Women today – inheriting tradition to make breakthroughs

Throughout history, Vietnamese women have consistently affirmed their role and noble qualities through patriotism, resilience, self-sacrifice and an unwavering spirit in overcoming hardships. These admirable qualities have been inherited and promoted by today’s generations of Vietnamese women in general, and Dong Nai women in particular.

Le Thi Thanh Loan (far right), Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and Chairwoman of the Provincial Women’s Union, talks with Women’s Union officials from different periods. Photo: Nga Son

Together with women across the country, Dong Nai women today continue to study, train, and improve their professional qualifications and skills and participate and contribute to most areas of social life, thereby helping affirm the role and position of women in the new era.

Committed to learning

Seventeen years ago, after completing her undergraduate and master’s programs at Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry, Doan Thi Tuyet Le (the Faculty of Science and Food Technology, Lac Hong University) began her teaching career.

Tuyet Le shared that throughout her work, she has always tried to balance teaching and scientific research. Scientific research not only helps develop logical thinking, analytical ability, and working efficiency but also helps expand her expertise and exposes her to real-world issues in her field. Her research mainly relates to microorganisms and biological medicinal resources, especially studies on Cordyceps mushrooms to exploit bioactive compounds and apply them in food and medicinal products. In addition to leading research projects, she inspires students to pursue scientific research and encourages them to participate in research and creative activities.

“Women should bravely pursue the path they have chosen. With passion, perseverance, and a spirit of continuous learning, women can create positive values and inspire the community and future generations.”

Doan Thi Tuyet Le, lecturer at Faculty of Science and Food Technology, Lac Hong University

Currently, Tuyet Le is pursuing a doctoral program in biotechnology at International University - Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. In the 2025-2026 academic year, she had the opportunity to participate in the Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher Program in the United States and is currently studying and conducting research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, one of the country’s leading research universities in the United States. “This is a valuable opportunity for me to experience an international research environment and learn modern research methods in biotechnology,” she said.

Since July 1, 2025, when the two-tier local government model was implemented nationwide, including Dong Nai, many female officials have been assigned to communes and wards. The new localities and new responsibilities require officials in general, and female officials in particular, to continuously learn in order to adapt to the new context.

As a female official assigned to work in Dak Lua Commune, Nguyen Thanh Hien, Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Dak Lua Commune People’s Committee, shared that at first, she was anxious because of the new working environment and new responsibilities in a locality located about 170 kilometers away from the provincial center. However, with the mindset of a Party member - working wherever the Party assigns - she devoted herself fully to her duties, and she began learning from local officials about customs, communication styles, and community needs. She also studied documents of the Party, the State, and the province -  especially those related to the two-tier government model - to understand her tasks ahead. She spent time visiting grassroots areas and hamlets to better understand the residents’ needs, thereby identifying key tasks. Accordingly, Hien has advised the Commune Party Standing Committee on several key priorities in the coming time, such as road concretization, installation of solar-powered street lighting systems, clean water supply for residents, and building a friendly local government model in order to meet people’s expectations.

Affirming women’s position across various fields

Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial Women’s Union, said that by inheriting and promoting the valuable traditions of Vietnamese women, today’s women not only “excel at home” but also “excel at work,” contributing and affirming their position across all areas of social life.

Born and raised in Binh Long, after completing her undergraduate and master’s studies in Russia under a full scholarship program with excellent results, Pham Thi Thao (currently Head of the Physics Division at Binh Long High School for the Gifted, Binh Long ward) returned to contribute to her hometown.

Thao shared that she initially planned to pursue doctoral studies, but while waiting for the results of her doctoral application after returning home, she decided to try teaching at Binh Long High School for the Gifted. Although before studying abroad she had spent a year studying at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, when she officially started teaching, she continued learning from colleagues about classroom management and curriculum design. After each lesson, she always reflects and keeps working on how to make physics more engaging and easier for students to understand.

Besides fulfilling her teaching duties well, Thao also coaches teams of students for physics competitions at different grade levels and has achieved outstanding results, meeting and exceeding the targets set by the school. In 2017, she won the Provincial Excellent Teacher award, contributed annual innovations, received many certificates of merit from former Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Committee, and achieved eight consecutive years of excellent performance, contributing to the achievements of the school.

In fact, many other women have boldly pursued entrepreneurship and built commercial brands for local products. A typical example is Nguyen Thi Bich Le, Director of Truong Phat Agricultural Service Cooperative (Nhon Trach commune). Starting as a lotus farmer selling fresh lotus seeds, she developed various lotus-based products. In 2020, in order to bring together individuals and households growing lotus to support one another in production and business, she established Truong Phat Agricultural Service Cooperative. In addition to standardizing the cultivation and care process to ensure product quality, the cooperative has developed 25 lotus-based products, of which 16 have received One Commune, One Product (OCOP) certification (3 three-star OCOP products and 13 four-star OCOP products), creating jobs for about 50 local workers. Beyond business development, the cooperative also contributes to the locality through support for road and bridge construction and lighting system installation, as well as giving gifts to lonely elderly people, policy beneficiary families, and disadvantaged students with good academic performance.

According to Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial Women’s Union, the rapid development in science, technology, and digital transformation, and increasing demands of the labor market require women to continuously learn and improve their qualifications and skills. In some places, gender stereotypes still exist, limiting women’s opportunities to participate in leadership and management or access development resources. These challenges require both personal effort and institutional support to help women maximize their potential and role.

The Provincial Women’s Union will continue to renew its operational content and approach, focus more strongly on grassroots levels, and promptly grasp the aspirations and needs of members and women. Training programs will be expanded to enhance women's knowledge, professional skills, digital literacy, and adaptability to new societal demands. Through these efforts, the Union hopes to become a reliable support, helping women confidently develop their potential, overcome difficulties, and affirm their role and position in both family and society.

By Nga Son – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha