Mr. Truong Minh Phung has been a famous culinary artist in Da Nang. Not stopping at his current successes, the 7x man continues his efforts to research and bring Quang Nam-Da Nang's culinary specialties far and wide.

Mr. Truong Minh Phung once served as a judge in a cooking contest.

Phung was born and raised in a family with many siblings and economic difficulties. In 1996, he went to Ho Chi Minh City and earned a job as a waiter at a tourist site in District No.2.

With his great passion and determination, Phung strived to learn from his colleagues and professional chefs at the tourist site, and books in the preparation and presentation of dishes.

“When I worked as a waiter, I was really impressed by the chefs' ‘quick hands and beautiful eyes’. Therefore, I persistently pursued a career as a chef from that moment. I then applied to study and work at restaurants and eateries", Phung shared.

After his skills were solid, Phung worked in many places such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Thuan and Quang Nam. Wherever he went, Mr. Phung left an impression on tourists with his culinary skills.

With a high sense of responsibility and a rare passion for cuisine, especially traditional cuisine, Phung received lots of attractive job offers from tourist sites and large restaurants nationwide, but he decided to choose the coastal city of Da Nang as his destination.

There was a time when he worked as a chef cooking Singaporean dishes. However, after a while, this trend was no longer popular with diners, so he decided to quit this job and teach at the Viet Nam - Australia Vocational College.

It can be said that becoming a culinary lecturer was a decisive turning point in Mr. Phung's career. Mr. Phung has had the opportunity to share and convey his valuable experiences and skills that he has learned over the past decades to students as well as those who want to make culinary a career.

Phung has a desire to introduce traditional dishes such as Phu Chiem-style Quang noodles, Quang Nam-style pancakes, Dai Loc-style 'banh trang cuon thit heo' (belly pork and vegetables wrapped in soft rice paper), and Nam O 'Goi ca' (raw fish salad) to domestic and international diners.

Therefore, he has participated in culinary competitions and conferences, thereby experiencing, exchanging culture, and improving skills with chefs from many countries around the world.

According to Mr. Phung, Quang Nam cuisine boasts the cultural and historical characteristics of the land and people that are difficult to find anywhere else. Eating a dish is not only enjoying the physical taste of that dish, but also the spiritual value hidden in each ingredient, spice, and recipe. In addition, cuisine is also influenced by factors of customs, practices, and beliefs.

With 25 years of experience in the profession, Phung has trained and guided thousands of graduates. Many of them have become cooking teachers, or head chefs in large restaurants and hotels, and have succeeded in opening their own restaurants.

Duong Minh Toan, a student at the Viet Nam-Australia College, said that he felt he had grown a lot in his work when he was a student of Mr. Phung. With his rare passion and enthusiasm, Mr. Phung not only devoted himself to teaching but also passed on his love for traditional cuisine to his students.

Most recently, Mr. Phung received the Golden Hand Culinary Artist Award in 2024.

“This is a great honour and recognition for years of hard work, and continuous learning and improvement. For me, each dish is not only a combination of ingredients but also a story, a part of my soul that I want to convey to diners. This award is a motivation for me to continue to create and bring more wonderful culinary experiences to everyone. I would like to send my sincere thanks to everyone who has believed in and supported me throughout this journey” Mr. Phung added.

Reporting by MY LINH - Translating by M.DUNG