LookAtVietnam – The Cat Tien Sa Company plans to audition actors for its 70-episode television series My Nhan Sai Gon (Sai Gon Beauties) next month.

Picture perfect: Overseas Vietnamese Kathy Uyen is to star in Sai Gon Beauties.

“Based on anecdotes from beauties who lived in Sai Gon during the 1950s, I want to praise the beauty of Sai Gon women,” he said.

“Their images were printed on numerous stamps and products like the once famous soap, Miss Ba,” Phuc said.

“Late scholar Vuong Hong Sen was enchanted by the beauties and wrote about them.”

The company plans to use the southern province of Tra Vinh for out-door scenes of Sai Gon city during 1950s. The series will also be shot at French-style villas in the city’s Districts 1 and 3.

The series will focus on Bach Tra, Hong Tra and Tuyet Tra, who won many prizes in beauty contests in the southern region.

Bach Tra was Miss South at 21 while Hong Tra and Tuyet Tra took first and second runners-up titles at 20 and 18, respectively.

Bach Tra became a revolutionary against the French and died in action while Hong Tra, as a successful businesswoman, promoted Vietnamese goods against imports.

Tuyet Tra led a luxurious life but after losing her love spent the rest of her life as a nun.

The story follows two of Hong, who after more than 50 years apart, found the tombs of Bach Tra and Tuyet Tra in a pagoda.

Models and actresses at the first audition included Ngoc Bich and Huynh Thanh Tuyen, who were first and second, respectively, in the Supermodel 2009 competition, and overseas-based Vietnamese actress Kathy Uyen.

“As a playwright, I discussed the roles with the film director and producer before selecting Uyen for the role of Bach Tra,” said Phuc,

“I prefer Miss World Vietnamese 2007, Ngo Phuong Lan, for the role of Hong Tra and wanted actress Tang Thanh Ha for Tuyet Tra. I haven’t contacted Lan but Ha is too busy studying.”

Phuc said the film, which will be shot in October, needs up to 50 more beauties for supporting roles.

“We want women who have done well in beauty contests,” Phuc said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News