Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu said the number of Japanese restaurants selling Vietnamese dishes has increased quite rapidly, in which pho is always the most requested dish and is becoming more and more popular in Japan.
The Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 is held in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo on October 7-8, as part of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said in recent years, the number of Japanese restaurants serving Vietnamese cuisine has been steadily increasing, with pho (noodle soup) being one of the most ordered and increasingly popular dishes in Japan.
Themed "Harmonious Flavors: Enjoying and Exploring Vietnamese Culinary Culture,” the two-day festival is the first of its kind in Japan to introduce Vietnamese cuisine, particularly pho, a unique Vietnamese dish. It is also expected to further tighten people-to-people exchange and lasting friendship between Vietnam and Japan.
Tran Xuan Toan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and head of the organising board, said more than 50 food processors from southern provinces are also joining trade and investment promotion activities at this festival.
He added that it is also the first time a pho festival has been held abroad.
Japanese people enjoy Vietnamese pho. Photo: Quang Dinh
In addition to directly introducing the flavours of pho, the event also features various promotional activities for pho, including rice noodle roll performances, a talk show called The Love for Vietnamese Pho with the participation of artisans, experts and celebrities from both Vietnam and Japan, a competition for Japanese people to create Vietnamese pho, and an exhibition and video screenings providing information and the history of the dish.
A large number of diners line up to buy pho in front of Vietnamese pho shops. Photo: VNA
Culinary expert Matsuo Tomoyuki, President of the Vietnam-Japan Culinary Culture Association, is the ambassador of Vietnam Pho Festival 2023. He will personally introduce pho dishes and demonstrate how to make pho.
As part of the festival, a trade promotion event for over Vietnamese and Japanese producers and traders of food and products derived from rice and starch was also held.
Among 40 booths, about half of them dedicate to serving pho, including several Vietnamese restaurants. The two-day event is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Aoyagi Yoichiro, a member of the Japanese National Assembly, said someone asked if there would be a Vietnamese Pho Festival in Japan next year. Local people expect that there is not only Vietnamese pho but also a rendezvous of Japanese ramen, soba... and pho.
“Today I enjoyed three bowls of pho. The taste of pho at the festival is similar to the pho I used to eat in Vietnam, because these bowls of pho are cooked by pho restaurant owners from Vietnam. Here, I can see the similarities and the friendship two countries shared which are the foundation for the festival to come next year. Of course, many more factors will be needed,” said Aoyagi Yoichiro.
Ngo Minh