Ambassador Nguyen Thi Nguyet Nga: A sister, a role model, an inspiration

Female diplomats pose for a photo at an event in 2018. Ambassador Nguyen Thi Nguyet Nga (front row, 5th from left), Ambassador Tao Thi Thanh Huong (front row, 3rd from right). (TGCC Photo)

For me and many colleagues of the next generation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet Nga is always a source of positive energy, an inspiration, a motivator and a source of confidence in work as well as in life.

During my time working together at the Southeast Asia-South Asia-South Pacific Department, I witnessed Ms. Nguyet Nga and her colleagues at the ASEM Department working tirelessly, tirelessly day and night to promote Vietnam's integration process with the region and the world. She was always full of energy, enthusiasm and creativity.

Besides work, she is also a person who always takes good care of her family. While we often take a lunch break at the office, she still regularly returns home every noon, rain or shine. "I return to my family", she said.

I also had time to study with her at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) - Johns Hopkins University (USA), when she was a visiting scholar. The discussions with her were always very useful because she was sharp, had critical thinking and strategic vision. She was highly appreciated by the professors and received a scholarship from the school.

Later, we had the opportunity to join the ASEAN Women's Community Group in Hanoi (AWCH), which was established in August 2015 on her initiative. At that time, I was the President of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Trade Union and was very proud to be able to join her in initiating and promoting ASEAN integration activities for Vietnamese women.

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Nguyet Nga, Honorary President of AWCH, speaking at ASEAN Family Day 2018. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

In 2015, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Diplomatic Service, she was the first to propose the idea of ​​making a yearbook honoring Vietnamese female diplomats and made efforts to realize that idea. The yearbook is a valuable document, continuing to be updated and honoring the silent but outstanding contributions of female officials on the foreign affairs front.

In each activity, she left her mark from her professional, methodical, meticulous way of working down to every detail, to her strategic, comprehensive vision. She spent time talking to her colleagues in the Ministry at many seminars on women's work, sharing experiences in family and life. She said that no matter how busy she is, she still has to spend time with her family, to balance and ensure efficiency.

I still remember the story she told about taking care of her two grandmothers, her paternal and maternal grandmothers, and teaching her children to visit and help with housework regularly to practice life skills and filial piety. I learned her way, applied it to my two sons, and found it really effective.

She is strict in her work, demanding high quality, deep and meticulous content, sometimes putting us under pressure. But it is that strictness that motivates us to grow. Beyond her strict appearance, she is very affectionate, approachable, always caring, guiding us from speech to behavior and professional ethics.

You have gone far away, but the memories and lessons from you will remain forever in our hearts.

Goodbye, my dear and respected colleague and sister!

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