~ Le Vięt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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[Year 2002]

Vietnam to recognize pageant title

HANOI — The winner of this year's Miss Vietnam pageant — long considered a sign of capitalist decadence — will get the communist government's official recognition for the first time, an organizer said Tuesday. The contest has been held every other year since 1988 without official recognition.

Vietnam's minister of culture and information plans to issue a certificate recognizing the new Miss Vietnam after the contest in September, said Duong Xuan Nam, editor of the Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper and organizer of the event. The first contest in 1988 drew only several hundred participants, which swelled to nearly 5,000 in the most recent contest two years ago, Nam said. Contests at the provincial level are to be held in July and regional competitions in August. Between 30 and 35 finalists will compete for the national title in Ho Chi Minh City in September, Nam said. Miss Vietnam will receive $2,650 in prize money and gifts.

The Associated Press - March 26, 2002