In Berlin, the Vietnamese Embassy hosted a cultural exchange at Viet Pho Restaurant, attracting numerous German friends and partners, including Rolf Schulze, President of the German-Vietnam Association and former German Ambassador to Vietnam, along with Jan H. Fahlbusch, Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the German Bundestag.

Opening the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Dac Thanh highlighted: “Nearly one million Vietnamese live and work across Europe, supported by around 4,000 Vietnamese restaurants on the continent. They are silent ambassadors, helping bring Vietnam’s culture and image closer to the international community. When people think of Vietnam, they think of Phở. We hope the beauty of Vietnamese cuisine, including Phở will spread widely across Europe and one day be recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.”

Rolf Schulze noted that Phở has become widely popular in Germany and globally, appealing to a broad range of diners and serving as a signature dish representing Vietnamese cuisine in Germany. German partners praised the Berlin event as meaningful, particularly during the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany, thereby enhancing cultural and culinary exchanges and strengthening friendship between the two nations.

Prior to the event, the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany encouraged local businesses and restaurants to participate in European Pho Week 2025. By December 12, six partners had registered on the We Love Phở website (welovepho.org), promoting Phở through posts on websites, social media, Vietnamese community newspapers, and special promotions for diners.

Meanwhile, in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Vietnamese Embassy collaborated with Thang Long Restaurant to host the first-ever Vietnamese Phở Day under the theme “Elevating Vietnamese Rice – Spreading to Five Continents.” The event drew ambassadors, diplomats, international organizations, government officials,  business representatives, media, and local friends.

Set against the colorful backdrop of Christmas in Sofia, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet emphasized that Phở is more than a dish, it embodies the flavor of home and represents the soul of Vietnamese culinary culture.

Guests witnessed the preparation of Hanoi-style beef Phở and enjoyed Vietnamese coffee, gaining a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and cuisine.

December 12 has been celebrated as “Pho Day” since 2017, becoming a key cultural promotion activity connecting artisans, businesses, and local communities in the global promotion of Phở. European Pho Week 2025, launched on December 8, saw over 230 participants from 21 European countries, Japan, and Vietnam join the activity, marking the first large-scale European promotional campaign for Vietnamese cuisine.

European Pho Week is an initiative of the non-profit organization We Love Phở, dedicated to promoting and preserving the cultural value of Vietnamese cuisine with Phở at its center. The organization brings together founders and representatives from across Europe, fostering culinary promotion, cultural exchange, love for Vietnam, and the strength of the new-generation Vietnamese community.

With its wide scope and flexible organization, the events in Germany and Bulgaria are expected to become annual highlights, further promoting Vietnamese culture and cuisine across Europe.

Vietnamese Phở Festival serves as cultural ambassador linking Vietnam and Singapore

VOV.VN - The Vietnam Phở Festival 2025 opened at Our Tampines Hub in Singapore on October 18, drawing large crowds to sample Vietnamese cuisine and explore cultural exhibits.