Vietnamese media report that a pho restaurant in Hanoi has seen a steady stream of tourists after South Korean President Lee Jae-myung dined there. The presidential couple's visit has turned the small shop into a local attraction.
On the morning of the 24th (local time), VNExpress reported visitors were flocking to a pho shop on Dinh Le Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter to take photos. Interest surged after word spread that President Lee and his wife had eaten there the evening before.
The meal was part of Lee’s state visit to Vietnam from the 21st to the 24th. On Instagram, the president posted photos from the trip and praised the restaurant, writing, “They say you can’t go wrong at any restaurant in Vietnam, and it’s true,” and adding that he had enjoyed a delicious dinner.
The restaurant occupies roughly 15 square meters (about 161 sq ft) and has five tables. The second floor houses the kitchen. When it also operated as a street stall, it once sold 300–400 bowls a day; new regulations curbing street vending have since reduced those sales.
The shop prepares its pho by simmering about 30 kilograms (roughly 66 lb) of beef bones for 18–20 hours to develop the broth. It layers flavor with natural spices such as ginger, limits the use of fish sauce, and highlights the broth’s natural sweetness from the bones and dried squid.
A bowl starts at 55,000 dong—about $2.30—which is in line with the Old Quarter’s average.
Owner Tieu Van Mui told VNExpress that authorities informed him a few days earlier his shop had been selected as a potential stop for the president. Security personnel inspected the broth and food samples that afternoon, and around 5 p.m. he received confirmation the president would visit. They had roughly two hours to prepare.
The delegation numbered 17 people, and security positioned guards inside and outside the shop. They ordered 17 bowls of pho and two portions of beef fried rice with pickled vegetables. The president and his wife selected from the menu without special requests. The restaurant continued to serve regular customers and otherwise operated as usual.
After the meal, the president lingered briefly to greet staff, praised the food, and posed for a commemorative photo with the owner’s family.
Local visitors and tourists responded as well. A visitor from the Tay Ho district said he came for the first time after learning about the president’s visit and praised the clear broth and the restaurant’s cleanliness. Another South Korean tourist described the meal as “excellent” and said Vietnamese pho had left a strong impression.
Customers are now lining up to take photos in the seat where the president sat. The restaurant plans to print and display photos from the visit.
On Google Reviews, the restaurant holds a 4.4-star rating based on hundreds of reviews. Some reviewers noted occasional order mistakes, but overall they praised the food quality and value. “I expect more customers soon, so we’ll do our best to maintain food quality,” Mui said.
