Seven teams of chefs are competing in the qualifying round for the RedRiver Delta of the Chiec Thia Vang 2014 (Golden Spoon) contest beingheld on August 27 in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Thecooking contest, the second of its kind is an opportunity for theplayers to show off their cooking talents, to honour the traditionaldishes and specialities of Vietnam, as well as to promote tourism, VuHuy Sang, deputy head of the organising board, said.

Thequalifying round is being held in ten difference locations, starting inCan Tho on May 21 then moving on to Kien Giang, Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa,Lam Dong, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Lao Cai, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The semi-final round is slated to be held in Hanoi and HCM City,while the final is scheduled to take place in December in the southernprovince of Binh Duong.
 
Cash prizes and awards worth 3 billionVND (142,850 USD) are up for grabs, with the champion team to get 1billion VND (47,600 USD).

The first Golden Spoon contestattracted the participation of a total of 140 teams of chefs working inrestaurants around Vietnam.

Fifteen outstanding teamscomprising three chefs each competed in the final round in January and ateam from Intercontinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort won firstprize. The contest is supported by the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industrywho are seeking to build a Vietnam "cuisine map".-VNA