events like this in provincial cities too." (from a reader comment)
"I look forward to going to this festival every year. This year the noodle demonstration corner was especially memorable." (from a reader comment)
"An event that conveys pho's history this carefully is precious. It becomes a chance to have younger generations learn the value of traditional food too." (from a reader comment)
Impact and key points for Japanese tourists
Phởis one of the standard dishes you'll definitely want to eat on a trip to Vietnam. In particular,Hanoi's northern-style pho is characterized by a simple yet deep broth, and a visit to a local long-established shop is one to be sure to work into your itinerary. With this festival as a chance, visiting pho specialty shops and long-established shops in each region also becomes a joy of the trip.
As the UNESCO registration application advances, pho's international attention is also rising.Ninh BinhLearning pho's history alongside sightseeing is also recommended. As souvenirs, instant pho and soup packs are popular too, andthe souvenir ranking.
Reference:Festival tai hien lich su pho Viet(VnExpress, March 22, 2026)
