After former US president Barack Obama sat down with Anthony Bourdain a couple of years back when filming an episode of Parts Unknown and they ate bun cha together, the fortunes of the then-little known restaurant soared overnight.
Now referred to as ‘Bun Cha Obama’, the restaurant encased the table and its utensils in a glass box as a kind of weird monument to their visit. So good was business after that, rip-offs started to emerge, appropriating the name to cash-in. There have even been sightings of Bun Cha Obama stores in Saigon, such has been the flagrant disregard for copyright.
10% OFF your bill during the week of Saigon Tattoo Expo!

But that wasn’t the first time a US president visited a noodle store in Vietnam. Back around 2000, Bill Clinton visited Pho 2000 to try some of their tasty bowls of Vietnam’s national dish. It’s said that he went back for more he liked it so much, somewhat of a trait it seems of the frisky old leader.
The Saigon Tattoo Expo 2018 is on Nov. 10 & 11. For more information, CLICK HERE

However, unlike at ‘Bun Cha Obama’ in Hanoi, there’s no shrine to the former president or anything left behind from his visit here at the original location…thankfully.
Still, plenty of tourists file into this place almost two decades after the old silver fox himself slurped down some noodles here, which we think is an unphogettable (hmm…sorry) experience.
In case it’s packed, don’t forget that just around the corner on Le Thanh Ton Street is Pho 2000’s second store.
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Where:
Flagship Store: 1-3 Phan Chu Trinh, District 1
Second Store: 226-228 Le Thanh Ton, District 1
[Google_Maps_WD id=19 map=17]Getting there from the Expo: 20 minutes by xe om or car depending on traffic
Promotion: 10% OFF your bill
Terms & Conditions:
1. Available during the week of the Saigon Tattoo Expo (Nov. 6th to Nov.12th)
2. Not available with any other promotion, deal or special
3. Notify staff on arrival off your intention to claim the promotion
4. Show staff your Saigon Tattoo Expo ticket or VIP pass & check-in on the venue’s Facebook page
5. “Tag” & “Like” The Bureau Facebook page & share a photo!
6. Enjoy!