Vietnam’s Ong Cua ST25 rice placed second at the 2026 World’s Best Rice competition in Manila, according to VnExpress. Results announced on October 9 put Myanmar first and the Philippines third. Judges evaluated uncooked and cooked samples using criteria including aroma, texture and taste. ST25 had taken first place in 2019, 2023 and 2025, but those earlier awards are historical context. Its reported result in the current edition is runner-up, not another championship.