Beautiful touch-down

Miss World 2007 Zhang Zi Lin is in Vietnam for a series of charity events including visiting HIV/AIDS centers, and attending ceremonies to present charity houses and scholarships. Landing in Ho Chi Minh City last night, Miss World 2007 Zhang Zi Lin sent a message to the Vietnamese contestant in this year’s Miss Universe contest: be yourself.

In a white T-shirt and black pants, the 24-year old beauty smiled to local media and said she loved the beauty of the HCMC Post Office and Vietnamese noodles, especially Pho 24, a well-known chain of noodle soup restaurants. This is Zhang’s second trip to Vietnam. The first was a year and a half ago, before she won the crown. Teresa Sam, first runner-up to Miss Vietnam Global Zhang, accompanied by Miss World Organization’s Chairwoman and President Julia Morley and the first runner-up to Miss Vietnam Global, Teresa Sam, is expected to do a series of charity events sponsored by U.S.-based blood product producer RAAS Group during her trip. These include visiting HIV/AIDS centers, attending ceremonies to present charity houses and scholarships throughout Vietnam. Zhang and Sam will also attend a flower parade next Monday in Nha Trang Town to welcome the upcoming Miss Universe 2008 competition. “I’m very happy to be [back] here to help out because when I went home, I missed Vietnam,” said Sam, who told the Vietnam beauty at Miss Universe to “smile” and “show the world exactly how Vietnam is.” RAAS CEO Hoang Kieu, a Vietnamese American, told local media before the trip that he invited Morley to drop by Vietnam as the preliminary step to the country bidding to host Miss World in 2010. “We are not yet making a full plan, we are only looking to understand,” Morley said after landing in Vietnam for the first time yesterday. Morley said the most important factor for Vietnam in her bid to host Miss World would be for the Vietnamese people to really “want it”. “It’s not just Miss World coming in, it must be with the people’s blessing and it must be the people and Miss World working together.” But the first step, she said, was for Miss World and Vietnam to “get to know each other.” ZHANG ZI LIN’S CHARITY SCHEDULE ■ June 29: present 28 charity houses worth a total of VND280 million (US$17,500) to poor families in Van Ninh District, Khanh Hoa Province ■ June 30: attend a decorated-float carnival around Nha Trang Town with Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori and this year’s 80 Miss Universe contestants ■ July 2: present 30 charity houses worth a total of VND300 million ($17,800) to families in northern Lao Cai Province ■ July 4: present 30 charity houses worth a total of VND300 million to locals in Hanoi; then visit and donate VND500 million to the Hanoi HIV/AIDS Preventive Center ■ July 5: present 30 charity houses worth a total of VND300 million as well as VND100 million cash to underprivileged families in Uong Bi District in Quang Ninh Province ■ July 7: attend the dedication of two charity classrooms in Cu Chi District, HCMC, and present VND50 million ($3,125) to poor local students ■ July 8: present 100 charity houses, worth a total of VND700 million ($43,750), and gifts to poor people in the southern province of Tien Giang. ■ July 9: visit and donate VND500 million ($31,250) to the HCMC HIV/AIDS Preventive Center; visit and donate VND100 million to the Thien Phuoc Charity Center for disabled children; present scholarships to 80 students, donate VND300 million to a study encouragement society and VND300 million ($18,750) for the Vu A Dinh Scholarship at the Ho Chi Minh City’s Sheraton Saigon Hotel.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/

Miss World 2007 visits Vietnam

07:59' 29/06/2008 (GMT+7)

Miss World 2007 Zhang Zi Lin VietNamNet Bridge - Miss World 2007 Zhang Zi Lin arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on June 28, beginning her humanitarian and social activities in Vietnam as part of a Miss World’s duties. During her stay in Vietnam from June 28 to July 10, the beauty queen will call on and present gifts to poor families, disabled children’ centres and HIV/AIDS prevention establishments in a number of localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Tien Giang and Lao Cai. She will also visit Nha Trang city to attend a parade welcoming the Miss Universe 2008 contest. Teresa Sam – first runner of the World Beauty Contest for Vietnamese which was held in Vietnam last year – will join Miss World Zhang Zi Lin in her social activities. Hoang Kieu, chairman of the US company RASS which sponsors the Miss World’s humanitarian activities in Vietnam , said RASS is preparing to apply for hosting the Miss World contest in Vietnam in 2010. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/