In addition to the broth prepared in the traditional way, simmered from marrow bones and oxtail for 48 hours, the bowl of pho is also served with many expensive ingredients that surprised two American guests, who continuously exclaimed in admiration while enjoying it.

Sonny Side, an American YouTuber with more than 10.7 million followers, is passionate about exploring cultures and cuisines worldwide.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Sonny enjoyed various local specialties, ranging from popular street foods to luxurious dishes.

Recently, Sonny and his close friend Calvin visited a restaurant on the 66th floor of Landmark 81 building (Dien Bien Phu Street, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) to taste what is considered "the most expensive pho in Vietnam," priced at 163 USD per bowl.

Before this, the two American guests visited several restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, tasting street dishes such as bun cha priced at 5,000 VND per serving and banh canh cua priced at 350,000 VND per bowl.

Sonny aimed to experience a range of dishes from super cheap to super expensive in Vietnam to provide honest comments on the taste and the potential to elevate the local culinary culture.

According to chef Le Trung, the restaurant's executive chef and creator of the "most expensive pho in Vietnam," this dish has been served to diners for about five years.

Trung and his colleagues aim to offer a special and high-end version of the "national dish" of Vietnam, providing visitors with a unique culinary experience.

The bowl of pho, priced at over 4 million VND, includes many high-quality ingredients while retaining the traditional flavor of Vietnamese pho.

"We keep the traditional way of cooking pho with broth simmered from marrow bones, oxtail, flank ribs, chicken bones, and chicken feet for 48 hours," chef Le Trung explained.

Sonny and Calvin expressed their excitement and eagerness to enjoy the expensive pho dish, which diners liken to “Pho King”.

According to the observations of the two American guests, the pho is elaborately prepared from expensive imported ingredients, including Wagyu beef, truffle mushrooms, foie gras, and gold leaf.

Fresh truffle mushrooms from Australia, known as the world's most expensive mushroom, priced at about 45 million VND per kilogram, are the most costly ingredient in the bowl.

The fresh truffle mushrooms are sliced directly in front of diners before the hot broth is poured in. While waiting, the waiter detailed the premium ingredients used in the dish.

Sonny commented that the first flavor he detected was that of truffle mushrooms, which have a strong earthy aroma when combined with the rich broth, creating an attractive flavor. He praised the delicately prepared broth for its harmonious aroma.

Calvin described the dish as a perfect combination of premium ingredients and traditional broth, which elevates Vietnamese pho while retaining its inherent flavor.

"There are ingredients that seem unrelated, but when combined, they are indescribably delicious. The beef has a harmonious balance of lean and fat, so soft that it melts in your mouth," Calvin said.

Calvin also expressed his impression of the fresh pho, handmade by a Northern family with more than 30 years of experience in making pho, currently living in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Many people commented that just eating pho is enough and still delicious, but I am happy that this iconic dish has been raised to a new level. I am also proud to see that Vietnamese cuisine is not only cheap dishes but also expensive high-class dishes,” Calvin shared.

Similarly, Sonny said that tourists can enjoy super cheap street food or expensive dishes served in restaurants to experience the excitement of Vietnamese cuisine.

“I am very impressed with being able to find all kinds of delicious dishes from super cheap to extremely expensive in Ho Chi Minh City. Local people are working hard every day to create unique culinary works of art,” the American YouTuber expressed.