Miss Ba Dinh through cultural and economic perspectives

  Comrade Nguyen Thi Dinh attended the conference summarizing the activities of Hoa Binh Tourism Company in 1991. (Photo provided by the company)

Initiate and establish the Vietnamese Women's Museum

The Vietnam Women's Museum was established in 1987, under the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) with the function of researching, preserving, and displaying tangible and intangible heritages of the history and culture of Vietnamese women. Since its inauguration in 1995, the Vietnam Women's Museum has successfully displayed many exhibitions serving hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors each year.

The Vietnam Women's Museum has a collection of about 40,000 documents and artifacts about Vietnamese women. The museum's collection is classified by materials such as textiles, metal, wood, paper, ceramics, leather, horn, clay, glass... collected since the 1970s. Each artifact has stories about experiences during the historical period.

Many generations of cadres and employees at the Vietnam Women's Museum have passed down the saying of comrade Nguyen Thi Dinh as a guiding principle for their work. Ms. Ba Dinh said: “Vietnamese women are very patriotic, very revolutionary, and loyal to their husbands, children, families, and villages. Many women have made heroic achievements. If we do not build a museum to preserve documents, relics, and evidence of historical periods, some of our descendants will not believe that history is real.”

According to the first Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum, Dang Thi To Ngan: "In the years 1987 - 1990, when I first came to the museum, Mrs. Ba Dinh was at that time Vice President of the State Council and President of the Vietnam Women's Union. She proposed to the Party and the State to allow the Union to establish the Vietnam Women's Museum in the capital Hanoi. She issued instructions to the Union at all levels to call on sectors, levels, and localities to contribute documents, artifacts, supplies, and finance to build the museum. At the same time, she also sent a letter to the wife of the Vietnamese ambassador abroad, calling on overseas Vietnamese to support the construction of the museum."

“She was very interested in collecting artifacts. Therefore, whenever she went on a business trip, she asked for museum staff to accompany us and guide us to meet historical witnesses and revolutionary bases. With her prestige and enthusiasm, many historical witnesses donated valuable artifacts to the museum,” said Ms. Dang Thi To Ngan.

“In 1988, Mrs. Ba Dinh called on members and women nationwide to each contribute “a duck egg” to build the museum. Thanks to the money mobilized and the help of the Central Youth Union and the Ministry of Finance, the association was able to buy house 11A, Dien Bien Phu to convert for comrade Xuan Thuy’s family, and use house 36 Ly Thuong Kiet as a museum,” said former Director of the Vietnam Women’s Museum Dang Thi To Ngan.

Touching details about Ms. Nguyen Thi Dinh, Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum Nguyen Thi Tuyet said: "When the museum started construction, Ms. Ba Dinh often visited. When Ms. Ba Dinh passed away (in 1992, Ms. Ba Dinh suddenly passed away due to a heart attack), in her handbag there were funds to build the Vietnam Women's Museum and a notebook... Today's generations have the responsibility to preserve the legacy Ms. Ba Dinh left behind, so that those values ​​continue to spread, promoting the values ​​that Ms. Ba and the leaders of the Party, State, and association have worked hard to cultivate and build."

Initiating the country's innovation in tourism activities

We feel lucky to have a conversation with Hero of Labor - Member of the Presidium of the Vietnam Women's Union - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Hoa Binh Vietnam Tourism Joint Stock Company Nguyen Thi Hoa Le. Ms. Hoa Le used to work when Hoa Binh Tourism Company was newly established. "I still remember the statements of Ms. Ba Dinh when she came to work with the company, and before Ms. Ba Dinh passed away (around 11 pm), at more than 9 pm, Ms. Ba Dinh mentioned me, I heard the doctor and Ms. Man tell the story...", Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa Le recalled.

Talking about Ms. Ba Dinh through the lens of one of the initiators of the country's innovation in the early 90s of the 20th century in tourism activities. Hero of Labor - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Vietnam Peace Tourism Joint Stock Company Nguyen Thi Hoa Le said: "Hoa Binh Tourism Company - Peace Tour (now Vietnam Peace Tourism Joint Stock Company) was established in October 1989, in the context of the country's general difficulties, without State funding".

“Recalling the early days when there were many difficulties, the company received help and guidance from the leaders of the Central Association in caring for and guiding each step of the company such as Ms. Ba Dinh, Ms. Truong My Hoa, Ms. Vo Thi Thang and many other leaders of the Central Association. Ms. Ba Dinh (at that time Vice President of the State Council, President of the Vietnam Women's Union) directly visited and reminded the staff and workers in the company "We must learn the spirit of Dong Khoi of women in the past, fighting the enemy with bare hands".

“Miss Ba did not explain much, but we understood that before the 1960s, Miss Ba also had nothing. With a strong love for her homeland, she and the people of Ben Tre created the Dong Khoi movement that shook the sky and the earth, creating a tsunami-like change for the revolution in the South. Also with the Dong Khoi spirit, Miss Ba entrusted, assigned tasks, placed her trust, and wished that Hoa Binh Tourism would make a breakthrough for the association's innovation in economic activities. Doing business must be effective, contribute to the State budget, and make practical contributions to the women's movement and the activities of the Women's Union at all levels,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa Le.

Remembering the teachings of Ms. Ba Dinh: "Tourism activities must be connected with diplomatic agencies, immigration police, border guards, must ensure national security, preserve national cultural identity" or "Must create an impressive image for customers when coming to work with the company". Up to now, every officer and employee of the company has deeply engraved in their hearts the teachings of Ms. Ba Dinh. That advice of Ms. Ba Dinh was born in the context of the early 90s, when people's lives were still difficult, the company focused on exploiting the international tourism market, from the Asian market to the European, American and other markets. Ms. Ba's advice still holds its value throughout the company's operation and development over the past 35 years", said Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Hoa Binh Vietnam Tourism Joint Stock Company Nguyen Thi Hoa Le.

Over the past 35 years since its establishment, with its business functions, following the expectations and advice of the late President of the Vietnam Women's Union, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dinh, Hoa Binh Tourism Joint Stock Company has always fulfilled its obligations to the State, making practical contributions to the women's movement and activities of the Women's Union at all levels along with social and charitable activities across the country.

“Towards the Ministry-level scientific conference “The life and revolutionary career of comrade Nguyen Thi Dinh”, this is a big conference, creating feelings of admiration for a female general, who played an important role in the Dong Khoi movement, the “Long-haired Army”, and is also important for the Vietnam Women’s Museum”, said Director of the Vietnam Women’s Museum Nguyen Thi Tuyet.

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Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/co-ba-dinh-qua-goc-nhin-van-hoa-va-kinh-te-a143675.html