Greeting Letter of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, President of Vietnamese Women’s Union, to officials, members, and Vietnamese women nation-wide and abroad on the occasion of Lunar New Year

Women from all levels throughout the country have made efforts to tide over difficulties, work hard, produce more and actively participate in curbing the inflation and guarantee social security. The Women’s Movement across the country has been maintained and seen as a positive development. The Resolution adopted at the 10^th National Women’s Congress completed with 6 key tasks and a patriotic emulation movement known as “Women actively study, work innovatively and build up happy family”, have been internalized and implemented o­n a larger scale. The mobilization named: “Study and follow the example of President Ho Chi Minh’s morals and virtues”, has been welcomed by all VWU's members, officials and women by specific deeds and models.

Resolution 11NQ/TW of the politburo o­n “Women’s work in the period of accelerating national industrialization and modernization”, the Law o­n Gender Equality and the Law o­n Prevention of Domestic Violence have been implemented and initial results have been achieved. An impressive mark in 2008 was the movement named “let all women in across the country practise hygienic food safety, in the interest of family and community health” and the movement in support of building “Affection shelters ” for women in difficult circumstances. After o­ne year of hard work and strenuous efforts, we are delighted that VWU’s activities are more and more far reaching in respond to the thinking and expectation of women.

On behalf of VWU, I warmly praise and highly appreciate the solidarity, the strong will to overcome difficulties and super human efforts of the members at all levels and women across the country. Allow me to express mydeep-felt and share the suffering of the families who have lost loved o­nes in the storm and flood last year. It is my hope that you will reunite to help o­ne another, stabilize your life and make it possible for every family to enjoy the Spring.

Dear sister,

In the Spring of 2009 come both advantages and disadvantages. It is a pivotal year for the women’s movement and the VN Women’s Union to make efforts to implement the Resolution of the 10^th National Congress. Being fully aware of opportunities and challenges can help us to be more pro-active and steadier. Difficulties are lying ahead but in the New Spring, the sky and the earth always seem to be brighter, newer with many flowers blooming beautifully, with human being more generous with expectation for the better in the future. Let all women uphold the emulation spirit of patriotism, solidarity, dynamism, making efforts to promote production and to practise economy. Maximizing the tradition of diligence, hard work and high sense of determination, the Vietnamese women with their talent, wisdom and courage , together with the whole nation, will enhance their confidence and work hard towards the implementation of the line and policy of the Party and the State as well as the implementation of the targets and tasks of VWU thus making contribution to the fulfillment of the country’s socio - economic targets in 2009

In ringing in the New Year, I wish to cordially send my love and respect as well as the wish for health, prosperity, progress and happiness to all officials and members of VWU and women throughout the country, as well as the Vietnamese women who are now working and living abroad. Let all of us steadily and self-confidently embark o­n to the New Spring, the Spring of Joys and Happiness of 2009.

Cordially yours,

President of the Vietnam Women’s Union

(Signed)

Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa