Chefs from the Ho Chi Minh City-based Caravelle Hotel won the 2014 Golden Spoon Awards cooking contest, which wrapped up Thursday in the southern province of Binh Duong.

The three-member winning team took home the VND1 billion (US$47,170) prize after beating 15 other finalists to top the countrywide cooking event, launched in an effort to help Vietnam win the heart of global tourists through its unique, traditional cuisine.

The second Golden Spoon Awards were aimed at seeking and honoring traditional dishes that represent the cultural specificity of each region of Vietnam. It also sought to promote the image and culinary culture of the Southeast Asian country to the world.

The contest kicked off on May 21 and included the participation of 140 teams, each consisting of three professional cooks, from ten regions countrywide.

Around one third of the participants were chefs from four- and five-star hotels and restaurants from north to south.

Contestants were required to prepare the delicacies of the regions they represent and outperform their competitors to advance to the finale on Thursday.

Cooks from the Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort in the central city of Da Nang won the maiden award last year.

The 2014 Golden Spoon Awards were organized by Binh Duong-based porcelain maker Minh Long 1 and the Business Studies & Assistance Center, with support from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) together with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ly Ngoc Minh, general director of Minh Long 1 and chief organizer of the contest, said the third edition of the Golden Spoon will be held next year to find and promote more traditional Vietnamese dishes to the world.

A cook book featuring the dishes made during the 2014 contest was also introduced during the finale. An exhibition was organized to showcase the restaurants that serve many delicious traditional dishes across Vietnam.

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