Hanoi, July 20 -- Nguyen Huu Thien An, a 26-year-old pastry chef from Ho Chi Minh City, has transformed Vietnam's cultural legacy into stunning fondant creations, winning prestigious awards across Asia.

He began his culinary journey eight years ago at the Saigontourist Hospitality College, where he initially studied hot kitchen techniques. However, it was in the school's pastry workshop where he discovered his true calling, particularly with fondant - a malleable sugar paste used for decorating and sculpting cake designs.

After mastering fondant techniques, he realised that Vietnam boasts a diverse and rich culture, and wanted to incorporate familiar, beautiful elements into fondant cakes as a modern way to preserve and spread tradition...