VietNamNet Bridge – A pho restaurant in HCM City has launched an eating contest. If participants can finish a giant bowl of soup in one hour, they win VND1,000,000 (US$48).

The bowl contains 750g of rice noodles, 450g of beef and 2 litres of broth. — Photo vietnamnet

The bowl contains 750g of rice noodles, 450g of beef and 2 litres of broth. During the contest, participants are not allowed to use the restroom. Those who fail must pay VND200,000 for the meal.

More than 1,500 people have attempted the challenge, but only 150 succeeded. The youngest winner was a 13-year-old boy. Only two were women.

Many contestants tried fasting, going to the gym or swimming in order to boost their appetites.

The competition time will soon be limited to 45 minutes, said Nguyen Huy Cuong, director of Huy Viet Nam Ltd., which owns the restaurant.

"The shorter time will be better for competitors as the rice noodles absorb more broth and get bigger while the broth will cool off and be harder to eat," he said.

Duong Ky Nhat, 20, tried to complete the challenge by eating the rice noodles first. It took the 115-kg contestant only 10 minutes to eat the noodles, beef and vegetables. He finished the broth in 35 minutes.

"I have never been afraid of pho like now!" he said, after slurping down the last of the broth.

Interested customers can register on the "Pho Ong Hung" Facebook page or directly contact one of the five franchises in the city.

VNS/VNN