The exchange took place after a visit by the contestants to Da Phuoc Solid Waste Treatment Complex, also in the region. The trip to Da Phuoc is part of activities in the pageant, which was held in Vietnam for the first time. The contestants had a good chance to witness advanced technology for dealing with solid waste.

Meeting with women in Binh Chanh district, contestants called on them to pay more attention to environmental protection, waste, air and water pollution and noise pollution to improve living standards.

Larissa Ramos, Miss Earth 2009, said Vietnam, Brazil and many other countries, including developed ones face many environmental problems in their development process. She said people should find measures to deal with waste in urban areas to protect the environment and preserve urban beauty.

The beauty contestants proposed Vietnam should use green technologies in construction and industrial production, and use clean energy vehicles, especially bicycles.

Luu Thi Diem Huong said countries should also pay more attention to children and educate them to protect the environment, as they are the future of a nation.

Miss Earth is one of the world’s five biggest beauty pageants. It attracted 90 contestants from countries and territories all over the world.