On the fourth day of his business trip to Hanoi, Kim Demian, a businessman from Seoul, received an unexpected call from a fellow South Korean inviting him to try pho at a restaurant on Dinh Liet Street.
After hearing that President Lee Jae Myung and his wife had eaten there on April 23, he agreed immediately. From their hotel, the group headed quickly to Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
Kim Demian (right) and two friends eat well-done beef pho at the restaurant on the morning of April 24 (Photo: Quynh Anh).
Upon arriving, Kim and his two friends chose the exact table where the president and first lady had sat, taking several photographs to mark the occasion.
“It feels very special to have a meal at the same table where the president and his wife sat. In South Korea, I occasionally eat Vietnamese pho, but only in Hanoi does the flavour feel truly complete,” Kim told Dantri/Dtinews.
The group ordered three bowls of well-done beef pho, adding chilli sauce and squeezing fresh lime over the steaming broth. From the first bites, the South Korean businessmen smiled with satisfaction and repeatedly praised the dish.
Dantri reporters observed that on the morning of April 24, many Vietnamese and South Korean diners visited the pho shop at 40 Dinh Liet Street after reading reports about Lee and his wife dining there.
Tables at the restaurant are continuously full on the morning of April 24 (Photo: Quynh Anh).
Chang, who has lived in Vietnam for 13 years, visited the restaurant for the first time with a friend. Although familiar with Vietnamese cuisine, he remained enthusiastic, introducing his companion to the distinctive flavour of Hanoi pho.
“For me, beef pho is number one, chicken pho is number two. After many years living in Vietnam, I have noticed that South Koreans are very fond of this dish,” he said.
Many Vietnamese customers also said they felt proud that pho had once again received widespread attention in South Korean and international media.
Hoang Long takes photographs while sitting at the table once used by the South Korean president and his wife (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong).
Hoang Long, a Hanoi resident, said he wanted to experience sitting at the same table once used by a foreign head of state.
After finding his preferred seat, he took several selfies to capture the moment and share it with friends on social media.
A regular customer for many years, his favourite dish remains pho chin nam, a beef pho with brisket and flank. He said the tender meat, combined with lightly chewy connective tissue and clear sweet broth, created a rich and satisfying flavour.
“I feel very proud that Vietnamese pho can win over foreign diners. Cuisine acts like a bridge, helping people come closer together and increasing understanding between countries,” he said.
Johanna Selander, a Swedish visitor of Vietnamese origin, and her husband also chose the restaurant for breakfast and were surprised to learn it had hosted the South Korean president the night before.
She said that while walking around Hoan Kiem Lake on the evening of April 23, they saw Lee and his wife visiting the Old Quarter. She had not expected the distinguished guests to choose pho and fried rice with pickled mustard greens and beef for dinner.
The couple and their two daughters are on a three-week holiday in Vietnam, and pho has become their regular breakfast choice.
A bowl of well-done beef pho similar to the serving enjoyed by the South Korean president and his wife (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong).
“In Sweden, I once paid about USD 20 for a bowl of pho, but the flavour was not very impressive. In Hanoi, pho is cheaper, and the broth is much richer and more delicious,” she said.
Thieu Van Mui, the restaurant owner, said he still felt excitement and pride a day after welcoming Lee and his wife.
“On the morning of April 24, many Vietnamese and South Korean diners came not only to enjoy pho but also to experience sitting where the president and his wife had their meal. Some also asked about how we prepared dinner for our special guests,” he said.
A staff member preparing pho at the restaurant (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong).
Thanks to the attention generated on social media, customer numbers have risen compared with previous days. He hopes business will continue to improve.
“In the next three to five days, we will print the photo we took with the president and his wife and hang it on the wall to preserve this wonderful memory,” he added.
The restaurant opens daily from 7.30 am to 11 pm. On weekdays, it sells around 300 bowls of pho, rising to 350 to 400 bowls at weekends. A bowl of well-done beef pho costs about VND 55,000 (approximately USD 2.10).
The state visit to Vietnam by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his wife took place at the invitation of General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife. The visit ran from April 21 to April 24.
Vietnam and South Korea established diplomatic relations on December 22, 1992.
As of the end of March, South Korea remained Vietnam's largest investor among 154 countries and territories, with total registered capital of USD 98.9 billion across 10,447 projects, accounting for more than 23 per cent of all projects and 18 per cent of total registered foreign direct investment in Vietnam.