Hieu travelled with four suitcases weighing about 70kg in total, packed with outfits for the competition's various rounds and scheduled activities. His National Costume outfit was packed separately and will be sent later.
Family, friends and members of his team saw him off at the airport, offering encouragement before his departure.
Truong Trong Hieu leaves for Thailand to take part in Mister Global 2026
Mister Global 2026 is being held in Thailand from September 29 to October 10, with 40 contestants representing countries and territories around the world. Hieu, who was born in 2001 and comes from Lam Dong Province, is Vietnam's representative this year.
Before turning to modelling, Hieu studied business administration, specialising in hotel and restaurant management, in Taiwan. He later spent about two and a half years working as a restaurant manager.
It was during his time in Taiwan that fashion first entered his life. Standing 1.85 metres tall and with an appearance suited to modelling, he was invited to take part in Taiwan Fashion Week and several other fashion events.
“That was the moment that ignited my passion and pushed me to seriously change myself. I decided to return to Vietnam and pursue a professional career in the arts,” he said.
Trong Hieu spent years improving his physique and performance skills before entering the competition (Photo: Provided by the subject).
While studying abroad, Hieu weighed only about 60kg. He began training to build muscle and gradually gain weight, embarking on a transformation that would eventually reshape his career.
He now weighs 80kg. In the run-up to Mister Global, he sought advice from doctors and specialists on nutrition, sleep, micronutrients and mental wellbeing.
His preparation has also included training in body movement, catwalk technique and improvisation in front of the camera.
“At this point, I have completed every part of my preparation and my confidence is at 100 per cent. Stepping onto the international stage, my goal is not only to learn but also to do my best to make it deep into the final,” he said.
For Hieu, however, the competition is also an opportunity to present Vietnam to an international audience.
He plans to introduce fellow contestants and viewers to aspects of Vietnamese culture and everyday life, including landmarks such as Ben Thanh Market and the City Post Office, as well as familiar dishes such as banh mi and pho.
