THIS year's Miss Universe contestants will finally get a chance to size up their 81 rivals in person.

The participants will appear for the first time together at a charity auction and gala dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, tomorrow.

The beauties will auction off about 50 gifts, which they have brought from their home countries, to raise money for disadvantaged Vietnamese students, reported Vietnamese newspaper Thanh Nien Daily.

(From right) Miss China 2008, Ziya Wei and Miss Japan 2008, Mima Hiroko

The charity show will take place at the five-star Sheraton Saigon Hotel.

The contestants will be performing and dancing with well-known Vietnamese entertainers.

The show director, Mr Vu Thanh Vinh, said: "We aim to create a cozy and friendly atmosphere for the multi-national representatives to feel at ease with one another and enjoy the hospitality of Vietnamese culture."

Its chairman, Mr Le Xuan Than, said: "Nha Trang is almost ready to receive the international contestants who are scheduled to arrive in the town on 29 Jun for the final contests."

He added that the Diamond Bay's Crown Convention Centre, the main building for the event with a capacity of 8,000 seats, will be ready soon and that other facilities are completed.

Ms Rachel Frimer, vice president of the Miss Universe Organisation (MUO), said judging would be based on three competitions - the final presentation show, the rehearsal show and the final show in July.

But before that, the beauties will have other opportunities to find out more about each other.

They will visit Hanoi on Thursday, where they will get to meet their individual countries' own ambassadors to Vietnam.

They will also mingle with Vietnamese leaders.

Mr Pham Sanh Chau, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Culture said: "The ambassador gala not only shows the Vietnamese government's consideration on such a significant cultural event but also expresses the gratitude of Vietnam to all the countries and regions which not only have sent their beauty queens to Vietnam but also have co-operated with the country in many sectors."

This article was first published in The New Paper on June 22, 2008.