The second season of the Vietnamese version of international reality cooking show MasterChef has officially opened.— File Photo

HCM CITY (VNS)— The second season of the Vietnamese version of international reality cooking show MasterChef has officially opened.

The show invites amateur cooks, both Vietnamese and Vietnamese overseas, to take part in the contest that carries a prize money of VND500 million (US$25,000) and a chance to publish their own cookbook.

The 20-episode Vietnam MasterChef will be aired every Sunday night at 8pm on VTV3, starting from May 2014.

More information about the contest can be found at the website www.vuadaubep.vtv.vn and facebook.com/VuadaubepVietnam.

Winner takes all

The first edition of the contest, which ended three months ago, was won by Vietnamese Australian Ngo Thanh Hoa.

He plans to open a restaurant and has an upcoming cookbook in hand.

Other winners of the first edition are also doing very well for themselves.

Top 3 finisher Phan Thang Thai Hoa is already the face for several food brands and plans to launch a cookbook next January.

Anh Thu , who finished in 9th position, is collaborating with the Kim Dong Publishing House to translate a cooking book for children, apart from writing a book on making cakes that will carry her own story with each recipe.

Quang Huy, a top five finisher, is co-operating with Lan Huong (Top 11) and Kim Quyen (Top 7) to open the Dam Da Trach restaurant in Ha Noi.

The second prize winner, Phan Quoc Tri, has joined several events to promote Vietnamese cuisine in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is looking for a scholarship to go abroad and continue pursuing his passion for cooking. — VNS