VietNamNet Bridge – Ngo Thanh Hoa, a 40-year-old overseas Vietnamese who used to live in Australia, has won the first Master Chef reality television season in Viet Nam.

King of the kitchen: Viet Nam's new Master Chef Ngo Thanh Hoa cooks on the show. — Photo vtv.vn

He won the hearts of both the jury and audience on Friday through a performance of cooking a starter, main course and dessert during the two and a half hour show. He chose to make stir-fried chicken with herbs and chili in a Vietnamese style, accompanied by Turkish influenced rice and yoghurt.

He will took away a cash prize of VND500 million (US$25,000) and a contract to publish his own cook book.

Hoa spent 18 years in Australia before deciding to return to his homeland last year to seek a career in cooking.

The runner-up was 19-year-old student Phan Quoc Tri from HCM City.

MasterChef Vietnam 2013 is the first season of the reality TV show co-produced by BHD Company and Viet Nam Television based on the original game show franchise created by Franc Roddam in the UK in 1990.

Source: VNS