Huynh Thanh Thuy, Miss International 2024, traveled to Africa for a humanitarian mission from 2/8 to 8/8. On 5/8, she visited the Vietnam Village, home to 17 families and 30 Angolan children in Ucua District, Bengo Province. The village was established years ago by a group of Vietnamese people living in Angola to connect residents, fostering economic cooperation and improving lives.

Thuy decided to build the well after witnessing the lack of clean water. Women in the village had to walk long distances, carrying water from a man-made stream for daily use. Thuy authorized a village representative to begin construction, covering the expenses herself. "When the project is completed, I hope everyone will have enough safe and clean water," she said.

Thuy with Angolan children.

For the past two years, Thuy has pursued and developed her "Clean Water" community project. She has implemented this model in several provinces in the Mekong Delta. This practical initiative was praised by the Miss International organization and contributed to her winning the crown.

Thuy's interest extends to environmental issues, including Net Zero (net-zero emissions), a concept first mentioned in the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the 2015 Paris Agreement. She also researched the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015, which include clean water access.

The Miss International winner was touched by the Angolan people's welcome, expressed through vibrant dances and songs. Thuy brought Vietnamese vegetable and fruit seeds as gifts for the villagers. In return, they gave her sweet potatoes, bananas, and other homegrown vegetables. "While making sweet potato cakes and chatting together, I felt no distance between continents, skin colors, or ethnicities. We were all connected by sincerity and kindness," she shared.

Earlier, Thuy met with Angola's Minister of Foreign Affairs in Luanda. She also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola and laid flowers at the Ho Chi Minh statue. On 7/8, at the invitation of Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Chinh Chuc, she attended the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Angola diplomatic relations (1975-2025).

Miss International Angola 2023 Teresa Sara (right) accompanied Thuy on her trip.

Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy, 23, is from Da Nang and stands 1.76 m tall. Before winning Miss Vietnam 2022, she was crowned Miss University of Foreign Language Studies, University of Da Nang and first runner-up in the Student Charm Contest in 2021.

Thuy won Miss International in November 2024 in Japan, becoming the first Vietnamese woman to win the 60-year-old competition. In recent months, she has been busy with domestic engagements, including brand ambassadorships, fashion show appearances, and starring in music videos for singers Duc Phuc and Soobin. At the end of 2024, she won the "Beauty of the Year" award at the Ngoi Sao's "Star of the Year" awards. She also participated in events in Japan, Guatemala, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, the USA, and Singapore with the Miss International organization.

Tan Cao

Photos and videos provided by Miss Thuy's team.