Plans for this year’s beauty pageant held in Europe for overseas Vietnamese women have been announced in Germany.

Miss Vietnam in Europe 2008 Nguyen Pham Bao Quynh (middle) and two runners-up.

Organisers have set strict criteria - the entrants must be single, at least high school graduates, at least 1.6 meters tall and between the ages of 18 and 27 and without plastic surgery.

The preliminary round will run from December 19-30 with Miss Vietnam in Europe following the same pattern as the domestic Miss Vietnam pageant - swimwear, night gown, ao dai and an interview. Contestants can use interpreters if they cannot speak Vietnamese well.

The final night is scheduled on January 9, 2010 at Burgerzentrum Hall in Brucker, Germany. The winner will be presented with the crown, scepter and 1000 euros. The runner-up will receive 500 euros. There will also be prizes for Miss Photo, Miss Tourism and Miss Congeniality.

The most outstanding contestants will be sent to Vietnam to participate in the final round of the Miss Vietnam 2010 competition.

After the pageant finishes, winners will return to Vietnam to exchange with local youth and do charity activities.

Last year Nguyen Pham Bao Quynh, a Vietnamese Bulgarian student, beat 25 competitors in the final round to become the first Miss Vietnam in Europe.

PV