A bowl of pho in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Xavier Bourgois
“A
type of Vietnamese soup, typically made from beef stock and spices to which
noodles and thinly sliced beef or chicken are added.”
That’s
the definition you get from Google when you type “pho” into the search box.
But
the travel experts from Lonely Planet, who probably know about the world better
than most of us, now see the famous Vietnamese noodle soup in a different way:
an excellent hangover cure.
In
a new article, Lonely Planet editors share their personal tips on how to
survive a hangover on the road and pho appears first in the list, followed by
other expected and unexpected cures such as Bali fresh juice, Berlin pork and a
post-drinking walk in Ireland winds.
Tasmin
Waby, the destination editor for Australia and the Pacific, says the clear
broth of pho is perfect for a night of beer and cocktails in Southeast Asia.
“The
broth rehydrates, the sodium gives you a little pick-me-up, and the freshly
cooked beef adds protein in wafer-thin slices (which is all I can usually
stomach in this state),” she writes.
Even
an image of a steamy bowl of pho can cure that headache for you.
Pho is served at a shop in Hanoi. Photo by AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam
There’s
a tiny issue though: Waby appears to be talking about a bowl of pho in Bangkok.
While we love the idea that pho is now so popular, if not universal, that it
can be found everywhere, it’s a little bit disappointing to see a
recommendation for pho that doesn’t guide you to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
That
shortcoming is even harder to swallow considering that the hangover cure listing
is tied to Lonely Planet’s recent beer guide, in which Vietnam is described as
one of the “hotspots” of Asia.
But
one thing we totally agree with the Lonely Planet editor: the magical healing
power of the broth.
In
his book “Hanoi Delicacies,” writer and foodie Vu Bang declares: “A good broth
excels without a shred of meat.” We can’t say it better.
So
next time, after downing the famous bia hoi in Hanoi’s Old Quarter or the
cocktails of Saigon’s rooftop bars, remember to give yourself a treat.
Come
to think of it, we've heard that a cup of Hanoi's egg coffee the next morning
can also do wonders for a hangover.
By Vi Vu/
VnExpress