The international contest is set to kick off in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, with the host country for the pageant to be announced soon, according to the event’s official Facebook page.

Delegates from countries and territories including Cuba, Sri Lanka, India, the Philippines, Italy, South Korea, Laos, Thailand, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Colombia participated in traditional activities in the former Ben Tre Province, now officially part of the newly-merged Vinh Long Province.

Wearing ao ba ba, a traditional southern Vietnamese outfit, and khan ran, the iconic black-and-white checkered scarf, contestants immersed themselves in local river life. 

They traveled by boat, toured coconut candy production workshops, listened to don ca tai tu folk music, explored coconut-shell handicraft making, and sampled regional cuisine.

Earlier in their Vietnam journey, the group visited Tay Ninh Province, where they wore ao dai designed by Trung Dinh and joined local cultural events. 

During the visit, the top two titleholders from Miss Cosmo 2024 joined contestants in donating 50 scholarships and bicycles to disadvantaged students.

Organizers said these activities are part of Miss Cosmo’s broader mission to promote cultural understanding and support youth education through its community engagement program.

The grand finale of Miss Cosmo 2024 took place at Saigon Riverside Park in Ho Chi Minh City, where Indonesia’s Ketut Permata Juliastrid was crowned the winner. 

Thailand’s Karnruethai Tassabut was named runner-up, marking the pageant’s first official announcement of a top-two selection.