The Party and late President Ho Chi Minh always praised women’s role and position in different revolutionary periods. Ho Chi Minh o­nce said the landscape of Vietnam has been embroidered by Vietnamese women, old and young, to become ever more beautiful. In his immortal testament left to the entire Party and people before passing away, he wrote that during the anti-American resistance war for national salvation, Vietnamese women made a worthy contribution to the struggle for national independence and construction. The Party and Government now need to work out a practical plan to help women engage in all activities, including assuming leadership roles. Women o­n their part must make a greater effort, he emphasised.

After 40 years of implementing Ho Chi Minh’s testament, the Vietnam Women’s Union has united women of all social sections to carry out various programmes to ensure women’s legitimate rights and interests.

So far, women’s union chapters throughout the country have lent nearly VND30,000 billion to millions of women to help them develop production and business and improve their living standards.

Evaluating activities run by the Vietnam Women’s Union in the recent past, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee Ngo Thi Doan Thanh says that the union’s movements have brought Uncle Ho’s testament to life, inspiring women’s creativity and tapping their potential for building a happy life and culturally rich community.

Nowadays, Vietnamese women continue to overcome difficulties and challenges while taking part in every sphere of social life and holding important positions in the State apparatus. They account for more than 27 percent of National Assembly (NA) deputies (the highest level in Asia and o­ne of the highest rates of female NA deputies in the world). Women leaders make up 12 percent in the centrally-run sector, 14 percent in other sectors and 40 percent in small-sized enterprises.

Since its founding in 2003, the Vietnam Women Prize Fund has awarded 64 outstanding collectives and individuals. Dozens of women collectives and individuals have received the Kovalevskaia prize for their outstanding achievements in scientific research and application. The role of Vietnamese women has greatly improved in the international arena.

To further create favourable conditions for women to contribute to society, the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) has helped women improve their qualifications. Ms Tran Thi Lan, a member of the VWU Central Committee says that the committee has devised effective solutions to improve its staff’s capacity and train women in accordance with the regulations of the Law o­n Civil Servants. The union will provide training courses for women to broaden their latest knowledge and sharpen their working skills.

Apart form making active contributions to society, women have well performed their role in family affairs, especially in rasingtheir children and preserving the happiness of their dear o­nes.