The event in Ha Long City's square drew thousands of spectators, both tourists and residents. The program, scheduled for 8:00 p.m., started 30 minutes late due to heavy rain in Ha Long. A highlight of the stage was the ao dai performance by the contestants, honoring the culture of the nation hosting the pageant for the first time.

The beauties were divided into groups by continent, appearing on stage in sequence. As they performed, the LED screen behind them displayed images of famous landmarks from north to south.

They wore outfits from a collection specially prepared by designer Do Trinh Hoai Nam. The fashion designer used silk material, featuring painted or embroidered floral and scenic motifs.

The day before, contestants practiced with experts to perfect their catwalks and poses.

Contestants performed with conical hats (non la), a gift from the organizers on their first day in Vietnam on 9/8. The accessories featured images of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognized World Natural Heritage site.

Linda Gorecka, from the Czech Republic, 22, is a model. She is attracting attention on beauty forums due to her striking appearance.

Miss World Brazil Gabriela Botelho is considered a top contender for the crown by several beauty specialized websites. She is 25, a model, and an entrepreneur.

Miss Bao Ngoc expressed pride in introducing the traditional beauty of the ao dai to international friends. Backstage, she assisted contestants with their outfits.

Contestants also had a synchronized evening gown performance later in the program.

In the coming days, they will enter preliminary competitions such as the fashion beauty, sports beauty, and head-to-head challenge.

The organizers staged several musical performances to introduce Vietnam's traditional culture and art. The opening featured Miss Que Anh, Yen Nhi, and first runner-up Ngoc Hang performing "Hello Vietnam" (composed by Marc Lavoine). Trang Phap sang her self-penned song "Mai la nguoi Viet Nam," expressing pride in being born and raised in this peaceful land. Young singer Ha Myo performed "Nghieng nuoc nghieng thanh" and "Giai dieu Viet Nam minh" (Tuan Cry) with dancers. Le Quyen sang "Bien tinh" (Lam Phuong), fitting the atmosphere of the event held near the coast. The audience watched the program for over two hours.

Ms. Julia Morley (left), head of the Miss World Organization, and Ms. Pham Kim Dung, representative of the pageant's organizing unit. The head of Miss World stated that Vietnam was chosen as the destination due to her fondness for the country's peaceful and gentle beauty and its people. In mid-year, Ms. Julia Morley and her team surveyed numerous locations from north to south to prepare for the competition.

The Miss World 2026 pageant spans nearly one month across three provinces: Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Khanh Hoa. Reigning queen Opal Suchata, from Thailand, will crown her successor on the final stage on the evening of 5/9 in Nha Trang City. Miss World was first held in 1951, making it one of the two largest and oldest beauty pageants globally, alongside Miss Universe. The competition champions global solidarity by seeking young women with beauty, education, and meaningful community projects. For many years, Miss World has embraced the message of "Beauty with a Purpose."

Tan Cao

Photos, video: Organizers provided