Vietnam Wins Overall Championship at Battle of the Chefs 2026 in Malaysia

Vietnam dominated the Battle of the Chefs 2026 culinary competition held at SPICE Arena in Penang, Malaysia, from 21 to 24 October, walking away with the overall championship title and a haul of 102 medals. The Saigon Professional Chefs Guild, representing more than 50 chefs and coaches from three Vietnamese organisations — the Saigon Professional Chefs Guild, the Vietnam Chefs Federation and the Vietnam Pastry Alliance — amassed 28 gold, 36 silver and 38 bronze medals across more than 90 competitive categories. The event, organised by the Penang Chefs Association and recognised by the World Association of Chefs' Societies (Worldchefs), attracted over 2,000 contestants and more than 100 certified judges from multiple countries. Beyond the overall title, the Vietnamese delegation claimed The Best Young Chefs team trophy and individual honours in bread-making, chocolate artistry, cake decoration, and fruit and vegetable carving. Standout individual winners included Nguyen Minh Nhi for Best Vietnamese Banh Mi, Nguyen Duc Quyen for Best Professional Carving, and Nguyen Thien Lam for Best Bon Bon Chocolate. The result cements Vietnam's growing reputation as a powerhouse of culinary skill on the international competition circuit.