History of Pho

Since Vietnam has a long and diverse history of colonial occupation, a number of countries has had an influence on Vietnamese cuisine – most notably, China and France. The birth of pho can be traced back to the popularization of beef in Vietnam, which began in the 1800s and can be attributed to either of the aforementioned countries – depending on who you ask. 

Up to that point, Vietnamese cuisine mostly favored shrimp and pork. And some say there were non-beef variations of pho that were enjoyed in Vietnam even before this time. These soups were said to have been made with noodles in chicken or pork broth.

When it comes to the pronunciation of the word “pho” (pronounced fuh, not faux), the tug-of-war between French and Chinese attribution continues. Some say pho was adapted from the French dish pot-au-feu, which is a beef stew made with vegetables. Thus its name comes from the French word “feu.” Others say the name comes from the Chinese word “fen,” referring to rice noodles.

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