The ninth edition of the annual event, themed 'Elevating Vietnamese Rice – Reaching Five Continents,' will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the former District 1’s Tax Trade Center site, now 135 Nguyen Hue Street in Saigon Ward.

The event offers a rare chance to taste some of Vietnam’s best and most distinctive pho styles all in one place.

Pho Day 2025 aims to tell the story of elevating Vietnamese rice through pho, a dish widely regarded as a cultural ambassador of Vietnam’s cuisine.

Besides the delicious bowls of pho, the event will offer a vibrant cultural and artistic space where visitors can explore the history of pho, enjoy live performances, join film and music activities, and meet celebrities and fellow enthusiasts passionate about Vietnamese food and culture.

A true pho celebration

This year’s Pho Day features a large and diverse scale with five main areas including commerce, pho stalls, culinary experience, exhibitions, and a stage.

This year’s event will gather over 30 pho brands from across Vietnam, creating a 'miniature map of Vietnamese pho' in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

Participating brands at 2025 Pho Day include Pho Huong Binh, Pho Thin Bo Ho (Hanoi), Pho Ngoc Vuong (Hanoi), Pho Nhat Vi, Lac Hong Pho (Nam Dinh), Pho Ta, Pho Minh Pasteur, Pho Ong Tay, Pho Phu Gia, Pho S, ATISPHO (Da Lat), Pho Do – Bac Ha (Lao Cai), Pho Phat Tai, Pho Nghi (Can Tho), Pho 34 Cao Thang, Pho Vit Quay (Lang Son), Pho Hung To, Pho Nha, Pho Hai Thien, Pho San – Que Son (Quang Nam), Pho Hmong Village (former Ha Giang), Pho Since 1960 (former Bac Giang), Pho Tau Bay, Pho Nho Pho Nui (Pleiku), Pho Sam Ngoc Linh, and Pho Khoe (South Korea).

They will prepare fresh noodles, simmer broth, and demonstrate cooking techniques on site so diners can both enjoy pho and observe the meticulous pho cooking process.

Beyond well-known pho brands, Pho Day 2025 will showcase regional specialties seldom encountered by most diners, from Bac Ha’s red pho in Lao Cai and Lang Son’s roast duck pho to Que Son’s cassava pho from Quang Nam, now part of Da Nang City.

Organizers expect to serve more than 20,000 bowls, all priced at VND 40,000 (US$1.52), allowing both locals and tourists to taste diverse pho styles in one place.

At least 10 percent of pho sales, together with donations from visitors, will go toward supporting communities affected by natural disasters in the area formerly belonging to Phu Yen Province (now part of Dak Lak Province), through the Pho Yeu Thuong charity initiative set to take place at the end of December.

National Pho Day

Launched by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in 2017, Pho Day has quickly grown into one of Vietnam’s most influential culinary promotion events.

One year later, December 12 was officially designated as Vietnam's National Pho Day.

Over the years, Pho Day has received strong support from the Department of External Relations and Cultural Diplomacy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association.

It has been organized for many years in coordination with Tuoi Tre with diamond sponsorship from Acecook Vietnam Joint Stock Company.

After nine years of development, Pho Day has expanded beyond Vietnam’s borders under the name Vietnam Phở Festival, bringing the iconic dish to diners in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore since 2023.

Most recently, in October 2025, the festival attracted nearly 40,000 visitors during its two-day run in Singapore, serving tens of thousands of portions of pho and other Vietnamese dishes, with support from the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore.