Vietnamese seafood products earned a gold medal at the American Masters of Taste competition held recently in Northern California.

The winning products, distributed by QDV USA , included Basa Vina Pearl Swai and Vina Blue Barramundi Fillets, the Vietnam Association Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said.

The American Master of Taste, part of the Chefs in America Foundation, was created to recognise great American chefs and food quality in North America .

The association said the award was good news for the Vietnamese seafood industry, which saw exports and prices fall last year.

The winning products were exported to 130 countries and territories last year, earning a total export revenue of 1.34 billion USD, accounting for 31.5 percent of the total seafood export value for the year.

In addition to catfish exports, Vietnam exported shrimp, tuna and dried seafood products.

In January this year, the country earned a total seafood export value of 235 million USD, 9 percent higher than the same period last year.

The QVD USA, along with its sister company QVD FOODS LTD, operates the only US Department of Commerce approved facilities in Vietnam, Serving more than 30 countries worldwide, it is one of the world’s leaders in catfish production and has its primary headquarters in the US. The Vietnam operation includes a 7,000sq.m factory and a 5,400-tonne cold storage facility.

Recently, it began construction of a second fish factory, which is expected to be completed this year./.