Binh Duong - Vietnam Vegetarian pho is one of the dishes that has long been associated with Lai Thieu people, not flashy but durable, like the lifestyle here.
Reader Hoang Hiep, living in Lai Thieu, shares about vegetarian pho that has been associated with local people for decades.
No one knows when vegetarian pho was born, but according to locals, the dish has been present in Lai Thieu for many decades. Lai Thieu Market and Bung Market - two markets over a hundred years old - are the starting points for the pots of vegetarian broth simmering every day, serving diners from monks, workers to people going to the temple or simply wanting a light, frugal meal.
Along Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, many long-standing vegetarian pho restaurants such as Buu Minh, Ong Dong, Cau Tau, and Binh Nham are still open regularly. Without the need for flashy signs, these pho restaurants are still crowded thanks to their traditional flavors - a pot of broth cooked with white radish, chayote, carrots, sweet corn, shiitake mushrooms, and sometimes dried grapefruit peel or jujube. Without MSG, without strong spices, the broth is still clear, sweet, and has a light aroma.
A bowl of vegetarian pho usually has thin but soft pho noodles, golden fried tofu skin, a few slices of soft and fragrant vegetarian sausage, and stir-fried straw mushrooms. Served with raw vegetables such as bean sprouts, basil, coriander, lemon, and chopped chili. On the table, there is always a jar of vegetarian satay - not too spicy - to help the dish be rich enough without overwhelming its inherent light taste.
"The pho broth here has a familiar taste. It's not too salty, but light and just sweet enough," said Minh Hang, a diner from Ho Chi Minh City.
Lai Thieu vegetarian pho restaurants also have their own atmosphere, contributing to the experience for diners. The restaurants are not noisy or crowded; customers come to eat and then sit leisurely, and the vendors are also slow and leisurely. For many locals, the vegetarian pho kitchen with its faint herbal aroma is a memory that those who have gone far away will always remember.
"In the past, every full moon day, I cooked a pot of vegetable broth for the whole family to eat as vegetarians. Now, when customers ask why I don't add shiitake mushrooms or seasoning powder to make it richer, I just smile - it's vegetarian pho, just keep it true to its essence", shared Ms. Sau Lai, a restaurant owner near Bung market.
With a price of only about 20,000-25,000 VND per bowl, the dish is not only affordable but also preserves a part of the spirit of Southern vegan cuisine - simple but full.
Without being fussy, Lai Thieu's vegetarian pho conquers customers with its gentleness and kindness. In the flow of modern cuisine, where many vegetarian dishes are adapted to urban tastes, in the small restaurants of Lai Thieu, vegetarian pho still retains its original, genuine taste.
Coming to Lai Thieu early in the morning, sitting next to a bowl of steaming vegetarian pho, you may not only be having breakfast, but also touching a slice of memory, of the old way of life that is still intact.