Huong Giang Idol and the quiet expansion of Vietnam

THE HANOI TIMES — Huong Giang has become one of the most talked-about Asian contestants at Miss Universe 2025. The pageant is underway in Thailand and her name keeps appearing on international prediction lists.

Missosology, a long-running global pageant analysis site known for its detailed rankings, placed her 14th in its fifth forecast. Earlier, she had already entered their Top 20 from the very first pre-arrival list.

Sash Factor, a Philippines-based pageant community known for its “Pre-Arrival Sashpicks”, ranked her 13th, praising her professional stage presence, clear communication skills, calm attitude and positive energy during group activities.

Rankings do not guarantee a crown, but they confirm that Huong Giang is a true competitor, even a contender as she is recognized for talent, beauty and confidence. International analysts praise her polished charm, which comes from experience.

Huong Giang is Vietnam and Asia’s first transgender woman to compete at Miss Universe. Since the pageant lifted its ban on trans women in 2012, three transgender contestants have participated.

Watching Huong Giang enter the competition, it is clear that the attention around her goes beyond the contest itself. Regardless of her final result, her participation signals a major shift in Vietnam’s social outlook.

Ten years ago, the idea of a transgender woman representing Vietnam internationally would have sparked long debates and hesitation. Today, it feels normal. She is simply introduced as “Miss Vietnam,” without extra explanations or disclaimers.

That quiet change reflects years of effort, openness and acceptance from both the public and authorities who approved her official participation.

Vietnam’s progress in LGBTQ+ visibility did not happen by chance. Pride events now take place openly in Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City, where young people wave rainbow flags, cycle in parades and celebrate without fear.

The Ministry of Health has affirmed that sexual orientation is not a disease, aligning national guidelines with international health standards. Social attitudes, especially among younger generations, have changed even faster.

For them, LGBTQ+ representation is part of everyday life. Queer artists, creators, hairstylists, designers and performers appear across entertainment and media, not as exceptions, but as admired and respected figures.

Huong Giang is a product of the cultural and social landscapes. She built her career without hiding who she is. Before Miss Universe, she is already a familiar face in entertainment, often singing, appearing on TV shows and performing on major stages.

Over the years, she contributed to TV formats, music projects and discussions about diversity, becoming one of Vietnam’s most visible LGBTQ+ figures. At Miss Universe, she fits naturally into the rhythm of the competition, being confident in the dressing room, sharp in interviews and composed on stage.

Vietnam’s progress is undeniable, though challenges remain. Same-sex couples still lack legal recognition. The Civil Code includes gender transition provisions, but detailed procedures are unfinished, making legal paperwork slow and difficult for many transgender people.

These gaps need continued attention. Yet, everyday reality tells a more hopeful story: LGBTQ+ people in Vietnam work, perform and live with more freedom than in several nations often seen as “more advanced”.

That contrast matters. Vietnam does not always fit neatly into Western standards of measuring rights. While laws are still developing, the lived experience of many LGBTQ+ Vietnamese is safer, more open and more accepting than outsiders may assume.

This is what makes Huong Giang’s journey meaningful. Not because she is expected to win, but because she represents a Vietnam that is practical, modern and increasingly comfortable with diversity.

At a media event on October 31 before leaving for Thailand, Giang said: “We are heading toward a world of diversity and to make that possible, people like me, mothers and married women, help create that diversity on the Miss Universe stage.”

“My presence does not take away from the beauty of the competition,” she added. “It strengthens the message that Miss Universe truly celebrates diversity around the world.”

Whether she makes the final cut or not, her presence at Miss Universe 2025 already marks a turning point. It shows that Vietnam is open, forward-looking and far more inclusive than many outside observers realize.

Vietnam is changing and Huong Giang Idol is one of its brightest reflections.