Chief of the Performance Art Agency Le Ngoc Cuong said that legal documents were not for fun when the authorities of Khanh Hoa province asked the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to change the rules for organising beauty contests.

The three top beauties of Miss Universe Vietnam 2008 pageant.

According to this regulation, which was issued in late 2008 and has already taken effect, there will only be one national pageant organised a year.

Meanwhile, Khanh Hoa has allowed three organisations to organise three beauty contests in Nha Trang city in 2009, including the Miss Universe Vietnam of the Universe JS Company, Miss World Vietnam of Vinpearl Tourism and Trade JS Company, and Miss Vietnam of RASS to choose Vietnamese representatives for the Miss World pageant.

The province, therefore, asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to change the regulations towards permitting the organisation of 2-3 national beauty contests within a year.

However, Cuong said the rule was issued in December 2008 after the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had petitioned for public opinion. The ministry also organised a conference to collect opinions from all related agencies as a foundation for compiling the rules.

He said both Khanh Hoa and the organisers of beauty contests don’t thoroughly understand the new rules. Beauty contests must have the agreement of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and international pageants need the government’s permission.

According to Cuong, the ministry was told about the plans to organise three beauty contests in Khanh Hoa province, but did not receive specific plans.

He said Khanh Hoa violated regulations when it allowed three companies to organise pageants in Nha Trang so it should report to the ministry rather than ask it to change the rules.

The official said the rules must be implemented. The beauty contest that has a good plan and is prestigious will be licenced. The ministry licenced the Mrs. Vietnam pageant because the organisers submitted the plan last year and it was approved by the government.

“The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued the rules so we can’t do differently. The case of Khanh Hoa is out of the ministry’s jurisdiction,” he stated.

VietNamNet/LD