Vietnamese Women’s Day

As Vietnamese Women’s Day has many families planning gifts and celebrations for their mothers, daughters and sisters, Thanh Nien Daily spoke with several former beauty queens about what October 20 means to them.

Most agreed that that true womanhood involves the love and respect of one’s family.

“The perfect woman must be good at taking care of her family and a good mother,” said Giang My, Miss Hung Kings’ Temple 1990.

Now in her late 30’s, Giang My is one of the few beauty queens from the 1990s that still makes headlines as a pianist, a businesswoman and an actress.

Since 2006, she’s been the CEO of GM Television Production House in Ho Chi Minh City.

One of her most well-known television shows was Sac mau phu nu (The Color of Women), which aimed to give a voice to women from all ages and various backgrounds.

“Why do we only honor women on October 20?” My joked. “Everyday should be about celebrating women.”

Ha Kieu Anh, Miss Vietnam 1992, shares the same sentiment. The actress said her happiness lies in her family. Kieu Anh is well-known for her roles in Nguoi tinh trong mo (Lovers in a Dream, 1992) and De muon (Giving Birth for Another, 2005).

The former beauty queen said looks are only 20 percent of what makes a woman beautiful.

Kieu Anh said October 20 was also a day to honor mothers who made sacrifices for the country during the war years.

Thu Huong, Miss Sport 1995, said she must juggle her time between running her company, the Nam Huong Communication and Investment Joint Stock Company, and taking care of her family.

Huong’s company publishes five magazines, including the popular Phong Cach Doanh Nhan (Businesspeople Style).

“Many of my foreign friends say they admire many Vietnamese women because they value the idea of a family and can manage both their careers and motherhood,” she said.

Huong said she buys flowers for her mother, sisters, and mother-in-law every October 20.

Truong Tri Truc Diem, one of Vietnam’s Miss Earth contestants in 2007, said that a woman’s wisdom and perseverance matter more than her appearance.

Jennifer Pham, Miss Asia USA 2006, said she never had a chance to enjoy Women’s Day during her time in the US.

But after returning to Vietnam with her husband earlier this year to work as an actress, she’s excited to participate in local women’s day celebrations.

“Women nowadays have more opportunities to learn and contribute to society,” she said. “I think women share two ultimate responsibilities: society and also family.”

She said self-improvement is the key to being a fully-realized woman.

“I never think I am a perfect woman,” Pham says. “But it’s something I always strive for.”

The five beauty queens interviewed for t his story all said they actually didn’t want anything too extraordinary on Vietnam Women’s Day, just some time with their loved ones.

Reported by Thanh Van
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