General Secretary To Lam: Nearly a century of continuous growth and dedication marks a brilliant journey for Vietnamese women
WVR - On the afternoon of October 2, General Secretary To Lam attended and delivered a speech at the 95th Anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU), the ceremony for receiving the First-Class Labour Order, the 5th Vietnam Women’s Union Emulation Congress, and the 2025 Vietnam Women’s Awards.
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The celebration held in Hanoi was attended by about 750 delegates, including Party and State leaders, leaders of ministries and agencies, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, female Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, female Labour Heroes of the Doi Moi (renewal) era, leaders of the VWU at central and provincial levels, and outstanding women and collectives who have made significant achievements in the Union’s work and social life.
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| Party General Secretary To Lam speaking at the celebration. (Photo: Thu Ha) |
Mission in the new era
In his speech, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that nearly a century of continuous growth and contribution is a brilliant journey of Vietnamese women and of the Union.
From the earliest days of nation-building and defending the country, from the legendary Hai Ba Trung and Ba Trieu, to generations of women in the Ho Chi Minh era described as “Heroic – Unyielding – Loyal – Capable,” Vietnamese women have always been the backbone of families, a reliable rear, a courageous frontline, and a core of solidarity and compassion in the community.
This is the beauty of patriotism – beginning with love for the family, spreading to love for the homeland, and culminating in revolutionary ideals.
According to General Secretary To Lam, entering the era of renewal and international integration, women have taken the lead in entrepreneurship and innovation, household and cooperative economies, and small and medium-sized enterprises; they form the core workforce in textiles, leather, electronics, tourism, care services… Intellectual women, female entrepreneurs, female workers, female farmers, female artists, and female armed forces members together shape the new face of the country.
He emphasized: “The Party and State consistently pursue the policy of promoting substantive gender equality, expanding opportunities for women to participate in leadership, management, entrepreneurship, and science and technology; improving social welfare policies, protecting women and children, preventing domestic violence, gender-based violence, and online abuse; focusing on early childhood education, maternity, reproductive health; building a healthy, safe cultural environment. Yet, policies only take effect when supported by mass movements, creative approaches, measurable and replicable results. This is the mission of the Vietnam Women’s Union in the new era.”
The General Secretary noted that while the road ahead holds many challenges, there is greater confidence in the heroic tradition of Vietnamese women, the intelligence and resilience of modern women, the strength of the Union honed through trials, the Party’s leadership, the political system’s engagement, and the people’s consensus.
“With that confidence, we can expect that by 2030, and vision toward 2045, Vietnamese women will truly become a revolutionary force, a driver of development, and a source of happiness; Vietnamese families will truly be loving homes and healthy cells of society; our country will be strong, prosperous, and happy,” General Secretary To Lam expressed..
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| Party General Secretary To Lam presents the First-Class Labour Medal to the Vietnam Women's Union—a prestigious award by the Party and State recognizing the outstanding achievements of the Union at all levels. (Photo: Thu Ha) |
On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam expressed deep gratitude to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, and to all women who have devoted their lives to the nation and family; he also warmly congratulated the outstanding collectives and individuals honored in the nationwide emulation movement.
He hoped that the VWU would continue to innovate, act decisively and effectively, serve as a trusted address for women nationwide, strengthen the bond between the Party and the people, be a shared home of love and responsibility, and initiate vibrant, humane, and effective movements.
Patriotic emulation as a strong motivation
In her speech at the ceremony, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tuyen, Central Party Committee member, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women’s Union, affirmed that over 95 years, the Union has fulfilled its mission, closely linking with the nation’s revolutionary cause.
The Union has united women of all classes, promoted the tradition of being heroic, resilient, loyal, and capable; mobilized millions of women to participate in patriotic emulation movements, contributing to the success of the August Revolution in 1945, national resistance wars, and the country’s development.
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| Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, President of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyen Thi Tuyen delivering a speech at the celebration. (Photo: Thu Ha) |
The VWU has continuously promoted its role as a socio-political organization representing the legitimate rights and interests of women, striving for women’s development and gender equality, becoming a warm shared home and a reliable support for women nationwide.
The Union’s membership network has expanded, attracting nearly 20 million members nationwide, with female Party members accounting for 38.1% of the total. The Union’s organizational structure, aligned with the two-level local government model, has been implemented promptly and effectively.
Gender equality work has been prioritized, people-to-people diplomacy expanded, and the Union’s position and role increasingly recognized in national political, economic, cultural, social life, and internationally.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tuyen noted that the country’s renewal process has opened great opportunities for the Union and the women’s movement. The Union has continued to inherit and develop its 95-year tradition and growth, combining innovation and creativity in the new era to build a stronger organization ready to step into a new era with the whole country.
During the ceremony, General Secretary To Lam presented the VWU with the First-Class Labour Order for outstanding achievements in renewing activities, representing and protecting women’s legitimate rights, and contributing to national socio-economic development from 2020–2025 period.
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| Collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements were honored at the 5th Patriotic Emulation Congress of the Vietnam Women's Union. (Photo: Thu Hà) |
At the event, the 5th Vietnam Women’s Union Emulation Congress took place under the theme: “Vietnamese Women: United, Innovative, Creative, Emulating to Build a Developed, Strong, and Prosperous Vietnam,” reflecting women’s aspirations and determination in the new era.
The Congress honored exemplary collectives and individuals and affirmed the VWU’s core role in mobilizing patriotic emulation movements to achieve sustainable national development.
There were 340 official delegates representing 54 ethnic groups and religions: Catholicism, Buddhism, Protestantism, Islam, Cao Dai, and Hoa Hao Buddhism.
The VWU awarded certificates of merit to 81 collectives and 255 individuals with outstanding achievements contributing effectively to socio-economic development, science and technology, and national defense and security.
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| Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Central Party, President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien (third from left) and Member of the Central Party, Vice President of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh present the Vietnam Women's Award 2025. (Photo: Thu Ha) |
On this occasion, the Central Committee of VWU also presented the 2025 Vietnam Women’s Awards to 3 collectives and 12 outstanding individuals. The honoured collectives and individuals include managers, distinguished doctors, scientists, exemplary farmers, and Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces who have made significant contributions to socio-economic development, science and technology, national defense and security.
The achievements in research, labor, and creativity of these women bring great benefits to community and societal development and are significant contributions to the advancement and equality of Vietnamese women.
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| Art performance at the celebration. (Photo: LêrAn) |
| Party General Secretary To Lam proposed that the Vietnam Women's Union launch a new term emulation movement with the theme: “Vietnamese Women: Aspiration - Wisdom - Compassion - Innovation - Sustainability - Happiness”. The General Secretary outlined 10 key directions and tasks as “strategic breakthroughs” for the Vietnamese women's movement from 2025–2035, with a vision to 2045: 1. Build the image of Vietnamese women in the new era: Patriotic – Independent – Resilient – Compassionate – Intelligent – Creative – Responsible – Digital – Green. 2. Upgrade the movement “Building 5 No's, 3 Clean's” to “5 No's, 3 Clean's, 3 Safe's”: Safety - Peace of Mind - Welfare. 3. Make breakthroughs in digital transformation within the Union and for its members. 4. Promote women's economy: from sustainable livelihoods to women-owned enterprises. 5. Prioritize early childhood education, nutrition, and child development as a strategic approach to improve labor productivity and population quality. 6. Protect women and children from gender-based violence, human trafficking, and cybercrime. 7. Identify, train, and deploy female staff; increase female participation in leadership and management at all levels, especially grassroots. 8. Build a safe, healthy, and culturally rich environment. 9 . Strengthen people-to-people diplomacy and international integration. 10. Strongly innovate the Union’s operations: grassroots engagement, data-driven approaches, measurable impacts. |
