Did you know that the largest population of Vietnamese people in Mississippi live along the Gulf Coast? This is because the cities on the Gulf had a booming seafood business, so when fishermen were immigrating in the 1970s-1980s after the Vietnam war, they and their families ended up in these areas where the climate was familiar, and the seafood industry was prevalent.
Many came on their own boats and found jobs fishing, working at seafood factories, or working with seafood in other ways—like food preparation at stores and restaurants. With so much of their income tied up in the Gulf itself, many of the Vietnamese-Americans on the Coast have come close to losing it all while enduring hurricanes, oil spills, and more.
The rise in Vietnamese immigrants of course brought parts of the culture—including, but definitely not limited to, cuisine. Even with language barriers immigrants encountered, there is one language that needs no translator: food. One of the most well-known dishes is pho (pronounced “fuh”). Commonly known as the national dish of Vietnam, it has now become a favorite of many in the United States, too.
For those unfamiliar, pho is a noodle dish made with a rich broth, protein, various spice blends, and commonly served with bean sprouts, herbs, and/or other greens.
The origins of pho are uncertain, but some credit the creation of the dish to a mix of French and Chinese influences in Northern Vietnam. Regardless of how it got started, it is now one of the favorite comfort foods of many across the world. Rusty Pelican in Long Beach is one such business on the Coast that has expertly mixed local and Vietnamese flavors. I spoke with owner Linh Schmidt for her insight about pho on the Coast. Owning an American/Vietnamese restaurant, means she knows a thing or two about both types of cuisine.
Schmidt was born in Long An, Vietnam, and came to the United States in 2018. In 2023, she became an American citizen. “Pho is an essential part of Vietnamese culture just as gumbo is to this region,” she explains.
“The recipes are passed down for generations and everyone’s recipe is unique. My mom, aunts, and grandma taught me how to make pho.”
Schmidt continues, “In Vietnam we eat pho for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s a comfort food and takes a long time to make a good broth, much like roux for a gumbo. I’m very proud to be able to bring my family recipe and share a little Vietnamese culture with people on the Gulf Coast.”
The history of pho on the Coast is undeniably intertwined with the history of Vietnamese immigration, and now, thanks to people like Schmidt, we all are lucky enough to share in these long-time family traditions.
If the history of Vietnamese-Americans on the Gulf Coast is a topic that interests you, you can visit Gulf Coast Vietnamese Narratives on Facebook or Instagram. You can also visit the permanent Vietnamese refugee exhibit the organization started at the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum.
