The central government and authorities of Khanh Hoa Province last year granted Rare Antibody Antigen Supply, Inc. (RAAS) the right to hold the international competition in Nha Trang, which had already hosted the Miss Universe contest in August 2008.

But now RAAS wanted to move the pageant to Tien Giang as it would cost much less to organize the event there, according to an official of the Mekong Delta Province, who also confirmed that they were seeking approval from the central government to become the official host.

Nguyen Hong Minh, deputy director of the Department of Planning and Investment, said RAAS Chairman Hoang Kieu plans to build a five-star ecotourism resort in Thoi Son Commune for the event at the end of next year.

Officials in the province said the pageant would be a great opportunity to promote tourism. However, there were also worries that the province would not be able to prepare for the event in short time remaining.

An official, who wished to be unnamed, said the Miss World pageant was a big event while “the province’s capabilities are limited and there is so little time left to prepare.”

My Tho Town, the capital of the province, only has one three-star hotel. There is a four-star hotel project under construction but it will not be completed next year.

Luu Van Phi, a resident in My Tho, said he was surprised on hearing that his province, which “doesn’t hold any special position on the country’s map,” may host the 2010 Miss World pageant.

“I really don’t know if the province can pull it off,” he said.

An official of Khanh Hoa Province said moving the pageant away from Nha Trang would cause many difficulties to the organizer.

He said the provincial government has already started a campaign to support the event and it would write to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to express its stance on the issue.

Nha Trang has been promoted heavily as the host of the 2010 Miss World pageant overr the past year.

RAAS Chairman Hoang Kieu unveiled a plan in October last year to build a 1,530-hectare resort at Nha Trang Bay which would become the venue of the pageant in 2010.

The project was criticized by many scientists and environmentalists, who said it would damage the environment at the bay. In November, Kieu canceled the plan, as well as another road project in Nha Trang.

As of June this year, however, Kieu had still confirmed that Nha Trang would host the event.

Source: Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre