MOSCOW — A Vietnamese bistro in Moscow hosted an April Fool’s Day contest, challenging competitors to eat a giant bowl of phở.

Fifteen men, including both Russian and Vietnamese, joined the competition, which required attendees to finish a phở bowl consisting of 1.3kg noodle, 600g beef, 100g chopped onion and cilantro, and 3 litres of broth within 45 minutes.

The organiser, the Vietsoul Café & Bistro, even had a healthcare team to take care of competitors if they violently failed to eat a bowl nine times bigger than a normal portion.

When the competition started, everyone was very eager to conquer the challenge. Each of them had their own method to eat the noodle: some used chopsticks, some others had fork and spoon, and some even used a plastic straw. 

Before the bell even rang, one competitor gave up, as the huge portion looked far too large.

The 5,000-ruble (US$89) first prize was granted to a Russian man, Terin Andrey Alexandrovich, who ate 4kg of his 5kg bowl.

Another Russian man, Pan Alexandre Sergeyevich, has won the 3,000-ruble ($54) second prize, while a Vietnamese one, Nguyễn Tiến Minh, bagged the third prize worth 2,000 ruble ($36).

Representatives of the Vietsoul Café & Bistro said they will continue to organise other similar events to promote Vietnamese cuisine among local Russian people. — VNS