There’s one thing no one wants to think about when it comes to long-term travel.
You will get sick at some point.
Not “a little tired.”
Not “mild jet lag.”
I’m talking full flu.
And ours hit the day after we landed in Da Nang.
Congestion. Headache. Sore throat. Body aches.
My husband went down first (mild case).
My daughter and I? Absolutely wrecked.
But here’s the twist:
If I’m going to be sick anywhere in the world… Vietnam is a pretty great place to do it.
Because when I’m sick, I crave pho.
And for one week straight, we ate it every single day.
Sometimes twice.
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Pho in Da Nang Is Not What You Expect
Before this trip, my benchmark for pho was the deep, rich, intensely beefy broth I’m used to back home. Shout out to Pho Song in BC, Canada.
Vietnam quickly corrected me.
Pho changes depending on where you are:
Northern Pho (Hanoi Style)
In the north — especially around Hanoi — pho is simple and restrained.
- Clear, delicate beef broth
- Fewer herbs
- Minimal garnishes
- Focus on purity and balance
It’s clean and subtle. No distractions.
Central Pho (Da Nang & Hue)
In central Vietnam — like here in Da Nang and nearby Hue — the broth often feels lighter and sometimes even leans chicken-based, even when you order beef pho.
- Cleaner flavor
- Less marrow richness
- Often more pepper or chili
- Balanced but not heavy
When you’re sick?
This version is magic.
It soothes instead of overwhelms. Hydrates. Comforts.
We started treating pho like medicine.
Southern Pho (Saigon Style)
Head south to Ho Chi Minh City, it changes again.
- Slightly sweeter broth
- Big plates of herbs and bean sprouts
- Hoisin and chili sauce on the table
- Bolder, more customizable
It’s louder. More layered. More interactive.
And I love that about it.
Our Accidental Pho Tour of An Thuong
We were staying in An Thuong, which is very much the tourist pocket of Da Nang.
Think:
- Western cafés
- Smoothie bowls
- Surf hostels
And pho.
So much pho.
In An Thuong, there is either a pho shop or a banh mi place on every corner. Truly.
Normally, our travel rule is simple:
Eat where the locals eat.
But here?
That trick doesn’t work.
It’s mostly tourists. Expats. Digital nomads. You can’t judge a place by the crowd because the crowd looks just like you.
Now — I’m sure there are incredible hole-in-the-wall spots in more local neighborhoods of Da Nang. The kind with plastic stools and zero English menus.
But I could barely stand upright.
So our search radius was… small.
Which meant my husband became our official Pho Runner™.
Every meal was a new experiment.
Some were good.
Others were fine.
Some were forgettable.
But one stood out immediately.
And every time we tried somewhere new, we compared it back to this one.
The Best Pho in Da Nang (In Our Opinion)
Without hesitation:
We kept going back. Again and again.
Why?
Because Kenta does simple Vietnamese food extremely well.
Their broth is clean but flavorful. Not heavy. Not greasy. Just balanced. The noodles are perfectly cooked. The herbs are fresh. The portions generous without being overwhelming.
It’s not flashy. It’s not trendy.
Just consistently excellent.
By day three of being sick, we stopped experimenting and just ordered from Kenta.
That’s how you know.
What We Ordered (On Repeat)
- Beef Pho
- Wonton Soup (same comforting broth base)
The wonton soup deserves recognition. Same light broth, delicate dumplings, and incredibly soothing when your throat is wrecked.
Even after we recovered and could finally explore Da Nang properly, we still found ourselves returning to Kenta.
It went from survival food… to one of our favorite restaurants in the city.
We tried almost every dish they had!
Honorable Mention
Before wrapping this up, there’s one other spot that deserves a shoutout.
Their pho was also really good — flavorful, comforting, and definitely one of the better bowls we had in Da Nang.
But what really stood out there was the lemongrass pork.
Fragrant, slightly caramelized, and packed with that classic Vietnamese balance of savory and citrusy. If you’re ordering more than just pho, it’s absolutely worth trying.
In the end, we still found ourselves going back to Kenta the most during our very scientific “sick in Vietnam pho tour.”
But Miss Nhi easily earns an honorable mention.
| The Syps Family Getting Sick Abroad Tip Box 🌡️ Get comprehensive travel insurance (including outpatient + prescriptions) 🌡️ Pack familiar cold/flu meds from home 🌡️ Stay hydrated (bottled water + electrolyte powders) 🌡️ Use food delivery apps when you can’t leave your room (like GRAB) 🌡️ Rest — don’t push through illness |
The Syps Survival Summary
Did we survive the flu in Da Nang? Yes – with plenty of pho!
If you’re staying in An Thuong and craving pho, yes — there are dozens of options. And yes — you might find something more “authentic” in a local neighborhood.
But if you’re tired. Or sick. Or just need a reliable bowl of comfort?
Kenta delivered for us — every single time.
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