If you’re an expat who has lived in Ha Noi for a long time or simply a traveler who has visited Ha Noi for its signature dish “pho” and has eaten it numerous times, and then decide to move to Saigon and sample Pho here, you will either yell “Wtf*” or “Wow.”
There are several debates and votes about the differences between Pho in Hanoi and Pho in Saigon. The ultimate line is that deciding which Pho is superior is ridiculous because it is the hallmark dish of each establishment. If you love Hanoi Pho and believe that it is the best in the world, you should stop reading this right now. If you are a traveler who wants to learn more about Vietnamese food, you should stay to learn more about the version of Vietnamese traditional dish – Pho.
It’s also an intriguing method to learn about the culture, as we’ll describe further below. If you don’t have time to read the full article, just take a quick look at the summarized points right below. Let’s get started!
What is the difference of Saigon Pho and Hanoi Pho?
The Broth: Hanoi Pho’s broth is lighter and clearer, while Saigon Pho’s broth is richer and more cloudy
The Noodles: Hanoi Pho’s has thin and elegant noodles. Saigon Pho has thicker and mouthful one.
The Toppings and Sauces: Hanoi Pho’s topping is mainly poached beef, chicken and green onion, usually no sauces. In Saigon, people it pho with a lot more meat options and have many kinds of sauces to dip.
The Broth
The broth is the essence of Pho, and this soul varies greatly between the South and the North due to the ingredients and how they are prepared. The sweetness of Saigon’s Pho soup originates primarily from the sugar used in seasoning; nevertheless, some individuals create the broth using chicken bones and dried squid; as a result, the Pho broth in Saigon seems a little cloudy, but tastes considerably fattier and richer.
In Hanoi, people continue their ancestors’ habit of making Pho broth from the bone solely; occasionally, but not frequently, MSG is added. The cook will spend the entire time removing the foam from the soup so that it appears crystal clear while still tasting excellent. This also highlights the cultural difference between Hanoi – a slow-paced, tradition-oriented city – and Saigon – an open, vibrant city that strives to create new value on a daily basis.
The Noodles
Noodles are also a significant distinction; in Saigon, the noodles are large and thick, ensuring that the Pho bowl can satisfy any hungry stomach. The chef frequently serves a substantial portion of noodles in a single bowl.
Meanwhile, in Hanoi, the noodles are treated in a “artistic” manner, which is mostly hand-made and meticulously poached through hot water to provide a very lovely texture when enjoying a bowl of Pho. In my opinion, the Pho from Hanoi is superior since the noodle is served in a more sophisticated manner.
This demonstrates yet another cultural divide between the Soulth and the North. In Hanoi, Pho is like an art that has been passed down through generations, therefore it should be appreciated and cooked in the greatest way possible. In Saigon, a bowl of Pho is more about the generosity of the people here “consume as much as you can.”
Read more: Where Can I Find The Best Hanoi Pho? Check Out These Local Suggestions!
The Toppings and Sauces
Because it’s a tradition, Pho in Hanoi doesn’t have many topping options, mainly poached beef, chicken, and green onion, which is completely different from Saigon, where you can have a lot more topping options to go with your Pho: aside from poached raw beef, there are also beef meatball, flank steak (nầm), brisket point (gầu), tendon (gân), chicken, and somewhere they can even add sea food or fishes (yeah I know it’s weird, welcome to the most emerging city of the country), and more, you can have a big bunch of veggies and herbs to go with your Pho.
And one more item that can tell you if you’re eating Saigon Pho or Hanoi Pho: the side sauces. While you can merely squizze the lemon and then enjoy your Pho in Hanoi, eating a bowl of Pho in Saigon requires significantly more steps: you have chilly sauce, soybean sauce, fish sauces, and a special black sauce developed for Pho only (i bet you can find this sauce in Hanoi).
Read more: 07 best food in Vietnam that are recommended by locals
Conclusion
Every year, millions of fresh individuals from all over Vietnam (and the world) come to work and live in Saigon. In order to offer such a diverse range of tastes, Saigon’s Pho must adapt and evolve on a daily basis, so it’s not surprising to see a variety of Pho styles in this city. And the people in this city are very liberal in adding new things to dishes because they realize that they are also the “new thing” that has been added to this city, thus you can see the “melting pot” effect very clearly in Saigon in one bowl of Pho.
In contrast, Pho in Hanoi has remained largely unchanged for hundreds (if not thousands) of years, which keeps people returning if they have already fallen in love with this Vietnamese traditional food. Only the head chef role is changed from the elder to the following generation in an heirloom Pho restaurant.
So, which one do you prefer? Is it a seamless tradition or a delightful culinary adventure?
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