The night Obama and Bourdain sat down for bún chả.
A six-dollar dinner became an unforgettable image of Hanoi. Behind it was a deliberate choice of restaurant, a conversation about travel and a dish that deserves a story of its own.
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The Pho District Journal · News & Offers
Beyond
the bowl.
Hanoi to Hammersmith
Food opens the door.
Culture keeps us curious.
Places, people and everyday rituals. Stories to spend time with, and something new to bring to your table.
Find your next read01 / Food 02 / Culture 03 / Around the table
9 stories to explore
Hanoi is more than a backdrop to lunch.
Water puppets, working streets and a city still making things: a different way to look at Hanoi, with food as a starting point rather than the whole story.
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One name. Many bowls of phở.
How movement shaped Vietnam’s best-known noodle soup—and how to taste a bowl before reaching for the condiments.
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Vietnamese coffee. A reason to stay.
A small metal filter, a slower rhythm and a coffee culture that keeps changing. There is more to discover than a quick caffeine stop.
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Tết begins with coming together.
Why Vietnam’s Lunar New Year is a story about people as much as food—and how to approach its traditions with curiosity rather than a checklist.
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Build a table, not just an order.
A thoughtful meal for two starts with contrast: something crisp, something comforting and enough room to try a dish you have never ordered before.
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Three textures. A different way into Vietnamese food.
Summer Rolls, Banh Cuon and Saigon Xeo Pancake show why ‘a roll’ is not a very useful description on its own. Here is how to choose between them.
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Meet Bún Huế on its own terms.
Follow the lemongrass aroma towards central Vietnam, then explore the spicy vermicelli soup on our own menu.
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Give vegetables a proper place at the table.
Soft aubergine, fragrant rice and a little contrast: how to make vegetable dishes an enjoyable centre of the meal.
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