H’Hen Nie visits Garden of Eden

A beauty queen is often seen as only doing 'easy' jobs such as having her photo taken in studios or showing her curves on catwalks. That may be true for many, but not for H’Hen Nie, who is Miss Universe in 2017 and in the top 5 in Miss Universe 2018. In the months leading up to the pageant, H'Hen's training and preparation was documented and aired as a YouTube series called Road to Miss Universe 2018. In the finale held at Impact Arena on December 17 in Bangkok, H'Hen finished as a top 5 finalist, the furthest any Vietnamese representative have made and only the second time since 2008 that Vietnam advanced through the first cut. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

The former beauty queen has Ede ethnic minority blood running through her veins. She was born in the sunshine, high mountains, and thick jungle of the Central Highlands and loves to discover and challenge herself with new obstacles. She’s such an interesting young woman with a beautiful soul. H'Hen was born in Dak Lak and is from the Rade ethnic minority in Vietnam. H'Hen is the third oldest out of six children, and in her youth, she worked on a coffee farm to assist her family. As per the Rade people's matrilineal customs, Rade women tend to start a family at a young age. However, H'Hen refused to follow this tradition and decided to continue her studies at her own expense. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

After graduating from high school, H'Hen studied a year at Nha Trang National Ethnic Community College before moving to Ho Chi Minh City to study corporate finance at the College of Foreign Economic Relations. When H'Hen was working as an intern at a bank, she began considering a career in modeling. In 2014, she was discovered by the Vietnamese designer Do Manh Cuong while attempting to begin a modelling career. As she gained interest in the industry, she auditioned for season 6 of Vietnam's Next Top Model in 2015, where she became a finalist. Stepping out of the Miss Universe’s journey, H’Hen Nie, a Vietnamese model and beauty pageant titleholder, enters into another journey to discover Vietnam's nature. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

H'Hen Nie (born 15 May 1992) is a Vietnamese model and beauty pageant titleholder, who was crowned Miss Universe Vietnam 2018 after winning Miss Universe Vietnam in 2017. The final of the Miss Universe 2018 took place in Bangkok, Thailand with the participation of 94 contestants from 94 countries and territories. According to the rules this year, the organisers selected the top 20, instead of the top 16 as in last season, then the top 10 and top 5. The Vietnamese representative was named in the top 20, and also in the Top 5 of Asia, Africa and Oceania regions. Prior to that, the Vietnamese was highly praised at Miss Universe 2018. Her traditional costume has been selected in the top 15 by Global Beauties. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

Although not being present in the top 3, H'Hen Nie had a brilliant journey at Miss Universe this year as she was continuously named among the top in the prestigious rankings of the leading beauty pages, such as Global Beauties or Missosology, the popular beauty pageant blog and magazine. She defeated 112 other women competing in different major beauty pageants in 2018. Miss Universe Vietnam has won the world’s Timeless Beauty of 2018 title, becoming the first Vietnamese to do so.Beauty pageant forum Missology.org named H’Hen Nie as the winner of the title on January 28, after she topped the shortlist of 10 beauty icons worldwide with 4,576 points. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

Son Doong cave - one of the largest caves in the world, is located near Phong Nha -Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bo Trach district, the central province of Quang Binh. The cave is believed to be formed between 2 and 5 million years ago. Cave experts are researching the connection between Son Doong Cave and neighbouring Thung Cave. If the connection is made, Son Doong will be the largest cave in the world by volume, as well as cross-section. It was named among 10 of the best virtual tours of the world's natural wonders by British newspaper The Guardian (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

With the measure of more than 200m high, 150m wide and approximately 9km long, the cave surpassed Deer Cave in Malaysa’s Gunung Mulu National Park (100m high, 90m wide and 2km long) to become the largest natural cave of the world. It was named on the list of the seven new wonders of the world for 2020 by prestigious travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler. The scale of the site’s interior is so large that it could fit an entire 40-storey block from New York City inside. Discovering Son Doong - the largest cave in the world - has been a dream of H'Hen Nie, and she shares her four-day, three-night trip through photos (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

Each year, only a handful of tourists are permitted to enter, with groups going into the cave as part of a five-day expedition that involves two nights of camping inside of Son Doong Cave. The US magazine also mentioned that the cave is so massive, that it even has its own weather system. Clouds gather around colossal natural skylights, 300-feet across, which pour beams of light into the abyss inside. In photo: H’Hen Nie in a traditional costume of her ethnic group at the camp site Beauty queen H’Hen Nie was born and raised in an Ede ethnic minority family in Sut M'Dung village, the Central Highland province of Dak Lak. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

Emotional image on H’hen Nie’s journey to conquer one of the largest caves in the world and one of its greatest natural wonders, comparable with the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon and Mt. Everest. At present, Oxalis Adventure Tours is granted exclusive rights to accompany adventure seekers to Son Doong for up to 10 years. Oxalis is the only private company licensed to explore Son Doong. Quang Binh province’s authorities approved tours from now till 2030. Earlier, the licence was only given annually. The province requires the tour operator to achieve economic efficiency and ensure tourist safety while promoting Son Doong, a fast-emerging tourist destination (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

Each year, only a handful of tourists are permitted to enter, with groups going into the cave as part of a five-day expedition that involves two nights of camping inside of Son Doong Cave. The US magazine also mentioned that the cave is so massive, that it even has its own weather system. Clouds gather around colossal natural skylights, 300-feet across, which pour beams of light into the abyss inside. In photo: H’Hen Nie in a traditional costume of her ethnic group at the camp site Beauty queen H’Hen Nie was born and raised in an Ede ethnic minority family in Sut M'Dung village, the Central Highland province of Dak Lak. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

During the first day, the group travels from Phong Nha to En cave gate and spends one night there. The whole tour includes 17km trekking, 8km caving, 800m elevation change, 90m climb of the 'Great Wall of Vietnam.' At present, Oxalis Adventure Tours is granted exclusive rights to accompany adventure seekers to Son Doong for up to 10 years. Oxalis is the only private company licensed to explore Son Doong. Quang Binh province’s authorities approved tours from now till 2030. Earlier, the licence was only given annually. Due to limited space, registration for Son Doong tours must be made well in advance. A four-day expedition costs 3,000 USD. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

Former Miss Universe H’Hen Nie eagers for a new experience in her life, which is an adventurous journey to discover Son Doong Cave in central Quang Binh province. Beautiful smile for a smooth departure, With Ede ethnic minority blood running through her veins, the Ede ethinic girl is up for the challenge. Located in the heart of the UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam's Quang Binh province, Hang Son Doong is one of the most captivating destinations that can be experienced in Southeast Asia. The cave was First discovered in 1990 by Ho Khanh, a local farmer who was seeking shelter from a passing storm in the jungle. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

‘Entering deeper into the cave, the scenery becomes more marvelous with numerous magical stalactites. As soon as I stepped into the cave its majestic beauty and enormous space left me speechless’ H’Hen Nie says. Son Doong cave - one of the largest caves in the world, is located near Phong Nha -Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bo Trach district, the central province of Quang Binh. The cave is believed to be formed between 2 and 5 million years ago. Cave experts are researching the connection between Son Doong Cave and neighbouring Thung Cave also in Quang Binh province. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

Former Miss Universe H’Hen Nie is eager for a new experience in her life, which is an adventurous journey to discover Son Doong Cave in central Quang Binh province. The whole tour includes 17km trekking, 8km caving, 800m elevation change, 90m climb of the 'Great Wall of Vietnam.' At present, Oxalis Adventure Tours is granted exclusive rights to accompany adventure seekers to Son Doong for up to 10 years. Stretching more than five kilometers (three miles) long and reaching heights of 200 meters (650 feet), In 2013 Hang Son Doong was opened to the public for the first time, with the adventure tour company Oxalis running the exclusive five-day expedition (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

Everything is set and ready for the trip. Son Doong, a system of caves in Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park near the country’s border with Laos, is especially remarkable for the jungle it houses. Tour to Son Doong was named among 10 of the best virtual tours of the world's natural wonders by British newspaper The Guardian. The journey to Hang Son Doong is not for the faint-hearted. Involving two days of intense jungle trekking and river crossings to reach the entrance, nights are spent camping inside the cave and the nearby Hang En, now known to be the third largest cave in the world. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

This experience is truly interesting and challenging for H’Hen Nie, who is Miss Universe in 2017 and in the top 5 in Miss Universe 2018. Oxalis is the only private company licensed to explore Son Doong. Quang Binh province’s authorities approved tours from now till 2030. Earlier, the licence was only given annually. Due to limited space, registration for Son Doong tours must be made well in advance. A four-day expedition costs 3,000 USD. Despite the physical demands guests are perfectly cared for, two caving experts, three local guides, two chefs, two park rangers and 20 porters join every expedition. The scale of the operation is phenomenal, and this ensures everyone's safety and welfare, along with the preservation of the cave, is looked after with expert precision. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

‘I had to slide about 100 meters underground. From there the group used special lights to move around in the darkness,’ she said. Son Doong cave is one of the largest caves in the world. It is located near Phong Nha -Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bo Trach district, the central province of Quang Binh. Tour to Son Doong was named among 10 of the best virtual tours of the world's natural wonders by British newspaper The Guardian. Each year, only a handful of tourists are permitted to enter, with groups going into the cave as part of a five-day expedition that involves two nights of camping inside of Son Doong Cave. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

On the first day, the group moves from Phong Nha and En cave gate then stays at En cave for one night. H'Hen Nie enjoys the sight of the spectacular cave. Currently considered to be the 3rd largest cave in the world after Hang Son Doong and Deer Cave in Malaysia, Hang En is quickly becoming one of the most recognisable and impressive caverns on the planet. It is also an attraction for visitors, who love trekking whenever visiting Quang Binh, dubbed the "kingdom of caves" with hundreds of caves of various sizes as well as incredible mountain scenery and sprawling. (Photo : Hai An/Vietnamplus)

There are many sections where H’Hen has to squeeze or crawl through. This section is dangerous, and she has to take special care or else face disaster. The journey to Hang Son Doong is not for the faint-hearted. Involving two days of intense jungle trekking and river crossings to reach the entrance, nights are spent camping inside the cave and the nearby Hang En, now known to be the third largest cave in the world. Once inside hikers are expected to abseil, climb, crawl and swim through underground rivers to arrive at the end of the cave. It is an adventure like no other. (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

Not only rowing high on slippery rocks, H’Hen Nie also has to swim through the underground streams. The mighty Rao Thuong River carved out Son Doong as it eroded away the limestone, forming an enormous tunnel beneath the Truong Son Mountains. Despite the physical demands guests are perfectly cared for, two caving experts, three local guides, two chefs, two park rangers and 20 porters join every expedition. The scale of the operation is phenomenal, and this ensures everyone's safety and welfare, along with the preservation of the cave, is looked after with expert precision. Besides the fantastic experience and unique beauty of this adventure, the journey to Hang Son Doong has resulted in a growing industry that has improved the lives of many -- tourism. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

Through difficulties, ‘heaven’ is waiting. Cave experts are researching the connection between Son Doong Cave and neighbouring Thung Cave. If the connection is made At more than 200m high (up to 503m in parts), 175m wide and 9.4km long, Son Doong was already huge – so big that it could easily accommodate any of the world’s other largest caves and you could fit several forty-storey skyscrapers standing upright. The new discovery adds an extra 1.6 million cu metre of volume to its existing 38.5 million cu metre, which is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest’s 8848m and discovering a mound that made it 1000m taller. (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

Millions-of-year masterpieces of nature in the cave. Cave experts are researching the connection between Son Doong Cave and neighbouring Thung Cave. If the connection is made , Son Doong will be the largest cave in the world by volume, as well as cross-section. Yet there is plenty to see in the cave, with parts of it illuminated by two dolines – or sinkholes – that can flood the cave with beams of spectacular sunlight. Within its depths are the world’s largest stalagmites and a jungle with trees up to 50m high. Tourists can see up to 1.5km but the cave’s own weather system can make clouds that are spectacular but cut down visibility.(Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

H’Hen Nie enjoys the ‘night stars’ insides the cave. This tour is surely an once-in-a-lifetime experience for the former beauty queen. Phong Nha -Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bo Trach district, the central province of Quang Binh. Tour to Son Doong was named among 10 of the best virtual tours of the world's natural wonders by British newspaper The Guardian. Each year, only a handful of tourists are permitted to enter, with groups going into the cave as part of a five-day expedition that involves two nights of camping inside of Son Doong Cave. Due to limited space, registration for Son Doong tours must be made well in advance. A four-day expedition costs 3,000 USD. (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

A halt to enjoy spectacular masterpiece of nature. The large dolines (or skylights) collapsed sometime in the last 500,000 years, creating massive openings to the outside world. Cave pearls the size of baseballs and stalagmites the size of tall buildings have formed from water dripping from the cave ceiling. With the measure of more than 200m high, 150m wide and approximately 9km long, the cave surpassed Deer Cave in Malaysa’s Gunung Mulu National Park (100m high, 90m wide and 2km long) to become the largest natural cave of the world. It was named on the list of the seven new wonders of the world for 2020 by prestigious travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler. (Photo: Hai Ai/Vietnamplus)

Explorer must to climb on dangerous , steep rocky ascent to reach the ‘Garden of Eden’ underneath the ground. Cave experts are researching the connection between Son Doong Cave and neighbouring Thung Cave. If the connection is made , Son Doong will be the largest cave in the world by volume, as well as cross-section.The discovery was made in April by a trio of British divers, who were invited to explore the cave in central Vietnam’s Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park by Howard Limbert, leader of the caving team that first mapped Son Doong in 2009.The three divers – Jason Mallinson, Rick Stanton and Chris Jewell – were part of the team that rescued the Thai soccer team in 2018. (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

This is one of the most beautiful spots in Son Doong Cave, with sinkholes allowing natural light to flood in. A host of flora grow on the stalactites and could perhaps be millions of years old . The entrance to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is accessible from Son Trach town, which is 50km north of Dong Hoi. There are regular bus connections to Dong Hoi from Hue, Hoi An and Danang. A typical tour costs 3000 USD and lasts four days. All groups are capped at 10 visitors and include a guide (all tours are led by at least one of the British cavers involved in the original exploration), a safety assistant, cooks, porters and a park ranger. A degree of fitness is required. (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

Standing from this point, H’Hen Nie can observe the whole forest below. This trip left her with special memories, marking the moment she stepped away from the glory of the crown and returned to an ordinary life. H’Hen Nie came from a poor Ede village where many girls leave school early, get married, and stay at home to look after their children. H’Hen Nie wants to change this. She donated most of the 43,000 USD she received from donors after clinching a top 5 spot in the 2018 Miss Universe pageant to provide scholarships to school children, build community houses, preserve the handwriting of the Ede people, and provide fresh water and electricity to Sut M’Dung village. (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

After passing through the beautiful steps of the 'Garden of Eden', H’Hen thinks of making a photo shoot in her favourite 'ao dai'. She says being a Vietnamese girl in a traditional 'ao dai' in the 'Garden of Eden' is an unforgettable memory. H’Hen Nie has been named an ambassador for the 7th Buon Ma Thuot coffee festival which will take place in March. H’Hen Nie said she will do her best to promote the image of Dak Lak province: ‘As an ambassador for this event, I hope to introduce the image of the friendly and hospitable Dak Lak people and welcome more visitors to our province. The festival is an opportunity to promote the coffee and other agricultural products and tourism of Dak Lak province.’(Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

This is also the day that H’Hen spends a lot of time to take impressive photos with different styles. This has shown the talent of H'Hen Nie. Beauty queen H’Hen Nie was born and raised in an Ede ethnic minority family in Sut M'Dung village, the Central Highland province of Dak Lak. By winning the crown of Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, she became the pride of the Ede people and her homeland. H’Hen Nie has returned to her native village several times to perform charity work, wanting to make a meaningful contribution to her community. H’Hen Nie has helped change many old practices which have existed for a long time in the village. She also sets a good example as a young person who works actively for the community. (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

When she dances in her yellow dress, she feels like she is flying. Alan Walker recently put some footage in his music video. An evening gown worn by H’Hen Nie during the Miss Universe 2018 semi-finals has topped a list of the Top 10 yellow evening gowns worn during the pageant’s 10 years, as announced by website Missosology.World famous DJ Alan Walker has unleashed his music video filmed in central Quang Binh Province, including Son Doong cave.The MV depicts a young archaeologist on her quest to discover a place of mystery and wonder. After uncovering a hidden secret in a painting, she finds Quang Binh to be just the destination, mesmerized at the marvels of Son Doong, the largest natural cave in the world. (Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

H’Hen is supported to continue her journey to conquer Son Doong. Due to a roof collapse long ago, the subterranean space has become an otherworldly landscape worthy of its nickname, 'The Garden of Eden'. Son Doong Cave, a system of caves in Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park near the country’s border with Laos, is the world’s largest cave passage. In addition to its immense size, the Vietnamese cave system is especially remarkable for the jungle it houses.Due to a roof collapse long ago, the subterranean space has become an otherworldly landscape worthy of its nickname. A lot of people find the scenery as spectacular .(Photo: Hai An/ Vietnamplus)

‘It was a very special experience and I’m happy to have conquered the largest cave in the world. I would like to send a message to everyone out there: If you love nature and like to explore, try to visit Son Doong Cave to feel the majestic beauty nature has bestowed upon our country. The visit will help you become even prouder of Vietnam, understand the richness of its geology and landscapes, and make you more aware about environmental protection’ H’Hen Nie shares. The former beauty queen has Ede ethnic minority blood running through her veins. She was born in the sunshine, high mountains, and thick jungle of the Central Highlands and loves to discover and challenge herself with new obstacles. She’s such an interesting young woman with a beautiful soul. (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)

H’Hen Nie completes the last difficult challenge before ending her journey to 'Heaven on Earth'. In addition to its immense size, the Vietnamese cave system is especially remarkable for the jungle it houses. Millions-of-year masterpieces of nature in the cave. Cave experts are researching the connection between Son Doong Cave and neighbouring Thung Cave. If the connection is made , Son Doong will be the largest cave in the world by volume, as well as cross-section. Yet there is plenty to see in the cave, with parts of it illuminated by two dolines – or sinkholes – that can flood the cave with beams of spectacular sunlight. (Photo: Hai An/Vietnamplus)