On September 23, a clip appeared on social media of Mr. Pham Duy Khanh - Head of the Miss Tourism Vietnam Global 2024 contest - saying: "We are very happy to welcome the biggest storm ever", on the final night of the contest on September 21 in Hai Phong.
This statement caused a huge wave of controversy with the audience. Many people thought that Mr. Duy Khanh's statement was inappropriate in the context of the people in many northern provinces affected by storms and floods.
On the afternoon of September 23, Mr. Pham Duy Khanh officially apologized: "I would like to apologize to everyone for the confusion and mistakes in the final night of Miss Tourism Vietnam Global 2024 in Hai Phong city on September 21. When speaking live on VTV9 channel, I said "we are very happy to welcome the biggest storm ever". In fact, what Khanh intended to say was "we are very happy that the contest was still held even though Hai Phong just encountered the biggest storm ever".
However, as the Head of the Organizing Committee and General Director of the program, I was too distracted because it rained heavily for nearly an hour before the opening ceremony. I was worried about the guests, the stage, the contestants, the artists, the electricity... so my mind was as tense as a guitar string. In addition, the speech paper I had printed out got wet and ruined because of the rain and wind, so I decided to speak and this unfortunate incident happened.
I sincerely apologize to everyone, because no matter how I explain, my words have unintentionally hurt many people. I sincerely bow my head to apologize to everyone, and hope to be forgiven."
In addition, Mr. Khanh added: "I am from Hai Phong, organizing the contest in my hometown, right during the storm, the hotel where the contestants were staying was also splashed with water, the contestants together bailed out water and helped the hotel absorb the water.
I also decided to cancel the Semi-final night, instead I contacted the city to organize 2 sessions for the contestants to clean up fallen trees, then organize a visit and give gifts to lonely elderly people.
I, along with all the contestants and everyone in the organizing committee, also donated and transferred 150 million VND to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hai Phong city to support people in flood-affected areas...".
In addition, he also talked about the controversy of "stealing the right to crown Miss Ly Kim Thao", saying: "Another controversial incident in the final night was when I took the crown from the hands of the reigning Miss Ly Kim Thao to put it on the head of the new Miss Ky Duyen. The incident was when Ly Kim Thao held the crown and was about to raise it to put it on Ky Duyen, but Ly Kim Thao's evening gown had a very stiff shoulder strap and Thao couldn't raise her arms so she asked me to put it on, and at that time Ky Duyen was bending down waiting, and it was live so she needed to be quick, so I helped Thao put the crown on the new Miss Ky Duyen.
Once again, I apologize. I consider this a valuable lesson in speaking and handling situations on stage during the competition."
