The biggest difference from last year’s pageant, which was also the first contest to crown only Vietnamese women from around the world, is that this year’s event, which gathered around 50 contestants, was open to male Vietnamese participants as well.

The winners were followed by 22-year-old Anh Huy Nguyen Le from Mountain View, California and 24-year-old Ngoc Anh Thi Tran from Tampa, Florida.

The finale, which was held at the 7000-seat hall of the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, also saw performances from famous Vietnamese and overseas Vietnamese singers including Khanh Ha, Quang Dung, Dan Truong, Tuan Hung, Le Quyêen, Tran Thu Ha, Tommy Ngo, Lynda Trang Dai, Manh Quynh and Phi Nhung.

Last August, well-known lingerie and bikini model Ngoc Trinh from Vietnam beat 35 rivals to become the first-ever Miss Vietnam Continents. However, the show was heavily criticized for its sloppy organization and shallow social message. The triumph of Ngoc Trinh was also controversial as many said that with her education background and record of social activities she did not fit the usual profile of a pageant winner.