Held every two years by the Institute of International Education, Safari Masquerade is eagerly anticipated by many students as an opportunity to immerse themselves in the excitement and splendor of the ball. Over the past month, Safari Masquerade 2024 and its series of distinctive activities have left many memorable impressions, featuring contestants in The Face of ISME competition, a star-studded guest lineup, and, especially, strong participation from students in the IBD and BBAE programs.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, speaks with students at the ball.

Inspired by Hollywood’s walks of fame, Safari Masquerade 2024 was held from April 8 to 21, 2024, with the theme “Boulevard Der Stars”, symbolizing glory, fame, and success. More than a venue for students to express themselves, the event also offered an opportunity to create wonderful memories together, showcase talented individuals with distinctive personalities, and ignite the youthful spirit and enthusiasm of the ISME student community.

Safari Masquerade 2024 ball.

Safari Masquerade 2024 offered an elegant ballroom setting where individuals could confidently express their personalities through their talents and dazzling outfits. Participants had opportunities to enjoy photo booth sessions, slow dancing, socializing, and other activities in the sophisticated setting of Trong Dong Palace Lang Yen, with visual presentation carefully prepared by the organizing committee. Safari Masquerade 2024 also celebrated individuals and connected ISME members through The Face of ISME, a competition to select representative faces.

A charming photo corner at Safari Masquerade 2024.

During their month of participation in the program, contestants competed in four rounds: Photo, Talent, Catwalk, and Q&A. Each round featured carefully developed concepts, contestant training, and professional support from the organizing committee, giving contestants opportunities to practice thoroughly, maximize their abilities, and appear confidently in each round, feeling relaxed and enthusiastic.

A catwalk training session with the professional team of Do Hanh, Miss NEU 2019 and winner of The Face of ISME 2019.

The Photo competition kicked off Safari Masquerade 2024, attracting extensive engagement and support from contestants’ friends and families. The photos were taken on the NEU campus and in a studio, allowing contestants to express their diverse styles as students. The pair Ha Huy Anh and Tran Mai Chi earned the Most Popular Contestants award after one week of voting on the program’s fanpage.

The photo round attracted an enormous volume of interactions on the IBD and BBAE fanpages

The winning entry for the Most Popular Contestants award – the pair Ha Huy Anh and Tran Mai Chi.

The talent round truly surprised the judges and fans with electrifying performances. Setting aside their everyday classroom personas, the contestant pairs gracefully took on roles in colorful, diverse competition performances that reflected careful preparation and substantial investment. Through dedicated practice and their talents, the contestants of The Face of ISME 2024 delivered performances of genuine quality and appeal.

Contestant Hoang Trung Thanh shone with confidence in his solo performance of “Trai tim ben le,” winning the Talent Award at the finale

Dazzling gowns and formal suits added to the success of The Face of ISME finale. Each contestant brought a distinctive personality, together creating a harmonious blend of colors for Safari Masquerade 2024. The finale opened with the Catwalk round, in which the pairs demonstrated confidence and impressive adaptability as they walked the red carpet. Each contestant worked hard to shine through every step and expression, taking the audience from one delightful surprise to another.

Contestants deliver confident, dazzling performances in the Catwalk round of The Face of ISME.

After earning outstanding scores in the Talent and Catwalk rounds, the top six contestants of The Face of ISME were revealed and confidently advanced to the challenging Q&A round. Despite some anxiety and nervousness, the contestants answered questions from the organizing committee and judges with tact, intelligence, and conviction.

The top six contestants of The Face of ISME 2024 enter the Q&A round.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, presents flowers to the judges at the finale.

The winners of The Face of ISME 2024 were two contestants who delivered exceptionally impressive performances: Tran Bao Han, contestant No. 06, and Ha Huy Anh, contestant No. 02. Throughout the competition, both worked tirelessly to deliver highly confident, professional performances. The runners-up were Vu Phuong Nhi, contestant No. 08, and Le Tuan Dat, contestant No. 20. Surpassing many other contestants, these four completely won over the judges and the audience in the hall with their talent and effort. The pair Nguyen Phuong Anh, contestant No. 10, and Le Nam Khanh, contestant No. 18, deservedly received the Perfect Pair award for their seamless coordination from the very first days of the competition.

Student Tran Bao Han, winner of The Face of ISME 2024.

Student Ha Huy Anh, winner of The Face of ISME 2024.

Student Le Tuan Dat, runner-up of The Face of ISME 2024.

Student Vu Phuong Nhi, runner-up of The Face of ISME 2024.

Alongside the beauty and talent of The Face of ISME contestants, Safari Masquerade offered an exciting highlight with its star-studded guest lineup: singer Thai Dinh, rapper Wxrdie, and DJ Kilex. Thai Dinh’s gentle, soulful melodies and warm vocals, a series of hits from Wxrdie—dubbed the “precious gem of Vietnamese rap”—and DJ Kilex’s vibrant beats immersed the audience in a distinctive artistic atmosphere.

Guest artist Thai Dinh.

Guest artist, rapper Wxrdie.

Safari Masquerade 2024 stood out from previous editions not only for its fresh, engaging program but also for the exceptionally generous support of its sponsors. In recognition of their contributions to the event’s success, the organizing committee extends its deep gratitude to the sponsors that supported the event throughout: Daily Spa, Vuong Quoc Hanh Phuc, MPT Education, Davines, Tigi, PVcombank, Hanvico, Ngoc Gem, TAJ Media, Cici Prom, Elie PR School, Thien Phuc Hotel, Jan 22 Dress – Makeup, Lion Suit, and others. Sincere thanks go to the sponsors for helping bring such an electrifying event to ISME students.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, recognizes the Gold Sponsor at the ball.

Safari Masquerade 2024 – Boulevard der Stars closed with the joy of The Face of ISME contestants who had confidently shone through the competition rounds, the delight of participants immersed in the vibrant energy of student life, and an outpouring of emotion from the organizing committee after delivering a successful event. The hope is to keep those smiles, that beauty and talent, and the professionalism of Institute of International Education students alive through many more extracurricular activities in the future.

Faculty members and guests pose for a photo to celebrate the success of The Face of ISME 2024.

Some photos from the program:

Article and photos: Institute of International Education

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.