Nearly 40 contestants for the final round of the Mrs. World 2009 pageant, held in Vietnam this year, took part in various activities in Ho Chi Minh City November 4.

Contestants of the Mrs. World 2009 beauty contest offer gifts to children at Thi Nghe Orphanage and Disabled Children's Center in Binh Thanh District on November 4. (Photo: An Dung)

The women had a meeting with the city’s leaders and visited Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh Market and the Gia Gia Gemstone Center, where many craftsman with disabilities work.

They also presented more than 500 gifts to the Thi Nghe Orphanage and Disabled Children’s' Center in Binh Thanh District.

“I think it is not only beauty queens, everyone should be interested in disadvantaged children. People on the Earth should give their special love to children,” said Kelly Pittman Mrs. Georgia 2009 .

The contestants will travel to Ba Ria-Vung Tau on November 5 and visit the province’s Martyrs Cemetery and pay tribute at the statue of heroine Vo Thi Sau.

They will also visit the Minh Dam revolutionary base, which was used during the anti-French colonialist and anti-American imperialist resistance wars, as well as paying a visit to a school for deaf children.

The opening ceremony of the final round of the Mrs. World 2009 pageant will be held at Imperial Hotel in Vung Tau City on November 7.

Canadian TV star, Alan Thicke is to be master of ceremonies, which will take place at Multi-sport Stadium on November 22 and be broadcast on various channels including VTV4, VTV 9 and Star World.

Vietnam is represented by Mrs. Vietnam 2009, Hoang Thi Yen, and the first runner-up, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha.  They will compete with nearly 70 women for the title.

The remaining contestants will arrive in Vietnam over the next few days.