Several competitors form Vietnam have refused to compete at Miss World 2013, giving the opportunity to Miss Sport 2012, Lai Huong Thao.

The selection of Lai Huong Thao was posted on the official website of Miss World 2013, Global Beauties, on August 3

Thao will represent Vietnam at the event scheduled to take place in Indonesia in September.

Speaking with a DTiNews reporter, Mrs. Thuy Nga from Elite Vietnam, the franchise holder of "Miss World Vietnam", said Lai Huong Thao had been selected from several Vietnamese candidates. The selection was posted on the official website of Miss World 2013, Global Beauties, on August 3.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Arts Performing Agency, it has not yet licensed anyone to take part in Miss World 2013.  Elite Vietnam has been in the process of completing procedures for submission to the agency in order to get the license for Thao.

The company is still waiting for official confirmation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the selection, and will provide the information to the media, Nga said, adding that Elite Vietnam had started their search for the representative to Miss World 2013 early this year.

Lai Huong Thao was crowned Vietnam’s Miss Sports in August 2012 in Danang 

Nga said earlier Miss Vietnam 2012, Dang Thu Thao and Miss Vietnam 2010, Dang Thi Ngoc Han, have refused to participate in Miss World 2013 for undeclared reasons.

Dang Thu Thao was cited by Tien Phong Newspaper as saying that she was focusing on studying English. If she joined Miss World 2013, she would have to make careful and time-consuming preparations, which could affect her studies. Plus, she added that this year is not a good year for her to compete at the event. Meanwhile, Ngoc Han did not clarify the reason for her refusal.

Miss Vietnam 2012, Dang Thu Thao, has refused to participate in Miss World 2013

Nga also added that Nguyen Ngoc Anh has just been crowned Miss Ethnic Vietnam, so she is not willing to join such a big beauty contest. The Miss Jewelry 2013 pageant has not yet taken place, while Miss Sea 2013 has had its licensed removed because of rules violations.

She said she really regretted not being able to choose Miss Vietnam 2008, Thuy Dung, for Miss World 2013. Thuy Dung is highly appreciated for both beauty and knowledge, but there are public concerns over her enthronement since she did not complete high school education.

Miss Vietnam 2008, Thuy Dung 

Lai Huong Thao, 22, was crowned Vietnam’s Miss Sports in August 2012 in Danang. Earlier, she was presented with the title of Miss Ha Long also in 2012. She also participated in Miss Supranational in Poland in 2012, but she only reached the semi-final round.