The organising board said 10 overseas Vietnamese living in different countries will also attend the contest for the first time.

Seventeen beauties from the southern region were already selected from the first round held at Sai Gon hotel from August 2-6. In the northern region, the first round to choose 20 beauties will be held at Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper office from August 9-10.

Miss Vietnam will be awarded a cash prize of VND80 million and a tour of Japan. The first runner-up will take VND60 million and a foreign tour, while the second runner-up will receive VND40 million.