Vietnam: Miss World puts Hai Phong in the international spotlight - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Hai Phong used the 73rd Miss World pageant to showcase its tourism ambitions to an international audience. From August 12 to 20, 2026, Dragon Ocean Do Son International Tourist Area hosted nearly 120 contestants as well as organizers and domestic and international media.

The programme combined major competition events with experiences designed to present the northern Vietnamese port city as a destination for beach holidays, sports, nature and cultural tourism. Dragon Ocean Do Son served as the central venue, testing its hotel, event, leisure and sporting infrastructure across a packed eight-day schedule.

Dragon Ocean Do Son hosts international programme

The resort complex accommodated the main Miss World activities in Hai Phong, ranging from stage productions and sporting competitions to culinary events and excursions.

“Partnering with Miss World 2026 is both a privilege and a vital opportunity to demonstrate our operational capability in hosting world-class events,” said Pham Minh Hieu, General Director of Van Huong Investment and Tourism Joint Stock Company. “Through every contestant's journey, we want to tell the story of a dynamic, modern Hai Phong that remains deeply connected to its natural beauty and local heritage.”

Golf, mangroves and coastal culture

On August 14 and 15, contestants explored several sides of the destination. At Dragon Golf Links, they played an exhibition round on Northern Vietnam's first 27-hole international championship course built entirely over the sea and designed by Greg Norman Golf Course Design.

Environmental activities followed in the 282-hectare Dragon Mangrove Forest, where delegates planted nearly 200 mangrove trees. The programme also introduced them to local fishing traditions, regional food products and Vietnamese crafts.

Entertainment was provided at Legend Park, with almost 20 rides, while other groups spent time at Dragon Beach. Together, the activities presented Hai Phong as more than a conventional coastal resort.

Fashion and cuisine take centre stage

The competition programme began on August 13 with the Press Conference & Sash Ceremony at Dream Dragon Resort. On August 17, the new Head Chef Beauty challenge brought contestants into the kitchen to combine international cooking techniques with Vietnamese ingredients.

Vietnamese contestant Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc and her team won with a lotus stem salad with shrimp and pork. Finland's Kiia Huutoniemi highlighted the teamwork and variety of local ingredients encountered during the challenge.

A day later, Dragon Beach Square hosted the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVI, which also served as the pageant's Top Model competition. The beachfront event used the Do Son sunset and sea as its natural backdrop.

Sport challenge closes Hai Phong programme

On August 19, nearly 120 contestants took part in the Miss Sport challenge. A 1.25-kilometre run determined the leading competitors, with the Top 20 progressing to kayaking and swimming events.

The programme demonstrated the resort's ability to stage different sports within the same destination while giving international media another view of Hai Phong's coastal setting.

By combining a global entertainment event with golf, conservation, food, culture and outdoor activities, the Miss World programme provided Hai Phong with an international platform to promote itself as a diversified tourism destination and potential host for future major events.

Image Credit: © Van Huong Investment and Tourism Joint Stock Company