Vietnam Women’s Union received the study tour of Committee of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS), USA.

CCDS is a non-government organization, working for democracy and socialism. CCDS includes members of activists in social movements as: labor, civil rights, immigrant rights, women, peace, international solidarity….

CCDS study tour group includes 16 members from different career background: nurse, lawyer, photographer… Most of them are retired and still participate in movements for peace and democracy in USA. Some CCDS study tour members participated in the campaign against war in Vietnam and presently participate in movements against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. o­ne of the CCDS group study tour member used to serve in USA cruiser in Vietnam in 1966-1967, however he has never been to Vietnam mainland. The CCDS group study tour members are very excited because this is their first time to Vietnam.

As VWU’s guests, CCDS group wants to study the cause of developing socialism in Vietnam after the war, in which including the role of Vietnamese women and VWU, Vietnamese life in the development and renewal process and consequences caused by Agent Orange to the Vietnamese people. Besides, CCDS group also wants to visit to the historic and beauty sites in Vietnam.

VWU organized CCDS to have meetings with Vietnam Women’s Union at different levels, Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization, Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange, Bach Mai Hospital, Friendship Village in Van Canh, Association of young entrepreneurs in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang University, Veteran association and Farmers’ Association in Cu Chi district….Besides that, CCDS also have chance to visit to some national museums, historic sites and beauty spots in Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh city such as: Temple of Literature, Ha Long Bay, Art Museum, Hue cultural vestiges complex, Cu Chi tunnels…. CCDS group were very moved when they had chances to meet and talk to Vietnamese veterans, watched images of the combat of American soldiers against the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam war. The study tour has left CCDS group profound impression of Vietnam Women’s Union extensive activities and community network at the grassroot levels, consequences of Agent Orange to the Vietnamese people and US government’s responsibility. CCDS group was also very impressed by the hospitality and warm-heartedness of the Vietnamese.

This is a highly informative and educational tour to CCDS members. In the thank-you letter sent to VWU and Peace Tour Company, they wrote: “…We learned a lot about this dynamic, developing society and the Vietnamese approach to building socialism…”. CCDS group informed that they will have the following activities to publicize achievements of the Vietnamese people to the American as well as continue supporting Vietnamese victims of agent orange.During the study tour, CCDS group made a thoughtful donation to the Friendship Village and VWU for their activities.

During the time CCDS group visited Vietnam, Vietnam Televesion VTV4 conducted a report and it was also played o­n VTV1 and VTV2. Vietnam-US Magazine also had an article o­n the CCDS group to Vietnam. A CCDS group member, Mr. Clay Claiborne - a film maker, who has just completed a documentary film of US war in Vietnam named “Vietnam Holocaust” also informed that he will make another report of Vietnam after the war with the cause of developing socialism. Another CCDS group member, Mr. Fred Nguyen, a reporter at Pacifica WBAI New York Radio, also completed come interviews and sent them to the US for broadcasting during the CCDS group’s visit to Vietnam.