Miss Vietnam visits PH

Miss Universe Vietnam fuses Filipino terno with own national dress

ABS-CBN News
04 February 2019

MANILA – Vietnamese beauty queen H’hen Nie wrapped up her short visit to the Philippines on a high note, showcasing the cultures of both Southeast Asian countries in one unique dress.

On Instagram, Nie shared a photo of her wearing a white dress, which is a mix of Vietnam’s and the Philippines’ traditional garments – the ao dai and the terno, respectively.

“This is a special dress for me, it’s mixed between the traditional costume of Vietnam ao dai and [the] Philippines’ terno designed by Aodai Kinzu (Song Toan). I love this,” she said.

“It’s time to say goodbye. Thank you so much, Philippines. I will never forget your love and warm welcome. I love all of you.”

Nie arrived in Manila last Friday and was reunited with her Filipino pageant coach, Anjo Santos.

She was invited to a youth congress in Naga and also had the opportunity to meet the Philippines’ own Venus Raj, who finished fourth runner-up in Miss Universe 2010.

The two were photographed wearing the terno and baro’t saya, another traditional Filipino dress.

Nie finished in the Top 5 of Miss Universe 2018, which was won by the Philippines’ Catriona Gray.

Pinoy is Miss Vietnam's trainor

Miss Vietnam thanks Filipino who trained her

Jan Milo Severo

Philippine Star | 20 December 2018

MANILA, Philippines — Miss Vietnam H’Hen Niê expressed gratitude to her Filipino trainer after finishing in the Top 5 of the prestigious competition. 

H'Hen Nie of Vietnam competes in the swimsuit competition during the 2018 Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok on December 13, 2018. Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP

On her Instagram account, H’hen thanked her staff in the pageant, especially her trainer Anjo Santos who she described as her teacher.

“From the bottom of my heart, Thank you very much, My Teacher Anjo Santos,” she wrote.

Anjo was proud of Miss Vietnam for her accomplishment being the first Vietnamese who finished that far in the competition.

"She was stunning, brave, and queenly but most of all down to earth. Naiyak po ako, siyempre, nagalak... Natuwa 'cause H'Hen has also a little mix of Pinoy blood," he told Pep.

"I handled her for a month. I covered poise, stance, and catwalk, and make-up tutorial. Then I designed a pasarela fit for her and the gown she will wear (the one with twist 360 turn)."

He recalled that he was hired to train H’Hen through the national director of Miss Universe Vietnam.

"I was taken because I trained Vietnamese beauties since 2014 po. Then through the national director of Miss Universe Vietnam, my friend, they hired me to train her. So yung mga kaibigan ko din sa Ho Chi Minh City na mga close ko ay nag-support to help kaya naging team po kami," he said.