Ambassador of The State of Palestine, Saadi Salama (left) seen together with 'Day of Phở" Ambassador. Miss Diễm Hương (second left), at the gala night 'The Story of Phở'.

HÀ NỘI — Dozens of ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organisations in Hà Nội gathered to enjoy phở (Vietnamese traditional noodle soup) during a gala night held in the city on Thursday to honour this ‘quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine’.

Organised by Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event, entitled 'Story of Phở', aimed to promote the beauty of Vietnamese cuisine, with phở the hallmark dish.

Ambassador of The State of Palestine, Saadi Salama, said the Vietnamese dish has become part of his life since he arrived in the country more than 10 years ago.

“Like Vietnamese people, I have phở quite often. I have a favourite chicken phở shop in Ngũ Xã (Street) where I’ve visited almost every week,” the diplomat said.

The gala night 'Story of Phở' brings some of the most famous Vietnamese phở chefs, along with their interesting stories behind the formation and value of phở in Việt Nam’s cuisine.

The event gathered some of the most famous Vietnamese phở chefs, along with their interesting stories behind the formation and value of phở in Việt Nam’s cuisine.

During the gala night, culinary artisan Phạm Thị Ánh Tuyết cooked phở from a 100-litre ceramic pot especially made by leading Vietnamese ceramics and porcelain wares manufacturer Minh Long.

Alongside her original Hanoian recipe, the artisan also presented phở with stewed beef and wine.

Diners also were curious about her Muslim phở using halal chicken.

Third Secretary of the Indonesian Embassy Yully Yudhantari Saputri has sampled both the stewed beef and Muslim phở.

“I preferred the stewed beef noodles because it is different than any other phở that I’ve tried before. This is the first time I’ve tasted the stewed beef phở,” she said.

The diplomat said she first tried phở in her home country as there are restaurants offering the dish in Jakarta.

“However, it's quite different between having phở abroad and tasting it right here in its homeland,” she said.

Culinary artisan Phạm Thị Ánh Tuyết (left) talks with Kajiwara Junichi – General Director of Acecook Vietnam JSC (centre) at the gala night.

For Chinese guest Beck Jiang, he wished he could have enough room to try all the phở on the menu.

“So far, I’ve tried only two which I like both. I will have a break before continuing my phở discovery,” he said.

The 'Story of Phở' also featured famous phở brands from the north and south, including Phở Thìn Bờ Hồ that was established in 1955 and is famous for its clear broth and delicious taste.

Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, Vahram Kazhoyan, and his wife, enjoy phở served in stone bowls. Photos courtesy of Tuổi Trẻ

Phở Sâm Ngọc Linh (Ngọc Linh Gingseng Noodle), another brand that was established by a chef in the north recently, features ginseng for its broth to be more nutritious and has won the hearts of diners from the south. Pairing flavour with beauty, Phở Bát Đá Long Biên in Hà Nội treats diners with noodles in bowls made of stone.

Other brands serving visitors at the gala night included Phở Hoa Hồi Vàng (Golden Star Anise Noodle), Phở Ngọc Vượng, and Phở Acecook.

Several interesting activities during the gala night were showcased to guests, including stories of phở, which have been part of Vietnamese culinary culture for hundreds of years, were depicted through sand painting by artist Đức Trí.

The 'Story of Phở' is an activity of the 'Day of Phở', an initiative by Tuổi Trẻ that was held for the first time in 2017 in HCM City.

Alongside the gala night at the Melia Hanoi Hotel, a grand gala day for the public will take place at Aeon Mall in Hà Đông District today, and a cooking programme will be organised for children in remote areas in Thanh Chương District, Nghệ An Province on December 20.

At the grand gala day, the organisers will announce the top 10 best phở brands voted by Tuổi Trẻ readers and the top 10 prizes for the best professional and amateur phở cooks. In addition, winners of the writing and photography contests with the theme ‘Phở in Me’ will also be revealed. VNS