Hanoi Digital Pho gives experience of unique culinary essence

New opportunities in popularizing the capital’s cuisine

The Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2024 from November 28 to December 1 with the theme “Hanoi connects the world” honored, preserved and promoted the cultural values ​​and traditional cuisine of Hanoi capital. During the three-day festival, visitors had the opportunity to experience the Ha Thanh Digital Pho program - a unique creation combining traditional cuisine and technology in the culinary industry.

The Ha Thanh Digital Pho program - a unique creation combining traditional cuisine and technology in the culinary industry in Vietnam - Photo: Quang Tuyen

To enjoy digital Pho, diners use their smartphones to scan the QR code at the cashier counter to place their orders, pay, and receive a table number. Then, the robots will immediately process the orders in the same sequential steps as professional chefs at regular Pho restaurants. The average time for the robot to complete a bowl of Pho is about three minutes for all stages.

The space for experiencing digital Pho with smart robots introduced a completely different perspective on technology application and digital transformation in the culinary industry in Vietnam. Thereby, traditional Pho is not only preserved but also developed and spread strongly in the digital technology era.

People and tourists expressed their impression and interest in experiencing Hanoi’s digital Pho. In particular, the taste is not much different from the traditional Pho because, in fact, the necessary steps are still prepared by humans. This promises to open up new opportunities in promoting the cuisine of the capital as well as Vietnam to the world in the near future.

A robot performs the processing of Pho

Preserving cultural heritage values

Created and developed since the early 20th century, Hanoi Pho has become a quintessential dish of the Vietnamese cuisine. With its unique flavor and a sophisticated recipe, Pho has been rated by international culinary magazines as one of the world’s most attractive dishes.

Hanoi Pho has recently been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National intangible cultural heritage element. This is considered an important turning point in preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the capital, at the same time opening the door for Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general to continue to shine on the world culinary map.

At the talk show “Developing the quality of human resources to preserve and promote traditional craft villages” within the framework of the Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Female Journalists’ Club Vu Tuyet Nhung shared that it is not only Hanoi that has Pho, but only when eating Hanoi Pho can diners fully feel its deliciousness. The fact that Hanoi Pho has been honored as a national intangible cultural heritage element is truly a source of pride for Hanoians in particular and the Vietnamese in general.

A robot performs the processing of Pho

In the memories of Hanoians, the image of small pho stalls with fragrant aromas spreading throughout the streets remains intact. Hanoians never get bored of eating pho, be it in the morning, at noon or at night... Artist Minh Vuong also shared that in the past, Hanoians enjoyed pho differently than they do now. For example, chicken Pho was often served with lemon instead of kumquat or vinegar like today. As society grows, however, the way that people enjoy food has somewhat changed.

According to Nguyen Thuong Quan, President of the Vietnam Chefs Association, culinary creativity must still keep traditional features. Cuisine reflects society, the economy, technology, and attitudes towards life. The elderly choose familiar Pho shops, while the young look for new things, create trends... Accordingly, what belongs to history and culture must be preserved, but there is still a need for proper development to ensure civilization in eating and enjoying food.