Miss World 2026 contestants explore Nha Trang Xua craft village

On the night of August 29, 111 contestants and Miss World 2026 organizers visited Nha Trang Xua craft village in Nam Nha Trang Ward. During the visit, Miss World 2026 contestants enjoyed traditional dishes, explored traditional craft villages, and attended a live-action performance. The activity helped promote the image and cultural features of Vietnam to an international audience.

Miss World 2026 contestants visit Nha Trang Xua craft village

Exploring local cuisine and traditional crafts

Featuring lotus ponds, banana groves, thatched roofs, firewood stoves, and small boats, the craft village recreates the idyllic atmosphere of Vietnamese countryside. During their visit, the contestants enjoyed a variety of rustic regional dishes served buffet style. The richness of the menu helped the contestants explore the diversity of Vietnamese cuisine, from rustic countryside dishes, riverine flavors, to coastal specialties and typical dishes of many regions. Emphasizing simple, everyday flavors rather than elaborate preparations, the meal offered visitors an authentic taste of traditional Vietnamese life.

Miss World 2026 contestants celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with children

Miss USA Mary Samantha Anna Sickler poses for photos with tourists and children

Miss Myanmar enjoys traditional cuisine at Nha Trang Xua craft village

According to Pham Kim Dung, president of Miss World Vietnam, cuisine is one of the most intimate ways to understanding a country's culture, because behind every dish lies a story about the land, its ingredients, culinary techniques, and way of life. Experiencing these flavors firsthand allows those cultural stories to be shared naturally through taste and emotion. That is why the Miss World 2026 organizing brought contestants to Nha Trang Xua craft village.

After enjoying the cuisine, the contestants explore the space of the traditional craft village. They engaged in hands-on experiences with traditional Vietnamese crafts, including pottery making, sedge mat weaving, textile weaving, incense making, and seashell crafting. The demonstrations of the artisans highlighted the craftsmanship, patience, and creativity of Vietnamese people.

Miss World Vietnam Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc poses with vintage motorcycle

Miss China poses with traditional Mid-Autumn lanterns

The Miss World 2026 delegation also visited traditional Ao Dai tailoring exhibition. For international contestants, Ao Dai is not only a garment but also a symbol of Vietnamese culture. Learning about the process of creating an Ao Dai helped them gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture.

Discovering culture and history through live-action performances

The highlight of the visit featured unique artistic showcases. Staged across the lotus pond, the showcase namely "Colors of summer" featured water dances, Cham dances, performances of folk songs and traditional music. Most notably, a live-action show titled "Legendary Light," brought the history and cultural heritage of Nha Trang to life on stage. The performance wove together Cham dances, the sounds of Raglai gongs, depictions of coastal fishermen heading to sea, and moonlight weaving traditions into a vivid cultural narrative.

Miss World 2026 contestants watch traditional dance performances at Nha Trang Xua craft village

Among the scheduled activities in Nha Trang over the past few days, the visit to Nha Trang Xua craft village offered Miss World 2026 contestants a fresh perspective on Khanh Hoa. Besides its coastal scenery and island landscapes, international delegates discovered a region rich in cultural identity, expressed through traditional cuisine, traditional handicrafts, and artistic storytelling.

A Cham dance performance featured in the live-action show

For the 111 contestants representing countries and territories worldwide, these experiences can become lasting memories to share upon returning home. A memorable dish, a handcrafted product, the elegance of Ao Dai, a Cham dance performance, or a scene from the live-action show can become beautiful memories of Vietnam. This is also an opportunity for Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa to promote its image as a land rich in cultural identity, marked by multi-ethnic convergence, and gastronomic diversity.

XUAN THANH
Translated by H.N