VietNamNet Bridge – A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 27 to announce the first ever list of 12 Vietnamese dishes recognised by the Asian Record Organisation (ARO).

The ceremony also announced other new national and Asian records.

The dishes honoured with food records include Hanoi’s Pho (noodles with beef or chicken), Bun Cha (rice noodles served with grilled pork), and Bun Thang (rice noodles with fried chicken egg, meat, shrimp and vegetable); Haiphong City’s Banh Da Cua (crab noodles); Com Chay (rice crackers) from the northern Ninh Binh province; Mien Luon (vermicelli with eel) from the central Nghe An province; Hue City’s Bun Bo (rice noodles with beef); My Quang (rice noodles with fried pork and special soup) from the central region; Pho Kho (dry noodles) from the central highland Gia Lai province; Banh Khot (coconut-turmeric shrimp pancakes) from the southern Vung Tau province; and HCM City’s Goi Cuon (fresh spring roll) and Com Tam (broken rice).

Six new Asian records for Vietnamese individuals and organisations were also recognised. Music composer Le Van Tuan was honoured for successfully creating a special compilation of new songs—called CROR—combining the classical, romantic, opera, and rock genres. Artisan Ton Nu Thi Ha and her daughter Phan Ton Tinh Hai were recognised for their cake depicting a dancing phoenix, artisan Y Lan for finding the most colours of natural sand, and artist Mai Dinh Toi for his unique hand-made musical instruments. Toi’s instruments are created using materials including everything from water pipes and motorbike parts to cups and bottles of fresh water.

The 43 national records named at the ceremony primarily concerned the fields of culture and environment. The record title was won by the largest bronze Buddhist statue in central Nghe An province and a theory of causal relation in the Nui Coc tourist site, northern Thai Nguyen province.

Other winners include Dr. Tran Quang Hai and labour hero Nguyen Duc Thin from northern Bac Ninh province, outstanding artist Nguyen Van Luong from Haiphong city, photographer Nguyen A, and Agent Orange victim and successful Mount Fansipan conquerer Nguyen Son Lam.

* Four more Asian records for Vietnam

Four Vietnamese records, among 20 recommended by the Vietnam Book of Records, have officially won Asian titles by the Asia Book of Records.

One recognized object is the sheet music book entitled “Tear for the Ocean and CROR Music” by 48-year-old composer Le Van Tuan. The book itself—a compilation of classical, romantic, opera, and rock (CROR) musical genres—is 1.6 metres high, 1.2 metres wide, 0.28 metres thick, and weighs 250 kilograms.

Another record was claimed by a phoenix-formed cake sculpted by craftsmen Ton Nu Thi Ha and MA Phan Ton Tinh Hai.

The third record is owned by Tran Thi Hoang Lan for finding the most colours of natural sand.

Mai Dinh Toi, currently holder of the fourth record, is acknowledged as having the most unique hand-made musical instruments, created from materials including water pipes, motorbike parts, cups, and bottles of fresh water.

The Asia Book of Records’ ceremony to award the most recent Asian records will be held during the 23rd meeting of Vietnamese record breakers at Ho Chi Minh City’s Rex Hotel on October 27.

VietNamNet/VOV