Participants release doves in manifestation of the aspiration for peace. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) - An exhibition named “Aspiration for Peace” and a talk show named “For Peace” were opened at the Vietnam Women’s Museum in Hanoi on January 9, 2023.
The event was organised by the museum, in coordination with the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department and the Heritage Department, towards the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam, as well as the 93rd anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Visitors to the event had a chance to access stories on the will, bravery, and wisdom of Vietnamese women on every front, from political to military and diplomatic sectors. The centerpiece of the event was the signing of the Paris Agreement, in which Madame Nguyen Thi Binh played a major role as head of the negotiation delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.
Images and documents at the exhibition demonstrate the country’s thirst for peace, supported by international friends through historic stories and the continuation of the implementation of the peace mission by Vietnamese women and the Vietnam Women’s Union.
Speakers talk about peace from various aspects, from the past to present, at the talk show. (Photo: VietnamPlus) At the talk show, tireless efforts by female drivers were shared about their time during the war as they traveled along the Truong Son mountain range in the war against the American imperialists. Established in 1968, Team C13 included more than 40 female soldiers who were in the 20’s. Trained as drivers to support stores in replacement of male comrades who went to the front, the girls performed their task in one of the most bombarded areas. This was from Ben Thuy to the western side of Truong Son mountain range with some places called “key of the key” points such as the Dong Loc T-junction, Khe Ve, Long Dai, 050, and Cong Troi.
After four years and eight months of negotiations, the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam was officially signed. Diplomat Nguyen Thi Binh, as head of the delegation of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, became the only female signatory of the agreement. She was also the only head delegate among the four delegations to the negotiations.
At the talk show, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore, Associate Professor, Doctor Duong Van Quang described Binh and the brave female drivers as an embodiment of the beauty of the Vietnamese women.
“Looking at images of those days, we can see the Vietnamese women so beautiful and gentle in their daily life, but very staunch and talented in diplomatic negotiations and in many other battlefields,” he said.
Nguyen Thi Hoa (3rd from right), former political commissar of the Truong Son female drivers’ team. (Photo: VietnamPlus) He also said that the success in the signing of the agreement in 1973 serves as a prerequisite for Vietnam to join peacekeeping forces of the United Nations now. The missions see great work and unceasing contributions by Vietnamese female blue berets, the former diplomat added.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Minh Huong, Vice President of the Vietnam Women’s Union, affirmed that the role of and performance by Vietnamese women are a sign of the value of peace, sending out a call for a joint effort to build peace for the mankind.
Women delegations of US, Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, and Vietnam Women’s Union in Jakarta together with Indonesian President Sukarno in 1965. (Photo courtesy by organisers) 
President Ho Chi Minh receives representatives of Women’s International Democratic Federation and Vietnam Women’s Union in Hanoi on February 23, 1966. (Photo courtesy by organisers) 
Japanese women start a “piggy bank” donation in their “One Yen” drive. (Photo courtesy by organisers) 
An overview of the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement on January 27, 1973. (Photo courtesy by organisers) 
President of the Vietnam Women’s Union Ha Thi Nga and female soldiers of a make-shift hospital. (Photo courtesy by organisers) 
