Role of Vietnam Women's Union in election preparations

With a vast network of Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) from the central to the grassroots levels, and with VWU members and women accounting for a significant share of society, the VWU chapters at all levels play an important role in the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term.

Officials and members of the Phu Trung Commune VWU review profiles of candidates for the 16th NA and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. Photo: Nga Son

To help members, women, and the public understand their rights and responsibilities and fully exercise their voting rights, VWU chapters at all levels have actively stepped up communication and dissemination of election laws and regulations.

Helping VWU members and women understand their rights and responsibilities

Bui Thi Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial VWU and Head of the Provincial Women's Affairs Committee, said that according to the Provincial Election Committee’s decision, Chairwoman of the Provincial VWU is a member of the Information and Communication Subcommittee. As part of its assigned tasks, the Provincial VWU early issued guidelines on election communication, a training plan on disseminating election laws, and instructions to VWU chapters at all levels to widely disseminate information on the purpose, significance, and importance of the election to officials, members, and women across the province.

In addition, in March 2026, the Provincial VWU organized an online contest to learn about congress resolutions and election laws for deputies to NA and People's Councils at all levels. Besides the core contents of the resolutions, the contest also focused on election laws; directives of the Central and the provincial authorities on the elections for deputies to NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term; and the role of VWU chapters at all levels in the election.

In the upcoming election of deputies to the 16th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term, Dong Nai has 12 out of 23 female candidates for the 16th NA (52.17%); 62 out of 142 female candidates for provincial-level People’s Councils for the 2026–2031 term (43.6%); and 1,642 out of 3,728 female candidates for commune-level People’s Councils (44.05%).

Strictly following the guidance of the Provincial VWU, the VWUs in communes and wards have actively participated in election preparations in their localities. Hundreds of sessions and dozens of training conferences on election law dissemination have been organized by VWU chapters at all levels.

Nguyen Thi Hong Phuong, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Tran Bien ward and Chairwoman of the Ward VWU, said that in preparation for the election scheduled on March 15, VWU chapters at all levels in the ward have combined election communication activities with celebrations marking the 116th anniversary of International Women’s Day (March 8) and the 1,986th anniversary of the Trung Sisters’ Uprising, meetings at the VWU branches and groups, and propaganda on social media platforms. The Ward VWU has also disseminated information about the meaning and importance of the election; the rights and obligations of voters; the standards for NA deputies and People’s Council deputies at all levels; the time, locations, and procedures for voting; election principles; and legal regulations on elections.

The Phu Trung commune VWU has also organized activities for officials and members to learn about the standards of elected representatives and the biographies of candidates for NA deputies and People’s Council deputies at all levels, helping voters better understand each candidate’s career background, qualifications, capabilities, and reputation so they can wisely choose candidates with both virtue and capability to represent the people in state power agencies.

Promoting women’s participation in elected bodies

According to Bui Thi Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial VWU, besides communication activities, VWU chapters at all levels also encourage members and women to actively stand as candidates and introduce qualified female candidates, thereby contributing to increasing the proportion of female representatives.

Leaders of VWU chapters at all levels, in their roles as members of election committees, election boards, and polling teams, have participated well in election work, actively giving opinions at consultation conferences to ensure that at least 35% of the official candidate list are women. At the same time, they proactively propose arranging female candidates in suitable electoral units, striving to achieve a rate of about 30% of female candidates elected among the total number of People’s Council deputies at each level. They also coordinate to support and ensure favorable conditions for female candidates to meet voters fully, effectively, and safely.

In addition, in early February 2026, the Provincial VWU organized a training conference to enhance the capacity of female candidates for People’s Council deputies at all levels for the 2026–2031 term. During the training, female candidates for the People’s Councils at all levels were provided with information on the positions, organizational structure, and number of People’s Council deputies as regulated, as well as the duties, powers, and operational methods of People’s Council deputies. They were also equipped with several necessary skills or female candidates about building and presenting action programs; meeting voters and conducting election campaigning; working with media agencies; and building their personal images.

For Do Vu Khanh Linh, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of An Vien commune and Secretary of the Commune Youth Union, this is the first time she has stood as a candidate for the commune-level People’s Council, so she initially felt quite worried. Therefore, she registered to participate in the training organized by the Provincial VWU. The information provided by the lecturers helped her gain more knowledge and understanding about the role of elected representatives, how to develop an action program, and skills in meeting voters. In addition, female candidates also had the opportunity to meet and listen to experiences shared by female deputies for the commune-level People’s Council who had served multiple terms.

The election-related activities carried out by VWU chapters at all levels in the province contribute to raising awareness among members, women, and the community about citizens’ rights and obligations, encouraging women to participate in elected bodies, and promoting gender equality in the political sphere.

By Nga Son - Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha