About Phans
The story of the Phan family begins in Vietnam, where tastes and aromas are deeply rooted in our family history.
In the 1980s, Phi and Cúc, two young Vietnamese individuals, left their country separately and found a new home in the Netherlands. What they brought with them was more than luggage: memories, cherished family recipes, and a deep love for Vietnamese food.
Although their paths only converged here, they shared a strong connection to their roots from the beginning: the aromas, tastes, and traditions of Vietnam. Food became their way to stay connected to their homeland while also finding their place in a new home. Age-old recipes, passed down for generations, were carefully preserved and, where necessary, refined in the Netherlands.
This is how Phans was born: rooted in Vietnamese cuisine, but grown into a brand that also embraces other Asian flavors.
"'Phans symbolizes coming home, where memories and cultures merge into one product."
The Phan family has lived in the Netherlands for over 30 years and has two daughters. In May 2024, Phi-Yến, the youngest daughter, published a cookbook called Ăn Cơm, full of family recipes she created with her parents. While writing, a new idea emerged: what if we could make our own fish sauce?
In Urk, we found a manufacturer who was willing to develop our fish sauce dressing based on our family recipe. There, we heard the story of a Vietnamese refugee who brought the art of making fish sauce in the 1980s. His traditional method, where nothing is wasted and every part is utilized, formed the perfect basis for Phan's fish sauce dressing and later Phan's fish sauce.
