This year’s edition features an important rule change: candidates aged 18 to 35 are now eligible to compete, an increase from the previous cap of 28 years old.

According to Nguyen Thi Thuy Nga, Chairwoman of Miss Charm, the organization is prioritizing contestant quality over quantity this year, with representatives from 34 countries. However, the number is expected to rise in future editions, especially in 2026.

Originally slated to take place in Ha Long, Quang Ninh, as a promotion for Ha Long Bay, the competition was relocated to Ho Chi Minh City due to unforeseen circumstances. The new venues for the semi-final and final will be announced shortly via the official Miss Charm fanpage.

The French representative suffered a dislocated ankle after a fall in her home country. Nonetheless, she remains determined to compete and has already arrived in Vietnam, moving around with the help of crutches. The organizers are currently seeking assistance from traditional medicine practitioners to help her recover in time for the finals.

Meanwhile, the contestant from Venezuela is expected to arrive the following day, with international flight delays affecting her travel plans.

Thuy Nga also revealed that the judging panel this year will include two international figures: Miss Charm 2023 Luma Russo and Miss Charm 2024 Rashmita Rasindran. The full list of judges will be released soon on the pageant's official channels.

During the opening ceremony, Rashmita Rasindran, Miss Charm 2024, grew emotional as she looked back on her reign. She spoke of the profound bond she developed with the Miss Charm family and her admiration for the Vietnamese people. “Every night I think about it, I can’t help but cry,” she said.

Representing Vietnam this year is Mai Ngo (birth name Ngo Thi Quynh Mai), born in 1995. With 14 years of modeling experience and a decade spent competing in various beauty contests, Mai is seen as a strong contender. She is expected to build on the impressive track record of Vietnamese participants: Thanh Thanh Huyen placed in the Top 20 in 2023, and Quynh Nga was the second runner-up in 2024.

In an interview with VietNamNet, Maria Jose Chacon of Colombia shared a special bond with newly crowned Miss International 2025, Catalina Duque, who won the title in Japan. The two were former pageant rivals in Colombia and once shared a room as roommates.