The Miss Grand International 2017 pageant will not be held at Paradise Cave in the central province of Quang Binh according to local authorities.

A corner of the Thien Duong Cave

The Provincial Department of Tourism announced on April 15 that the show will be moved to the beach-side Sunspa Resort in the area.

The department's director, Ho An Phong told the Tien Phong Newspaper on Sunday that the change did not relate to fears of possible damage to the cave but to ensure safety and convenience for visitors, participants and contestants of the pageant.

"We've conducted a careful survey before proposing the show to be held at Paradise earlier," Phong explained. 

"There will be no harm to the cave but after considering some other factors we had to change."

The official said that the show will take place during the flood season which often cause severe flooding in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. 

Besides, the distance of 70 kilometres from Dong Hoi City to Paradise Cave and construction of a small grandstand inside the cave were also the obstacles.

The Miss Grand International 2017 pageant is slated to be held in the three Vietnamese provinces of Quang Binh, HCM City and Kien Giang from October 5-25. 

The national costume contest will take place in Quang Binh Province from October 15-19.

Miss Grand International is among the five largest beauty contests in the world, attracting participants from around 80 countries and territories worldwide. 

Paradise Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, 70 km northwest of Dong Hoi City, was discovered and named by scientists of the British Cave Research Association in 2005. 

The cave has the length of over 31km with width from 30-150m and the height of around 60m. It is considered the world's largest cave.  

dtinews