Pho, pronounced “fuh”—not faux, is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. It first appeared in Vietnam in the 20th century and became so popular that it is now considered to be the national dish of Vietnam.

There’s some debate over the history of pho. Most people agree it originated around Hanoi in Northern Vietnam. Some say it was adopted from the French beef stew, pot au feu, while others consider it has Chinese influences. No matter where it came from, pho quickly gained popularity as street food.

After Vietnam was divided in 1954, people who left the Northern region brought pho with them to the South, and over time regional variations of pho emerged.