Published:  00:00 Monday - April 28, 2008

Young Vietnamese women have been encouraged to compete in a contest next month to select new faces for the Miss Universe 2008 beauty pageant scheduled for early June Nha Trang city, south central Khanh Hoa province.

According to organisers, the event’s qualifying rounds will begin on May 15 in Hanoi and HCM City while the final round will take place in Nha Trang City ’s Vinpearl Land, a well-known tourist site and resort area on May 31.

Miss Vietnam Universe will receive VND100 million (US$6,200) in cash and a US$2,000 scholarship to learn English.

The first runner-up will take VND70 million and valuable gifts from the sponsors, while the second runner-up will receive VND50 million and gifts.

The jury will also award four supplementary prizes in the categories of Miss Talented, Miss Charming, Miss Sea and Miss Photogenic.