The third Chiec Thia Vang (Golden Spoon) competition, which seeks to find the country's best chefs and dishes, was launched in the southern province of Binh Duong on May 26.

With the theme “Hanh trinh gia vi Viet” (Journey of Vietnamese Spices), the contest is taking place in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and northern Lao Cai province’s Sa Pa town, from June 2 to December 2.

The semi-final rounds are scheduled to take place in Hanoi on October 13-14 and Ho Chi Minh City on October 27-28. The final round will be held in the southern province of Binh Duong on December 2.

As many as 540 chefs from restaurants and hotels across the country have registered for the event so far.

Co-organised by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Binh Duong-based Minh Long I Company, the cooking contest aims to seek talented chiefs who can create world-class Vietnamese dishes from each region across Vietnam.

Last year, chefs from Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City won the first prize.-VNA