VietNamNet Bridge – Internationally-known chef Bobby Chinn has been put forth as a candidate for the Vietnam Tourism Ambassador for 2014 to 2017.

Bobby Chinn

Nguyen Van Tinh, Director General of the International Cooperation Department announced that the Vietnamese ambassador to UK had selected the chef Bobby Chinn as an option for the role. "Bobby Chinn is a world renowned chef. Even though he isn't a Vietnamese national, he has lived in Vietnam for 20 years and has used his skills to create various innovative Vietnamese fusion dishes," Tinh said.

Tran Nhat Hoang, Director of Culture, Sport and Tourism Promotion Centre said they contacted Chinn by email. Hoang said that, in his response, Chinn said that he was excited to be a candidate, and that, even though his official dossier has not been sent, he is one of the most promising candidates.

Actress Lan Phuong

Bobby Chinn was born in 1966, in Auckland, New Zealand. He is most well known for his television chef appearances on cooking programmes, such as World Café Asia, World Café Middle East and the Bobby Chinn Cooks Asia. Chinn once hosted the reality show Restaurant Bobby Chinn, about opening a restaurant in Vietnam in 2012.

Chinn currently owns a high-end restaurant in Hanoi and another in HCM City.

Chinn's competitors for the role include beauty queens, such as Dieu Han and Huynh Thi Ngoc Han, Do Thi Hong Thuan, a teacher, and the actress Lan Phuong. Rumours has it that Miss Asia USA 2006 Jennifer Pham may be an option.

Former tourism ambassador Ly Nha Ky

At the meeting addressing the duties and rights of a tourism ambassador, held on may 29, Tinh said the Department of International Cooperation would ask the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to allow the former tourism ambassador, Ly Nha Ky, continue for the next term. Ly Nha Ky is highly regarded due to her experience and connections.

DTriNews/VNN