"Everybody together with us, let's contribute to protecting our living environment globally" was the message that contestants of Miss Earth 2010 sent during their visit to ancient Hoi An city on Nov. 22.

The beauties presented gifts to orphans and handicapped, rode bicycles, planted trees, shared pamphlets on the environment to locals and tourists, joined a children's performance and set pigeons free.

The contestants emphasised the importance of reducing the impacts of global climate change. They said it was crucial for everyone to try to reduce energy use and activities that create pollution and threaten global welfare.

They called for actions to make all cities "green" to promote sustainable development.

"We are aware that the actions for the environment are the very actions that are practical to preserve and enhance the values of cultural heritages and pass them to future generations," said incumbent Miss Brazil Earth 2009 Larissa Ramos and Miss Vietnam Earth 2010 Luu Thi Diem Huong in their speeches in the evening.

Miss Earth contestants appreciated Hoi An's efforts to reduce the use of plastic bags in the community and its many other environmental protection programmes, such as the daily "The Streets of Walkers", the weekly "One Hour for a Cleaner Hoi An", and the monthly "The Earth Hour"./.