The second Chiec Thia Vang (Golden Spoon) competition to identify the country's best chefs and dishes was launched on May 6 by Binh Duong-based Minh Long I Company and the Business Studies and Assistance Centre.

The contest aims to discover traditional dishes and their backgrounds from each region and honour professional chefs who research into nutrition and introduce Vietnamese specialties and healthy dishes, Ly Ngoc Minh, the company's general director and chief organiser, said.

The first round will kick off on May 21 in Can Tho city, and then the competition will go on to Kien Giang, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Hanoi, and Lao Cai.

The final is scheduled to take place in December in Binh Duong.

Cash prizes and awards worth 3 billion VND (142,850 USD) are on offer with the winner getting 1 billion VND (47,600 USD).

The first Golden Spoon contest attracted the participation of a total of 140 teams of chefs working in restaurants around Vietnam.

Fifteen outstanding teams comprising three chefs each competed in the final round in January and a team from Intercontinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort won first prize.

The contest is supported by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry who are seeking to build a Vietnam "cuisine map".-VNA