Seminar “Marks of Pride: Women Diplomats and the Journey to Affirm Vietnam’s Standing on the International Stage”

The seminar was honored by the presence of Mrs. Phan Thi Phuc, spouse of the late Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Cơ Thạch; Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoang Van, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Central Party Agencies; Ambassador Nguyen Thi Hoi, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Austria and Canada, former Director-General and Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO, and former Director-General of the Department of International Organizations; Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, former President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Phan Thuy Thanh, former Ambassador of Vietnam to the Kingdom of Belgium and Luxembourg and former Director-General of the Press and Information Department; Ambassador Dr. Pham Lan Dung, Standing Vice Chair of the Council of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and former Acting Director of the Academy; Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Acting Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam; as well as generations of retired senior diplomats, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a large number of students from the Academy.

Delivering the opening remarks, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son emphasized that the achievements of Vietnam’s diplomatic service have always borne the imprint of women diplomats across all three pillars of foreign affairs: Party-to-Party external relations, State diplomacy, and People-to-People diplomacy. The veteran women diplomats serve as shining examples, offering powerful inspiration for younger generations of female diplomatic officers. Their legacy provides added motivation for successors to carry forward the proud traditions of the sector and continue contributing meaningfully to the advancement of Vietnam’s diplomacy and the country’s broader development.

Continuing the spirit of the seminar, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang underscored that generations of women diplomats have consistently upheld and promoted the fine traditional qualities of Vietnamese women throughout the 80-year history of Vietnam’s diplomatic service. In doing so, they have contributed significantly to shaping the distinctive “Vietnam imprint” in international diplomacy. She affirmed that many Vietnamese women diplomats have earned recognition and high regard from the international community, thereby reinforcing the increasingly solid position of Vietnam’s foreign service.

During the seminar, women diplomats reflected on their memories of periods when the country faced immense challenges, especially in the early years of their diplomatic careers. Despite hardships, generations of female diplomatic officers consistently fulfilled their duties with excellence, leaving indelible marks across the 80-year journey of the diplomatic service. The speakers agreed that courage, creativity, patriotism, perseverance, and a commitment to continuous learning formed the strong foundation that enabled women diplomats to affirm their competence, resilience, and outstanding qualities in Vietnam’s external affairs.

The event concluded in a warm and engaging atmosphere. The program served as a heartfelt tribute to the quiet yet enduring contributions of generations of women in Vietnam’s diplomatic sector. It also offered powerful inspiration to young diplomats - particularly to young women - encouraging dedication, professionalism, and a strong sense of mission in the field of foreign affairs. For students of the Diplomatic Academy, the discussion provided profound lessons on aspiration, responsibility, and devotion to the profession, fostering a proactive learning spirit, national pride, and the desire to contribute to and uphold the proud traditions of Vietnam’s diplomacy.