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Hue City, the tranquil ancient capital with a rich history and culture, has recently had two of its most representative local cultural heritage sites officially recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as part of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. These are the New Rice Festival of the Co Tu people and the folk knowledge about Hue beef noodle soup, vivid evidence of the diversity and richness of the cultural identity of the ancient capital region.
Along with the traditional festival, the folk knowledge about Hue beef noodle soup has also been officially recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage, belonging to the category of folk knowledge. Decision No. 2203/QD-BVHTTDL, signed by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, affirms the outstanding historical, cultural, artistic, and economic value of this distinctive dish that embodies the identity of the ancient capital city.
Folk knowledge about Hue beef noodle soup is a national intangible cultural heritage, belonging to the category of folk knowledge.
Bun bo Hue (Hue-style beef noodle soup) is not only a famous dish both domestically and internationally, but also the culmination of hundreds of years of folk knowledge, passed down through many generations. This dish is closely associated with religious life, community activities, and long-standing traditional craft villages such as Van Cu noodle village and O Sa noodle village. Through each noodle strand, each slice of meat, each drop of rich broth, Bun bo Hue profoundly reflects the soul, refined lifestyle, and distinctive culinary culture of the people of Hue.
This acknowledges the cultural, historical, and culinary value of Hue's signature dish – dubbed "the best soup in the world."
The appeal of Hue beef noodle soup has transcended national borders. In 2014, the late renowned chef Anthony Bourdain praised it on CNN, calling it "the best soup I've ever tasted." Following that, in 2016, Hue beef noodle soup was included in the Asian Record Organization's list of Top 100 Asian dishes. Most recently, in 2023, the international food website Taste Atlas ranked Hue 28th among the 100 cities with the best food in the world, with Hue beef noodle soup considered one of "must-try Hue dishes."
This recognition serves as a foundation for Hue to promote the preservation and promotion of its culinary values, aiming to become a UNESCO Creative City in the field of gastronomy.
Throughout history, the traditional knowledge of preparing Hue beef noodle soup has been preserved and promoted by the local community, especially thanks to the efforts of talented culinary artisans such as folk artisan Mai Thi Tra, people's artisan Hoang Thi Nhu Huy, people's artisan Ton Nu Thi Ha, and outstanding artisan Phan Ton Gia Hien. With their exquisite skills and love for food, they have preserved the secrets of cooking beef noodle soup, from selecting fresh ingredients and simmering the broth to achieving the perfect flavor, to harmoniously seasoning and beautifully presenting the dish, contributing to affirming the class and essence of this specialty dish.
The registration of these two intangible cultural heritage sites as national heritage not only affirms the profound cultural value of Hue but also creates a legal foundation and important impetus for Hue City to continue promoting the preservation, promotion, and development of heritage values within its cultural industry development strategy. This will make a significant contribution to the development of tourism and the local economy and culture.
This is an opportunity to promote the cuisine of the ancient capital region to friends and neighbors.
In particular, this is also a significant stepping stone in the roadmap to making Hue a UNESCO Creative City in the field of gastronomy, a strategic goal that the city is striving towards.
Mr. Phan Thanh Hai shared with the press that: "The Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City will coordinate with other departments, agencies, artisans, and the community to continue implementing activities to teach, honor, and promote the heritage, contributing to spreading the value of the folk knowledge heritage of Hue beef noodle soup to the public both domestically and internationally, so that this dish is not only a source of pride for the people of Hue but also a symbol of Vietnamese culture on the international stage."
With the inscription of two new national intangible cultural heritage sites, Hue not only strengthens its position as a cultural center of Vietnam but also opens up bright prospects for the tourism industry and the sustainable development of traditional values in the future.
