Hanoi students win Taste of Australia culinary competition
Two students from Hanoi have won the Taste of Australia culinary competition after beating three other teams at the final of the first nationwide culinary contest.
Winners Nguyen Phuong Dieu and Nguyen Hong Quan from KOTO Hanoi at the final of the first nationwide Taste of Australia Culinary Competition (Photo courtesy of the Australia Consulate General in HCM City)
Hanoi (VNA) - Two students from Hanoi have won the Tasteof Australia culinary competition after beating three other teams at the finalof the first nationwide culinary contest.
The winners Nguyen Phuong Dieu and Nguyen Hong Quan are from thesocial enterprise KOTO (Know One, Teach One).
The winners will receive a free trip to Sydney courtesy of leading Australianculinary institutions, William Blue College of Hospitality Management and BlueMountains International Hotel Management School under Torrens University.
They will also receive scholarships paying for half of their tuition to studyculinary arts in Sydney.
On April 18, 17 teams in Hanoi, HCM City, Da Nang and Nha Trang took part inthe competition, including challenging skills tests and an intriguing mysterybox full of premium Australian ingredients.
Teams from KOTO in Hanoi and HCM City, Sunflower School in Nha Trang and Vietnam-AustraliaVocational College in Da Nang won the competition and went on to compete in thefinal at the Intercontinental Sun Peninsula Da Nang.
Speaking at the competition, Australian Consul-General Karen Lanyon said:“Australian culinary education is world-class. The winners of this competitionwill have a life-changing opportunity to experience some of the bestinternational culinary training environments, taking their skills and knowledgeto the next level.”
This was the competition’s second year in Vietnam, but the first year it washeld nationally. Judges and coaches for the final were Taste of AustraliaAmbassador Celebrity Chef Luke Nguyen, MasterChef Vietnam Ngo Thanh Hoa,MasterChef Korea Sid Choi, Australian Consul-General Karen Lanyon and Madame AnhTuyet.
Taste of Australia is a celebration of Australian food, beverages, cuisine,fashion and design, held throughout Vietnam every April.
Taste of Australia encompasses a wide range of exciting and delicious eventsand activities in Hanoi, HCM City, DaNang, and Nha Trang. It aims to promote Australia’s high-quality food, premium wine andbeverages, and delicious cuisine, as well as the country’ creative film,education and world-class fashion and design.-VNA
Australian trade officials are calling on food exporters to step up promotions in Vietnam to benefit from the growing market, reported Australian Associated Press (APP) on February 22.
For the Dao Do (Red Dao) people in the northern province of Ha Giang or the Muong in the central province of Thanh Hoa, Sau tre (bamboo worm), once a staple, has become a rare treat.
Huynh Khanh Ly, Masterchef France 2015, will visit Hanoi to introduce and promote Vietnamese and French cuisines under the framework of Francophonie Day, which is on March 20.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
Winners Nguyen Phuong Dieu and Nguyen Hong Quan from KOTO Hanoi at the final of the first nationwide Taste of Australia Culinary Competition (Photo courtesy of the Australia Consulate General in HCM City) 
