Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi was officially crowned Miss Grand Vietnam 2025 in a glamorous finale held in Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of September 14. The event, themed The era of soaring growth, celebrated both beauty and national aspiration.

Yen Nhi, a 21-year-old from Dak Lak, stood out among 34 contestants to claim the prestigious title. She will now represent Vietnam at Miss Grand International 2025 this October.

The four runners-up are Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan (1st), Le Thi Thu Tra (2nd), Dinh Y Quyen (3rd), and La Ngoc Phuong Anh (4th).

The judging panel featured several notable names, including Miss Vietnam Ha Kieu Anh (Head Judge), People’s Artist Vuong Duy Bien, actress-singer Nhat Kim Anh, actor Quoc Truong, Miss Le Hoang Phuong, and Miss Doan Thien An.

The finale began with contestants introducing themselves, followed by a synchronized swimsuit performance from the top 35. This segment featured Waiting for a word of love performed by Hellen (Vu Thi Thu Hien), Miss Grand Vietnam 2024's second runner-up. The top 20 then showcased their bikini walks.

After the swimsuit round, the jury announced the top 15 contestants advancing to the evening gown segment. A slight mishap occurred when only 14 names were initially read; Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan was later added. The top 15 performed to Sway, choreographed by Hera Ngoc Hang and dancesport champion Huynh Huy.

The top 10 included Phan Nhu Thuy, Mlo H Senaivi, Bui Thu Thuy, Dinh Y Quyen, Nguyen Thi Kieu My, La Ngoc Phuong Anh, Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi, Le Thi Thu Tra, and Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan. The tenth spot, determined by the Miss Popular Vote, went to Bui Thi Uyen Phuong from Dak Lak.

In the next round, the top 10 presented ao dai performances and delivered speeches themed My Vietnam - The era of soaring growth, expressing messages of peace and international ambition.

Five finalists were selected for the Q&A round: La Ngoc Phuong Anh, Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi, Le Thi Thu Tra, Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan, and Dinh Y Quyen.

The finalists responded to a common question from judge Ha Kieu Anh: As a young person, how will you contribute to Vietnam’s era of soaring growth?

Highlights from the Q&A session:

La Ngoc Phuong Anh emphasized compassion and sharing knowledge to build impactful community projects. A media communications student, she aims to inspire others through her social work and positive online presence.

Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi, a tourism student, outlined three contributions: becoming a storyteller of Vietnam’s culture and heritage through sustainable tourism; applying digital transformation to promote local destinations while preserving cultural identity; and aspiring to be a tourism ambassador connecting Vietnam with the world through both nature and the compassion of Vietnamese youth.

Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan shared her motto: Learn, inherit, and promote. She believes in mastering knowledge and technology, preserving national identity, and spreading kindness and peace while living a life of responsibility and contribution.

Le Thi Thu Tra, a young Party member and graduate student in economics, emphasized the importance of integrity and lifelong learning. Her entrepreneurial vision includes exporting Vietnamese products and empowering women in economic leadership.

Dinh Y Quyen, involved in a mental health project for autistic children, quoted President Ho Chi Minh: “Small deeds for small people, within their capacity.” She expressed a deep commitment to creating meaningful change through education and healthcare.

Spotlight on the queen: Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi’s inspiring journey

Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi, born in 2004 in Dak Lak, was raised in a humble family - her father a construction worker and her mother a lottery ticket vendor. She is currently a third-year student majoring in Tourism and Hospitality Management at Van Hien University.

With a height of 1.72m and body measurements of 81-64-92 cm, Yen Nhi impressed the judges with her striking yet gentle appearance, radiant smile, confident stage presence, and poise.

Her journey was far from easy. She previously entered Miss Grand Vietnam 2024, making it only to the Top 15. However, she was in the Top 5 for both the Miss Fashion and Grand Voice Award categories. That initial setback became her motivation to refine her stage presence, body fitness, and communication skills.

In this year’s competition, she once again excelled, placing in the Top 5 for both Grand Heat and Miss Fashion, and reaching the Top 10 in Grand Voice. However, it was her powerful bilingual answer during the final Q&A that sealed her victory.

Yen Nhi fluently answered in both Vietnamese and English, laying out her vision to represent Vietnamese tourism through storytelling, digital transformation, and ambassadorship.

Beyond beauty pageants, Yen Nhi has made academic contributions. She participated in student research promoting the cultural value of ethnic souvenir products in Buon Ma Thuot. She has also earned several accolades in tourism presentation competitions and was a guest speaker at the 2025 Citywide Prospective Tour Guides Contest.

Her win at Miss Grand Vietnam 2025 is not just a personal triumph but a national opportunity. She aims to use her new platform to share Vietnam’s culture with the world and to empower youth, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“I want to prove that hardship is not a barrier to success,” she said, “but a foundation for building value - for ourselves and for our communities.”

Huy Minh