This Vietnamese Indie Title Is Getting the Buzz — And Here’s Why…

Every gamer in Vietnam is suddenly talking about one tiny noodle shop — and no, it’s not a meme. “Brother Hai’s Pho Restaurant” (Tiệm Phở của Anh Hai) is a Vietnamese indie game that’s gone viral overnight, mixing cozy cooking, eerie mystery, and a slice of small-town life that feels too real.

Developed by marisa0704, a Hanoi-based student using the Godot Engine, this free-to-play PC title started trending across TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit within days of release. The reason? It’s not just another cooking sim — beneath the comforting smell of broth and herbs lies something… unsettling.

Set at the now-famous fictional address “Số 10 Đan Phượng,” players step into the shoes of Brother Hai, a humble pho vendor serving customers in a quiet village — until strange noises, vanishing guests, and ghostly rumors turn the everyday into the uncanny.

1. A Familiar World… with a Twist

Set in a quiet rural village inspired by Đan Phượng, Hanoi, the game follows Anh Hai, a humble man running his pho restaurant at “Số 10 Đan Phượng.”

At first glance, it looks like a wholesome slice-of-life game — cooking pho, chatting with locals, and managing a small business.
But just when you’re comfortable… the lights flicker, the customers act strange, and the reality around you begins to unravel.

What begins as a cooking sim soon reveals layers of psychological mystery and horror, turning the everyday into the eerie.

2. 100% Vietnamese Soul

From the plastic stools to the blue-neon street signs, Brother Hai’s Pho Restaurant feels unmistakably Vietnamese.
Even the sound of slurping noodles and the radio chatter in the background capture that everyday street vibe.

Developer marisa0704, a university student in Hanoi, built the game using Godot Engine, infusing it with real cultural texture — something between nostalgia and folklore.

This authenticity is what makes the game stand out globally:
it’s not trying to be international — it’s proudly, weirdly, beautifully local. 🇻🇳

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3. From Chill to Chills — Gameplay and Design

 

Players start by preparing bowls of pho — tái, chín, bò viên — and serving eccentric customers.
But the deeper you go, the more the environment reacts to your behavior.
Certain dialogue choices lead to alternate endings. Strange shadows appear if you linger too long. The more you play, the less “normal” things feel.

The mix of simulation and horror works brilliantly — think Cooking Mama meets Silent Hill, but with chili oil.

4. Why It Went Viral

Without any publisher or marketing, Brother Hai’s Pho Restaurant exploded thanks to TikTok clips, YouTube Let’s Plays, and memes about “Số 10 Đan Phượng.”
Keywords like phở anh Hai and tiệm phở ma ám climbed to the top of Vietnamese search trends in early 2025.

This isn’t just a viral moment — it’s proof that Vietnamese indie developers can create culturally powerful, exportable games with global appeal.

5. Why You Should Try It

If you love indie games that do something different, this one’s for you.
It’s not about perfect graphics or endless content — it’s about storytelling, atmosphere, and the strange beauty of Vietnam’s everyday life turned upside down.

Brother Hai’s Pho Restaurant is heartfelt, funny, spooky, and completely unpredictable — everything an indie game should be.

How and Where to Play Brother Hai’s Pho Restaurant

If you’re curious to try this viral Vietnamese indie gem for yourself — good news: it’s completely free to play and available right now.

At the moment, Brother Hai’s Pho Restaurant is not on Steam. The game is distributed independently by the developer marisa0704 through itch.io and a few verified Vietnamese download portals like Quantrimang.com and Tâm Hồn Game.

Here’s how you can play it safely:

• Official itch.io Page:
  The developer’s official upload is hosted on itch.io. From there, you can download the latest version for Windows or Linux, unzip the file, and launch the .exe directly — no installation required.

• System Requirements:
  The game runs smoothly even on low-spec PCs — you only need a dual-core CPU, 4GB RAM, and integrated graphics. No GPU beast required!

• Platforms:
  • Windows 10/11
  • Linux (tested via Wine or Proton)
  • No console or Steam release (as of late 2025).

Because it’s an indie fan release, there’s no DRM, no launcher, and no registration — just download, play, and get ready for some noodle-scented mystery.

So, while it hasn’t yet made its way to Steam or PlayStation, its grassroots success is already proving that Vietnam’s indie scene can serve up something fresh, local, and unforgettable — even without a global platform.