Festival Phở honors the rich culinary heritage of Việt Nam.

Ninh Bình will host Festival Phở 2026 from 20–23 March, celebrating the cultural legacy and worldwide recognition of Việt Nam’s iconic national dish.

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Hà Nội — Phở is poised to take centre stage as its rich cultural legacy continues to flourish both at home and abroad, with Festival Phở 2026 celebrating the national dish under the theme Living Heritage in the Heart of Our Era.

Scheduled to be held in Ninh Bình from March 20 to 23, the festival will spotlight the cultural significance, culinary craftsmanship and enduring commitment to preserving the traditional art of Phở in Ninh Bình in particular and across Việt Nam as a whole. It also reinforces the role of cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage, closely intertwined with history, customs, traditions and community life.

As a symbolic prelude, a special event titled Về Với Đình Làng Vân Cù, Mở Trang Di Sản (Return to Vân Cù Communal House, Opening the Heritage Chapter) will take place on March 19.

Vân Cù Village, home to around 80 members of the Việt Nam Culinary Culture Association, has long nurtured generations of Phở artisans who continue to carry on the tradition both nationwide and internationally.

Their collective dedication provides a vital foundation for promoting Phở on the global stage and advancing efforts to secure UNESCO recognition of Phở as a distinctive cultural and culinary heritage.

Researchers in culinary culture view Phở as a vivid reflection of historical cultural exchange, evolving to suit regional tastes while maintaining its distinctive identity. This harmony between tradition and adaptability has secured its lasting place in modern life. Festival Phở 2026, therefore, goes beyond presenting a dish; it celebrates the cultural significance of Phở and reinforces the case for its inscription by UNESCO.

A wide-ranging programme will accompany the festival, including the evaluation event Vietnamese Phở Imprint, the forum Phở in the Flow of World Heritage, the culinary showcase Three Region Phở Rolls, the art night Phở Connect and the talk show We Love Phở – A Heritage Bridge and Mission of Global Connection. These activities blend traditional craft demonstrations, professional discussions and artistic performances, all aimed at highlighting the cultural, historical and creative values of the heritage community.

Global recognition of Phở has continued to grow steadily. It was ranked among the Top 30 Best Global Foods in 2018, the Top 20 Best Soups Worldwide in 2021 and the Top 100 Best and Most Famous Dishes Globally in 2022.

In 2024, Vietnamese beef Phở was the country’s sole representative in Taste Atlas’s list of the world’s 100 best dishes, placing 93rd. By 2025, it had climbed to 9th in Taste Atlas’s ranking of the 100 best dishes in Southeast Asia.

Taste Atlas underscores the meticulous preparation behind beef Phở, with its broth often regarded as the soul of the dish. The platform also commends its remarkable versatility, noting that this national culinary treasure has expanded far beyond its traditional roots into countless variations that continue to captivate diners worldwide.

The traditional broth is patiently simmered from beef bones, shank and oxtail, then infused with aromatic spices such as cinnamon, star anise, cloves, cardamom and coriander seeds.

Describing the experience, Taste Atlas notes that diners can savour a harmonious blend of flavours in each bowl—featuring soft, chewy rice noodles paired with a selection of meats like brisket, flank, rare beef, tendon or beef meatballs. The vibrant green of scallions and herbs, paired with the crunch of bean sprouts and onions, creates a dish that is both visually appealing and richly satisfying.

Most recently, in its updated Top 94 Southeast Asian Noodle Dishes released on March 15, 2026, Taste Atlas ranked Vietnamese beef noodles third, further reaffirming Phở’s enduring appeal and global recognition.

Source: Vietnam News

Photos: Festival Phở 2026.