As the great Indian poet R. Tagore once said: "Investing in a man, we get a good husband, investing in a woman, we get a good family." This saying affirms the great role of women in building families and society in any era or country.
Tradition of heroic Vietnamese women
In the history of building and defending the country of the Vietnamese people, women have made enormous contributions in many fields. Through their creative labor, women have become a direct productive force, creating material wealth for society. At the same time, women play an important role in creating and preserving traditional cultural values of the nation. In particular, women also undertake the sacred function of reproducing labor for society through their roles as wives and mothers - a decisive factor in the existence and development of each family.
Looking back at the glorious history of the nation, we cannot help but be proud of the outstanding women who have contributed to the glorious pages of history. Right from the beginning of the nation's founding, the images of female generals such as Ba Trung and Ba Trieu have become symbols of patriotism and the indomitable will of the nation. The oath of the Trung Sisters in "Thien Nam Ngu Luc" has become a compass for the spirit of national liberation struggle of Vietnamese women through historical periods:
“One please wash away the water of hatred,
Two please bring back the old career of Hung family
Three times, lest the husband be wronged,
Four requests for this order in full.
Or like the heroic saying of Lady Trieu: "I want to ride the strong wind, step on the fierce waves, kill the whales in the East Sea, regain the country, build independence, free myself from slavery, and never bow down to be someone else's concubine" clearly shows the heroic spirit and independent will of Vietnamese women.
During the resistance war against France and the US, millions of Vietnamese women did not mind hardships and were willing to sacrifice their blood and bones to protect the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. The image of the heroic Vietnamese mother - Nguyen Thi Thu with "nine children gone, none returned" along with a son-in-law and two grandchildren who sacrificed their lives in the resistance war has become an immortal symbol of patriotism and the spirit of noble sacrifice:
"Nine incense bowls, nine numb intestines
Nine children left and not one returned.
Tears flow like the river of my motherland
The pain piled up as high as Truong Son.
(Quang Nam Mother - Doan Nho)
Or the heroic sacrifice of 10 female youth volunteers at Dong Loc Intersection with the slogan "The heart can stop beating, but the traffic arteries cannot be blocked" has gone down in history as an immortal epic about the fighting spirit of Vietnamese women. The heroic sacrifices of female heroes such as Vo Thi Sau, Dang Thuy Tram, Nguyen Thi Dinh... have become an endless source of inspiration for future generations. As poet To Huu wrote:
"From the dead, you return, shining
As your age goes, the red flag calls
You return, glorious girl
The whole country hugs you, our own flesh and blood".
Vietnamese women in the new era
Entering the period of innovation and international integration, Vietnamese women continue to promote the glorious traditions of previous generations, affirming their important role in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. With the motto "Good at public affairs, good at housework", Vietnamese women today are not only the pillars of the family but also actively contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. In the family, women are both good wives, hard-working mothers taking care of their husbands and children, and a solid spiritual support for the whole family. In society, women are increasingly asserting their capacity in all fields from economics, politics to culture, education, science and technology...
In the economic field, many Vietnamese female entrepreneurs have achieved great success, making an important contribution to the country's economic development. According to the Vietnam Women's Union, 1 in 4 private enterprises is owned by women, contributing 40% of the wealth to the economy. Many typical female entrepreneurs such as Mai Kieu Lien (Vinamilk), Thai Huong (TH True Milk), Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao (Vietjet Air) ... have become the pride of Vietnamese women in the international market. A report by the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) shows that female-owned enterprises perform better than male-led enterprises, with a higher profit rate (64% compared to 63%).
In the political field, Vietnamese women are increasingly demonstrating their important and active role. They not only raise awareness of their rights and obligations as citizens, but also actively participate in political and social activities. Notably, the number of female leaders and managers has increased significantly in both quantity and quality. Many talented women have been elected and appointed to important positions in the Party and State apparatus.
In the 15th National Assembly, the proportion of female delegates reached more than 30%, contributing significantly to policy making and deciding on important issues of the country, especially those related to women, children and gender equality.
In the fields of culture, health, education and science and technology, Vietnamese women are increasingly asserting their position. They are the ones who preserve and promote the national cultural identity, are doctors and nurses dedicated to taking care of community health, are teachers who are passionate about the cause of educating people, are scientists who are passionate about research and innovation... All are making important contributions to the comprehensive and sustainable development of the country.
It can be said that from the past to the present, Vietnamese women have always been the pride of the nation. They are not only mothers and wives who are diligent and hardworking, but also brave soldiers, talented leaders, successful businesswomen, excellent scientists... All are joining hands to build an increasingly developed and prosperous Vietnam. As President Ho Chi Minh once said: "The beautiful mountains and rivers of Vietnam are woven and embroidered by our women, young and old, to become more beautiful and brilliant".
