Profound impressions at the first national sommelier competition in Vietnam

The final round of the competition Vietnam Best Sommelier in Italian Wines 2025 (VBSIW for short) concluded a two-month journey with profound impressions for the Vietnamese sommelier community.

This is the first national sommelier competition in Vietnam with a focus on Italian wines. The competition is not only a playground to improve professional skills, but also contributes to spreading Italian wine culture, creating a professional bridge between producers - importers - distributors and the community of wine lovers.

The final round of the competition Vietnam Best Sommelier in Italian Wines 2025 was held at The Reverie Saigon Hotel.

The competition was organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (ICHAM), under the patronage of the Embassy of Italy in Hanoi and the Consulate General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City, with professional collaboration from the Association of Italian Professional Sommeliers (ASPI) and the Vietnam Sommelier Association (VSA).

From more than 60 applicants, 38 contestants entered the semi-finals in three cities: Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. The three best contestants were Tran Trung Kien (Hanoi, representing the Northern region), Nguyen Huu Toan (Da Nang, representing the Central region) and Tran Thanh Tu (Ho Chi Minh City, representing the Southern region) who competed in the final round in Ho Chi Minh City.

The professional jury board included prestigious international and domestic specialists.

The final round was highly appreciated for its expertise and professionalism, with the presence of nearly 100 guests working in the F&B, wine, restaurant and hotel industries. The professional jury board included prestigious international and domestic specialists such as Mr. Giuseppe Vaccarini - President of the Association of Italian Professional Sommeliers (ASPI), World Champion Sommelier 1978; Mr. Tu Le Huy - President of the Vietnam Sommelier Association (VSA); Ms. Le Hoang Khanh Vi - Vice President of the Vietnam Sommelier Association (VSA); Mr. Paul Vo - Brand Ambassador of the Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC Consortium - Italy; and Mr. Marcello Puorro – Italian Brand builder.

Final results, from left to right: Tran Thanh Tu – 1st Runner-up; Nguyen Huu Toan – Champion; Tran Trung Kien – 2nd Runner-up.

The three contestants went through eight challenging workshops, including blind tasting, professional wine services, situation handling, and image recognition. The final results: Champion is Nguyen Huu Toan (Da Nang), 1st Runner-up is Tran Thanh Tu (HCMC) and Tran Trung Kien (Hanoi) holds 2nd Runner-up. The prize for the Champion, in addition to the trophy and certificate, is a 10-day study tour to Italy and a scholarship to take the ASI Certification 2.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Toan (Da Nang) became the Champion of the first edition of the competition.

Becoming the Champion of the first edition of Vietnam Best Sommelier in Italian Wines, Mr. Nguyen Huu Toan shared: “This is the first time I have won the Champion title at a sommelier competition, I feel extremely happy and proud. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the organizing committee for creating a professional and meaningful playground, where sommeliers from three regions have the opportunity to connect, learn and share their passion with each other. For me, the journey of learning is endless - especially in the world of Italian wines, where each grape variety, each land carries within itself a rich and unique story. It is a treasure trove of knowledge that can be pursued for a lifetime. I am looking forward to the awarded study tour to Italy - a valuable opportunity to experience firsthand and understand more deeply the wonderful values that Italian wines bring.”

Mr. Michele D'Ercole - Chairman of ICHAM gave the openning remarks at the final round

“The competition is a convergence point between Italian wine culture and the Vietnamese sommelier community. This is an important part of the journey of the A Taste of Italian Wines project that ICHAM initiated in 2022.” - Mr. Michele D'Ercole - Chairman of ICHAM affirmed.

Italian Consul General Enrico Padula delivered his welcoming remarks.

“The competition reflects ICHAM’s remarkable efforts in bringing Italian wines closer to the Vietnamese public. The Consulate General of Italy in HCMC will continue to accompany and support upcoming Italian wine promotion projects.” - Italian Consul General Enrico Padula emphasized in his welcoming remarks.

Mr. Giuseppe Vaccarini - President of ASPI made speeches.

“The professionalism and passion of this year's contestants clearly demonstrate the maturity of the Vietnamese sommelier community.” - Mr. Giuseppe Vaccarini - President of ASPI commented.

Mr. Tran Thanh Quyet - ICHAM Executive Director delivered a closing speech.

“VBSIW is the first national sommelier competition in Vietnam dedicated to Italian wines. This is also an important milestone in the journey of implementing the A Taste of Italian Wines project to honor the diversity and long-standing heritage of Italian wines in the Vietnamese market.” - Mr. Tran Thanh Quyet - Executive Director of ICHAM affirmed at the conclusion of the competition.

Ông Từ Lễ Huy, Chủ tịch Liên Chi hội Sommelier Việt Nam chia sẻ về cuộc thi.

“The competition not only honors the quality of Italian wines but also creates a valuable platform for young Vietnamese sommeliers to develop and shine on the international stage.” - On behalf of the Vietnam Sommelier Association (VSA), Mr. Tu Le Huy shared.

Under the scale of the competition, ICHAM awarded 10 scholarships to students majoring in Hospitality, contributing to the development of F&B human resources in Vietnam.

ICHAM awarded 10 scholarships to students majoring in Hospitality.

In addition, the final round also offered the display area that showcased products from prestigious Italian wine consortiums such as Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC Consortium, Consortium for the Protection of Valpolicella Wines, as well as the presence of leading Vietnamese wine importers, thereby bringing a diverse tasting experience of Italian wines to guests.

Product display area from prestigious Italian wine consortiums and leading wine importers in Vietnam.

Vietnam Best Sommelier in Italian Wines 2025 is a milestone for the sommelier community in Vietnam, laying the foundation for professional, cohesive and international activities in the future. The competition not only honors knowledge and skills but also affirms the increasingly obvious position of Italian wines in the Vietnamese market.