Phan Thi Ngoc Diem, a student from central Khanh Hoa province, was crowned Miss Tourism Vietnam 2008 on the evening of August 2.

Ngoc Diem, who is now studying at the Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade University , surpassed 35 rivals at the final round to win a VND 100 million  prize, including cash, an English language learning scholarship and a tour of Europe .

The girl will represent Vietnam at the Miss Tourism International contest to be held in 2009.

Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc from the southern province of Ben Tre won the first runner-up title, while the second runner-up was Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao from the northern port city of Hai Phong .

Launched in March, the Miss Tourism Vietnam contest, the first ever of its kind, drew the participation of more than 700 contestants from all parts of the country.

The event, co-hosted by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Asia Film Advertising Joint Stock Company, was seen as a chance to promote Vietnam ’s cultural traditions and tourist sites to the world. (VNA)