Since 1988, Miss Vietnam has not just been a beauty contest – it has been a platform for selecting the iconic women of each era: from the pure Vietnamese beauty of the early Doi Moi period to the modern, independent, and globally integrated image of today’s generation. In the 19th season, among the 41 outstanding contestants entering the final round, one name is drawing attention in a very unique way – Nguyen Thanh Thao, a student from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, a classical piano talent, an intellectual face with a refined demeanor. Not flashy, not competing for attention, she is quietly winning hearts with the profound and lasting values of a beauty generation in transition.
Beauty pageants: More than a contest – A cultural symbol
Starting in 1988 under the name Miss Tien Phong Press, the Miss Vietnam contest has never been just a beauty competition; it has become a cultural identity of the Doi Moi era – a place where beauty is elevated and symbolizes the image of the modern Vietnamese woman. From Bui Bich Phuong, the elegant Hanoi girl who won the crown at the age of 17, to international faces like Tieu Vy, Do My Linh, and Do Thi Ha, the contest has constantly updated the criteria for beauty: intelligence, resilience, kindness, and the ability to integrate.
Now, this journey has entered its 19th season. After two thorough preliminary rounds, the organizers selected 41 contestants to enter the final national round, where they will participate in reality TV-style challenges, community engagement activities, and professional training. The Grand Finale is scheduled to be held in June 2025 in Thua Thien Hue, where the current titleholder, Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy, will pass the crown to her successor – someone who will represent not only beauty but also the spirit and culture of Vietnamese women in the new era.
Nguyen Thanh Thao – Silent yet bright face
Nguyen Thanh Thao, born in 2005, is currently a first-year student majoring in International Commercial Law at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam – one of the most rigorous environments for academic ability, global thinking, and diplomatic skills. At the age of 19, Thao already holds an IELTS score of 7.5, is fluent in French, and possesses the ability to express herself clearly and authoritatively – embodying the qualities of a global citizen in the making.
Not only excelling academically, Thao is also a classical piano artist with notable achievements, including the Gold Cup at the Asia-Pacific Arts Festival in 2019. For her, music is not just a talent, but a living language where she cultivates patience, sensitivity, and the ability to touch the deepest emotions of others. She enters the competition not as someone seeking fame, but as a person on a journey to push her limits – step by step, quietly, yet confidently and with great poise.
Poise – Soft weapon from the internal
What sets Nguyen Thanh Thao apart is not just her list of achievements, but her unique demeanor – gentle yet not lackluster, graceful yet not faded. She exudes the presence of someone who understands their place, knows how to control their presence, and radiates a sense of trust from the calmness in her mannerisms.
To achieve this, Thao has been trained at the Royal Onasa Academy in Japan, under the direct guidance of posture expert Khuat Anh Tuyet – who is renowned for the philosophy “posture is awareness, not technique”. There, Thao learned how to walk with poise, speak just enough, smile at the right moment – and above all, to present herself with intelligence rather than visual effects.
Vietnamese beauty map’s silent transformation
While previous beauty queen seasons were easily marked by brilliance, enthusiasm, and media breakthroughs, nowadays, the public is gravitating toward a different kind of beauty – quieter, more profound, and with a clear cultural depth. Nguyen Thanh Thao, with all the values she represents, is the epitome of this transformation.
She doesn’t need attention-grabbing statements. She doesn’t need media support. But each time she appears, whether in a catwalk class, a reality recording session, or the moment she presents the ao dai, she makes people want to stop and linger longer to appreciate the depth she brings.
Not the center? Still taking the spotlight
Nguyen Thanh Thao may not win the crown, but she possesses something that not all contestants have: a unique identity – no pressure to show off, no rush to stand out – yet still leaving a lasting impression on others.
In a competition where beauty standards are increasingly diverse and complex, Nguyen Thanh Thao chooses a quieter path, but one filled with inner strength: a blend of knowledge, art, and refined elegance, to build the image of a modern Vietnamese woman – one who is global yet retains the cultural essence, confident yet soft in her Eastern femininity. Because beauty can catch the eye, but it is depth that touches the heart. And Nguyen Thanh Thao – whether or not she is the owner of this year’s crown – has already etched her name in the hearts of the audience with the unique quality she has diligently cultivated.
