Pho Soup is perhaps Vietnam’s most popular meal, enjoyed not by only a section of the populace but the entire nation, making it one of the country’s favourite foods found in every corner of Vietnam. The food gained worldwide attention in the 20th century during the Vietnam War in the 1950
While the food is widely consumed throughout Vietnam, it is extensively prepared by two ethnic groups hence we have the Hanoi style of Pho and the Saigon type of Pho. The two types differ significantly in taste, herbs used and general appearance of the dish, but are generally prepared using similar ingredient in the form of rice, herbs, noodles and beef or chicken, depending on the preference of the one making it.
Even though it was in the 20th century that the food gained attention within Vietnam and Asia, historical evidence suggests that it has been in existence as far back as 1905 and was enjoyed in the outskirt and isolated villages in Vietnam especially Vân Cù and Dao Cù villages.
The food however shot to fame and travelled throughout Asia when the Vietnam War came to an end and has since then become an international dish, enjoyed by people from all over the world, especially those in America and Asia.
When the food first became popular in Vietnam in the 1930s, it was widely sold on the streets in food vans parked at vantage corners of the streets. This has however changed today, and the food is served in specialised restaurants in Asia, America and Europe. These restaurants specialised in the preparation of Pho, offering customers an opportunity to taste the wonderful soup no matter which part of the world they find themselves.
Cities like Paris, Washington, New York and London have become the places to get the finest Pho soup in the world and rake in millions of dollars in profit from selling the food to tourists. For instance, in the early part of the 2000s, an unofficial report estimated that Pho restaurants in the United States generated well over $500 million in profit in a year, making the food one of the most patronised meals in America, showing how far the food had spread since breaking bounds in Vietnam in the 1950s.
In 2007 American media giant Cable News Network, CNN listed the food among its compilation of the world’s Top 50 most delicious meals. In terms of cost, the food cannot be classified as an elite food or one meant for the poor as the standard price is very moderate throughout the world and can be enjoyed by people who earn a good income.
While Pho soup is mostly sold in restaurants, in Vietnam a lot of people also prepare it at home and enjoy with their family.
Put it. Pho is not just a food enjoyed by many, it is an attraction on its own, capable of attracting tourists from all over the world to Vietnam and major cities where the food is popular and available.
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