VietNamNet Bridge – The first official competition of the Miss Universe 2008 pageant took place last night at the Crown Convention Centre in the coastal city of Nha Trang.

Though called the preliminary or presentation night, actually last night’s performance was the semi-final. Contestants had to try their best to show off their beauty and their charm to enter the top 15 candidates. They will be announced at the crown ceremony in the morning on July 14.

The eighty contestants appeared in swimwear and night gowns. Besides the host’s contestant, Miss Vietnam, other contestants like Miss Venezuela, Miss South Korea and Miss Colombia also had the warm support of the audience.

The presentation competition showed the professionalism of the US organisers and it was the first time the largest and most modern theatre in Vietnam, the Crown Convention Centre, opened to the public.

Correspondents were permitted to take photos of contestants in swimsuits and night gowns for five minutes. Most of the correspondents were Vietnamese.

Hereafter are photos of the presentation night:

Miss Universe 2007, one of the two hosts of the presentation night

Vo Tien – Netlife