Vietnam's 222 coconut-based dishes set world record

The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre was acknowledged as boasting the world's largest number of dishes made of coconut by World Records Union (Worldkings), 222.

On Monday, more than 55 chefs divided into 11 teams participated in an event to process hundreds of coconut-based delicacies in Ben Tre to set a world record in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Vietnamese cultural celebrity Nguyen Dinh Chieu (1822-1888), whose hometown was Ben Tre.

The delicacies are made from different parts of the coconut tree, including coconut palm heart, shredded coconut, desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut water and sprouted coconut.

Nguyen Thi Be Muoi, vice chairwoman of Ben Tre, said this was a great pride of Ben Tre people and the world record helps to promote its culture and tourism image to international visitors.

Currently, Ben Tre is well known as Vietnam's coconut capital and has more than 200,000 families growing coconuts, accounting for about two thirds of the total number of households in the province.

Ben Tre boasts the largest coconut-growing area in the country at 74,000 hectares (182,800 acres).