Pho is the national dish of Vietnam, you'll find it everywhere from street stalls to fancy restaurants. Simple and pure in flavor, it appeals to all the senses. It is a dish that transcends regional variation in the cuisines of the nation. While Pho is a simple soup served with rice noodle, you should be aware that the Vietnamese see making the Pho stock as a fine art that usually involves lots of time and the use, not just of meat, but of different beef bones. And the stock will itself be well spiced with roasted ginger, onion, star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, salt, pepper, and other "chef or family" special ingredients.