Ho Chi Minh City struggles to rein in beauty pageant chaos

The Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City has raised concerns about the increasingly chaotic state of beauty pageants and fashion performances, warning that violations are becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect.

On November 18, the department released its activity report for November and outlined its key tasks for December 2025.

While noting a number of highlights, including major cultural events, the city’s cultural authorities acknowledged persistent difficulties in regulation and enforcement. Beauty contests and fashion shows are booming in the city, but they are also increasingly fraught with violations. The root of the problem lies in organizers deliberately exploiting or ignoring regulations set forth in Decree No. 144/2020/NĐ-CP.

An even more troubling issue is the lack of authority granted to on-site inspectors. Even when they identify violations during ongoing events – such as performances diverging from the approved content – they are not authorized to immediately halt the event.

Their role is limited to recording the violations and issuing penalties after the fact. According to the department, this enforcement gap has inadvertently allowed organizers to “game the system,” choosing to pay fines while continuing to stage provocative or unauthorized acts – greatly complicating the ability to prevent such incidents at the source.

Enforcement challenges also persist in regulating “sensitive” business services. Authorities have observed that many karaoke venues, previously shut down for failing to meet fire safety standards, are rebranding as restaurants while still covertly operating karaoke services without permits. These deceptive practices are becoming more complex, making inspections increasingly difficult.

The sports sector is facing its own regulatory dilemma as legal frameworks lag behind the rapid rise of emerging disciplines. The growing popularity of sports such as poker, bowling, Muay Thai, and pickleball is posing serious challenges for local authorities due to the lack of specific guidance or circulars.

This absence of regulation not only hinders the licensing and supervision of these activities but also opens the door for disguised gambling operations to masquerade as sports.

In response, the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City has set a strategic priority: to improve existing mechanisms, advocate for the revision of legal documents, and close the loopholes that currently allow violations to persist – ensuring a healthy and law-abiding cultural and sports environment.

Quoc Ngoc