BOOK INTRODUCTION: MISS BA THI AND THE RICE GRAIN

Miss Ba Thi and the Grain of Rice is a book that records the memories of Mrs. Ba Thi, the period after the country was completely liberated in 1975. She is a mother and a woman who has made many contributions to the cause before and after the liberation of the Vietnamese nation. She was a former member of the National Assembly's Economic, Planning and Budget Committee, former Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Food Trading Company, a member of the 8th National Assembly and the first person to participate in abolishing the rice subsidy regime and successfully implementing the first single-price rice sale in Vietnam, contributing to the decision to provide enough rice for nearly 4 million people in Ho Chi Minh City in the early period of peace after 1975. One of the first women to be awarded the title of Labor Hero after 10 years of the liberation of the South and the unification of the whole country to socialism.

In addition to the title of Labor Hero awarded in 1985, during her life and revolutionary career, Ms. Nguyen Thi Rao was awarded by the Party and State:

+ First Class Independence Medal,

+ First Class Resistance Medal,

+ First Class Victory Medal,

+ First Class Medal of Resistance Against America,

+ First Class Liberation Medal,

+ 40, 50 years of Party membership badges and many other noble titles.

The book is about her career of more than 10 years of dedication to the country and the people. In particular, the book tells about each stage of activities, organizing rice purchasing, contributing to stabilizing market prices with many diverse forms supported by the masses to assist the state in market management, etc. She is a woman who was once known as "Market Disruptor", was recognized and awarded the title of Labor Hero on October 3, 1985.

The book includes 5 sections.

Item 1: From an unnamed purchasing organization

Talking about the initial activities of the rice purchasing committee established in mid-1978, but in fact there was no official name in the document and it existed until mid-1980. It revolves around 4 characters Ngoc Dung, Man, Ut Hien and Tam Cuong - Driver - Regional Commander with Mrs. Ba Thi with many hardships, creative and energetic efforts in purchasing work assigned to conquer the market.

Section 2: To the birth of a specialized company

After the purchasing work, comes the task of transporting purchased rice to the City, bringing rice to consumers. Each stage, each position, each step affirming the role and heavy responsibility of the purchasing department has created trust and initial experience in socialist business methods, connecting close relationships and building trust with the food industry of the provinces.

Section 3: Establishing a new order in the City's food market

The formation of a wide network of rice retail agents throughout the wards and communes, the renovation of markets, the formation of food stalls in the markets, strongly impacted the market, narrowed the scope of operations, and deeply affected rice traders. Innovating to improve rice quality, equipping equipment to clean poor quality rice. Gradually improving and improving operational efficiency compared to each year with increasing sales.

Section 4: Staff and store manager team

The advisory board is made up of retired men and women, invited by Mrs. Ba Thi to work with the Company, who have experienced Party work at the district level from Committee member to Secretary, an effective advisory board. With weekly meetings and meetings in the Company's Reform Board, not only work is improved but also the actual situation is grasped and solved, connecting many networks to create a particularly strong structure.

Section 5: Who is Ba Thi?

Introducing the process of participating in the revolution before 1975 through the words of Ms. Suong, Thao, and Hien about Ms. Ba Thi.

This is a work by author Hoai Bac in 1985, republished by Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House. The book introduces the formation, effective operation of the company and the people who have been with the company since the early days, most notably Mrs. Ba Thi, helping readers have a more comprehensive view of the country's situation during the years of renovation.

Ho Chi Minh City, February 24, 2025

Dao Thi Hong Quyen

Department of Communications - Education and International Relations

Source: https://baotangphunu.com/gioi-thieu-sach-co-ba-thi-va-hot-gao/