Bui Thi Phuong Ngoc, who made it to the top 15 candidates at the Miss Ocean Vietnam 2023, has volunteered for military service to satisfy her passion for joining the army.

The beauty is one of the four girls in Dong Nai Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, to embark on military service in 2024.

After graduating from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, 23-year-old Ngoc, who resides in Gia Ray, a town in the province's Xuan Loc District, decided to undertake military service rather than landing a job.

Attachment to military uniform at young age

Ngoc recounted that she was impressed at soldiers’ uniform color when she was in grade five and joined military lesson classes.

She has fallen in love with the green color of the military uniform since then.

As she spent much time on study, her hope of enjoying the military life faded away.

Nevertheless, after the recent university graduate engaged in conversations with several friends serving in the military and came across numerous videos and images showcasing military forces, a deep affection for the color of military uniforms became ingrained in her heart.

"I planted the seeds of joining military service, so I proceeded to apply for the process," said Ngoc.

Her parents initially worried that the harsh military life would challenge their daughter, yet they quickly supported her decision.

Concealing participation in beauty pageant from family

Pushed by her teachers and friends, Ngoc made a decision to compete in a beauty pageant when she was a senior.

She recounted that her parents did not endorse her entry into the entertainment industry. Consequently, she kept her application for the beauty contest a secret from them.

It was not until she was announced as one of the finalists for the competition that she finally revealed the news to her parents.

“To me, [beauty contests] help satisfy my passion, but I will not pursue it for long,” she said.

“Beauty could fade away, while intelligence and understanding make a person valuable."

Ngoc is eager to undergo three-month military service and sees it as a challenge for her to train herself and stiffen her will.  

She also conveyed her aspiration to serve in the army for an extended period beyond military service.

This decision stems not only from her affection for the color of soldiers' uniforms but also from the perceived benefits it would bring to her future career and life.

Study results stand out

Apart from her good-looking appearance, Ngoc also showed her admirable study results.

She won the second prize at a province-level competition in literature when she was in high school. 

Furthermore, she enthusiastically took part in numerous Youth Union programs and charity activities.

She was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam when she was in grade 12.

Vietnamese law requires men between the ages of 18 and 25, or 18 and 27 for those who have attended college, to contribute two years of military service to the nation.

It is not obligatory for women but they can volunteer to do it when conditions are met.

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