Pho Viet Nam sells banh mi in Sri Lanka (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka)

Established in 2014, Pho Vietnam has helped popularise Vietnamese cuisine to local people including pho (noodle soup served with beef or chicken), fresh spring rolls and fried spring rolls. Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ho Thi Thanh Truc the restaurant owner Phung Huyen Nga and the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka for their efforts to promote Vietnamese cuisine.

Nga said although many Vietnamese and visitors to Vietnam like banh mi, few people in Sri Lanka know about this popular Vietnamese street food. Together with banh mi her restaurant also offers popular Vietnamese street drinks, lemon tea and iced milk coffee.

Four Vietnamese restaurants have opened in Sri Lanka so far. They usually coordinate with the embassy to hold cuisine promotional events on the occasion of Vietnam's national celebrations including Vietnamese “Pho” Day, Ho Chi Minh President’s birthday (May 19) or National Day (September 2).