We met Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau at the headquarters of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women at No. 39, Hang Chuoi street in Hanoi. She impressed us with her gentle and delicate stature, and a particularly attractive voice filled with accents of the Vietnamese people in the central region. At the age of over 70, however, the woman scientist revealed her feminine, yet very consistent characters in her arguments.
“Being a woman intellectual and a lecturer in the Biology Department of the Hanoi National University, a large university in Vietnam, I have lots of opportunities to work with women intellectuals, so I am well aware of the issues that are challenging them,” confided Prof. Chau.
She said that women intellectuals not only need to be listened to and fully understood, but they also need to be encouraged and supported at work, which would help them continue doing their jobs well and contribute more to the causes that they are pursuing.
In the position as chairwoman of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women, Prof. Chau has built the unit, making it a place to link and assemble the strength and talents of Vietnamese women intellectuals, contributing to the national development in the process towards global integration.
The association has participated in protecting legitimate rights in terms of professional and creative activities of its members. It has established two centres for scientific and technological research, and provided favorable conditions for its members to implement projects and studies. The association has organised activities for consulting and social events, and received suggestions about legal documents of the Vietnam Women’s Union and to the Party and Government’s policies on women’s labour rights. To date, 40 women scientists and 15 units from the Association were awarded the Kovalevskaya Prize (The Vietnamese Kovalevskaya Awards Committee was established in 1985, which awards prizes to outstanding Vietnamese women scientists). In addition, many others received honorable awards from the Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) and the Vietnam Women’s Union.
Prof. Chau was re-elected as chairwoman of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women, for the Second Congress (2016-2021 working tenure). The association has defined four key tasks implemented during the tenure, including further participating in the country’s and the world’s affairs; bettering the role of consultant and opinion critic; further developing scientific and technological applications; and establishing more branches in cities and provinces, as well as expanding the network of overseas women intellectuals.
The association’s practical activities implemented in recent years have given firm support to young Vietnamese intellectuals, making the association a bridge to connect the contingent of Vietnamese intellectuals, both at home and abroad. Under the leadership of Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau, the association is truly a home to heighten the confidence and desire for devotion of Vietnamese intellectuals in general, and women intellectuals in particular.
“Being a woman intellectual and a lecturer in the Biology Department of the Hanoi National University, a large university in Vietnam, I have lots of opportunities to work with women intellectuals, so I am well aware of the issues that are challenging them,” confided Prof. Chau.
She said that women intellectuals not only need to be listened to and fully understood, but they also need to be encouraged and supported at work, which would help them continue doing their jobs well and contribute more to the causes that they are pursuing.
 Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau.  Former Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan presents flowers to congratulate Chairwoman of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women.  Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau delivers a speech at the 2nd congress of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women.  Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau answers the questions of delegates.  Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau and Vietnamese intellectuals pose for a photograph at the 2nd congress of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women.  The chairwoman of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women (forth from left) and female ambassadors pose for a photograph at a meeting to share experiences.  Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau shares her experiences at a workshop.  Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau and delegates pose for a photograph at a workshop.  Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau addresses the opening ceremony of a photograph exhibition entitled “Dong giao mua ha” by painter Thanh Thuc, a member of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women.  The professor visits a photograph exhibition entitled “Dong giao mua ha” by painter Thanh Thuc, a member of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women. . |
In the position as chairwoman of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women, Prof. Chau has built the unit, making it a place to link and assemble the strength and talents of Vietnamese women intellectuals, contributing to the national development in the process towards global integration.
The association has participated in protecting legitimate rights in terms of professional and creative activities of its members. It has established two centres for scientific and technological research, and provided favorable conditions for its members to implement projects and studies. The association has organised activities for consulting and social events, and received suggestions about legal documents of the Vietnam Women’s Union and to the Party and Government’s policies on women’s labour rights. To date, 40 women scientists and 15 units from the Association were awarded the Kovalevskaya Prize (The Vietnamese Kovalevskaya Awards Committee was established in 1985, which awards prizes to outstanding Vietnamese women scientists). In addition, many others received honorable awards from the Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) and the Vietnam Women’s Union.
Prof. Chau was re-elected as chairwoman of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women, for the Second Congress (2016-2021 working tenure). The association has defined four key tasks implemented during the tenure, including further participating in the country’s and the world’s affairs; bettering the role of consultant and opinion critic; further developing scientific and technological applications; and establishing more branches in cities and provinces, as well as expanding the network of overseas women intellectuals.
The association’s practical activities implemented in recent years have given firm support to young Vietnamese intellectuals, making the association a bridge to connect the contingent of Vietnamese intellectuals, both at home and abroad. Under the leadership of Prof. Pham Thi Tran Chau, the association is truly a home to heighten the confidence and desire for devotion of Vietnamese intellectuals in general, and women intellectuals in particular.
Story: Thao Vy - Photos: Tran Thanh Giang
