Why is Vietnamese rice noodle called pho?

The word pho comes from the Cantonese word "pho". In Cantonese, it is sometimes simply called "phoenix" or "river". The two interacted with each other and evolved into today's pho. It shows that Vietnamese noodles may have been brought to Vietnam by immigrants from Guangdong in the early 20th century.

There are two types of authentic Vietnamese Pho. The most well-known "Locomotive" is called "Pho" by the locals, which is flat Pho, and the other is called "Bun", which is thick and round. Noodles, both kinds of pho are very common in Vietnam.

Historical background

No records of pho can be found in early documents. It is generally believed that pho was influenced by immigrants from Fujian and Guangdong in China. It first appeared on the streets of Hanoi in the 1920s and was introduced to Saigon in the 1950s. Due to Vietnam's historical reasons, the shape of pho is also influenced by China and France.

There is no doubt that the raw material of pho comes from Guangzhou. In the early 20th century, a large number of Cantonese people came to Hanoi to work, and pho was introduced. Before the French colonization, the Vietnamese, who were based on agriculture, did not eat beef. Later, under the influence of French culture, they slowly accepted it.

Reference for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Vietnamese Pho