The inaugural beauty contest is part of Blue Ocean World’s campaign to protect the marine environment.
The pageant will run from now until May 23. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are hosts for the qualifying and semifinal rounds before the final unfolds in Binh Thuan province’s Phan Thiet City.
Designer Vo Viet Chung, head of the pageant’s organising board, detailed plans to register it at international levels and the intention to make it an annual event. If successful, Vietnam would host any World Miss Ocean competitions and be recognised as its founder like the Philippines with Miss Earth and the US with Miss Universe.
Chung revealed the pageant’s jury will include journalist Nguyen The Than; a former Vice Director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and actress Ly Nha Ky.
Miss Vietnam will also be held in 2014.
