The competition launched several months ago, drawing the participation of domestic chefs in addition to a contingent of overseas Vietnamese chefs based in foreign countries.

The judges have selected the Top 14 who will progress to the final round where they are expected to put on display their skills and creativity to make famous local delicacies in order to win the hearts of both Vietnamese and international diners.

The latest season of the show will contain 16 episodes, with each consisting of Quickfire and Elimination rounds. One chef will suffer elimination each episode.

The winner will receive a cash prize totaling VND500 million.

The judging panel will be made up of renowned Vietnamese chef Duong Huy Khai, who received the 2007 California Culinary Academy Educational Foundation's Chef Star of Fame award, Trinh Diem Vy, a member of the World Association of Chefs Societies, and Jack Lee, a Vietnamese-American celebrity chef who had previously been awarded the Chef Of The Year and Presidential Medallion Award.

The trio will be joined by actress Viet Huong, a former Tourism Ambassador, Ly Nha Ky, an actress and model, and beauty queen Giang My, who will all serve as guest judges throughout the show.

Top Chef is a reality show which screens in 24 countries worldwide and has been running for the past 10 years. SGT