In the international pastry world, where culinary techniques reach the pinnacle of creativity, victory is not just about a few medals.
This is recognition for a profession that is mature enough to step out into the world based on its own abilities. And this time, Vietnam has achieved that.
From July 18th to 20th in the coastal city of Penang (Malaysia), the 2025 International Pastry & Bakery Competition (Battle of The Pastry & Bakery), under the patronage of Worldchefs, officially concluded with a resounding victory for the Vietnamese culinary team.
Competing against over 400 contestants from various countries and territories, the Vietnamese team not only won 16 Gold Medals, 5 Silver Medals, and 11 Bronze Medals, but also excelled in winning two major trophies, including the overall championship trophy - the highest award of the competition.
This is not only a remarkable achievement in the Asian pastry and bread competition, but also the second time Vietnam has reached the pinnacle at a prestigious international event, organized by leading culinary judges from around the world.
Affirming the excellence of Vietnamese pastry making.
For international professionals, Battle of The Pastry & Bakery is more than just a baking skills competition. It's a comprehensive showcase of technical skill, artistry, culinary sensibility, and professional competition organization capabilities.
From wedding cakes and chilled pastries to artistic breads and sculpted chocolates, the competing teams had to showcase a "symphony of pastry"—a perfect culinary "harmony" that blended technique and emotion, sophistication and creativity.
And on that stage, the Vietnamese pastry industry truly came into the spotlight, standing on equal footing with the leading pastry-making nations of Asia.
The Vietnamese culinary delegation consists of 15 contestants from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi , Vinh Long, Phu Quoc, and Da Nang.
Under the leadership of Head Chef Le Thi Kieu Oanh (Kieu Oanh - Cherry) and with the professional support of experts: Doi Thi Ngoc Diep, Tran Nhat Truong, and Dang Duoc Thao, the team demonstrated a persistent and courageous competitive spirit.
Over the three days of competition, the Vietnamese team not only competed in terms of technique but also demonstrated their class in creativity and teamwork. Their poetic wedding cakes, sculptural sugar and chocolate creations, and exquisitely crafted bread designs completely won over the judges.
In particular, Chef Duong Minh Tri was honored with 3 individual Gold Medals and also won the "Best Chef of the Competition" award - a title that is very difficult to achieve in international pastry competitions, where the strictness regarding every detail is pushed to the maximum level.
Vietnamese Sweet Cuisine: From the Home Country to International Standard
To achieve this success, professionals understand that behind those trophies are months of practice, nights spent sleeping only an hour to perfect every detail of the work.
The techniques of baking, shaping, and sculpting sugar and chocolate are no longer just a creative game, but the culmination of perseverance, skill, and teamwork.
Chef Kieu Oanh, dubbed the "inspirer" for the younger generation of chefs, led the team in competitions and showcased the image of Vietnamese pastry making to the world with a modern, professional, and integrated appearance.
Immediately after the competition concluded, the head of the judging panel, Kenny Kong (Singapore), one of Asia's leading pastry experts, sent an official congratulatory letter to the Vietnam Tourism Association. In the letter, he emphasized:
"I witnessed the persistent effort, excellent teamwork, and exquisite skills of the Vietnamese team. Under the professional guidance of Head Chef Kieu Oanh, they created perfect works of art, from wedding cakes to sugar art creations. This is a completely well-deserved victory."
"Your dedication and teamwork are truly inspiring. Despite sleeping only an hour a day, you have worked tirelessly to showcase your skills, honed through rigorous training and practice," he said.
A new level of recognition for the Vietnamese pastry industry.
While baking in Vietnam was once considered a "behind-the-scenes" profession within the culinary industry, this victory marks a memorable turning point.
No longer a traditional craft associated with folk cakes, the Vietnamese baking industry is gradually evolving into a professional sector, deeply integrated with the world.
The victory in Malaysia also demonstrates the remarkable growth of the Vietnam Pastry Association, the Saigon Chefs Association, and the Vietnam Chefs Association, member organizations of the Vietnam Tourism Association, which have effectively collaborated in training and developing young talent.
Vietnam is no longer just an "honorary guest" in international competitions. Vietnam is a winner, a champion, representing a pastry industry that is asserting its class and capable of competing with culinary powerhouses in the region and the world.
The overall championship trophy at Battle of The Pastry & Bakery 2025 is the ultimate recognition of the process of elevating Vietnamese baking, from a traditional craft to a creative and globally integrated culinary industry.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/viet-nam-vo-dich-cuoc-thi-banh-ngot-va-banh-mi-quoc-te-2025-154642.html
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