COMRADE NGUYEN VAN LINH – THE GENERAL SECRETARY IN THE PERIOD OF RENEWAL

Portrait of the late General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh (photo collected) The late General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh (1915 - 1998) was born Nguyen Van Cuc, also known as Muoi Cuc. He was born into a civil servant family in Giai Pham commune, Yen My district, Hung Yen province. With [...]

Portrait of late General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh (photo collected)

Former General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh (1915 - 1998) was born Nguyen Van Cuc, also known as Muoi Cuc. He was born into a family of civil servants in Giai Pham commune, Yen My district, Hung Yen province. With a strong revolutionary spirit, at the age of 14 he participated in many patriotic activities in the student movement of the Youth Union, led by the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association. He held many important positions in the leadership apparatus of the Party and State, especially the period when he held the position of General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 1986 to 1991. This was the beginning of the Doi Moi process - a historic turning point, marking the country's strong transformation from a centrally planned economic model to a socialist-oriented market economy.

After the consequences of 30 years of harsh war, the country fell into a state of economic and social crisis, with the embargo of countries around the world (especially the US). The Central Executive Committee of the Party and the State urgently sought remedial measures and economic development policies. "With a keen strategic mindset, skillfully applying theory to practice, General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh proposed and persistently implemented principled innovation - innovation but always maintaining the socialist orientation, maintaining and strengthening the leadership of the Party, respecting and promoting the people's mastery."

Not only outstanding for his innovative thinking and the spirit of “dare to think, dare to do”, Nguyen Van Linh was also a leader close to the people, understanding cultural and historical values and always deeply interested in honoring the silent but great contributions of the mass forces in the revolutionary cause. Among them, the role of women – especially women in the South, a land rich in patriotic and revolutionary traditions – always received special affection and respect from him.

Former General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh and members of the Southern Women's History Group
(Photo: Documents of Southern Women's Museum)

For the Southern Women's Museum, the late General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh played an important role in supporting the formation and construction of the Museum. He regularly participated in important events in the formation and development of the Southern Women's Traditional House and now the Southern Women's Museum. This is a valuable cultural work not only in terms of history but also in terms of educating traditions for future generations. A meaningful work, showing the depth of thought and heart of a leader who is always attached to the people, to those who make history.

In February 1983, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap and Ms. Ngo Thi Hue met with comrade Nguyen Van Linh (at that time Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee), comrade Mai Chi Tho (Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee) and comrade Phan Minh Tanh (Head of the Party Committee's Organization Board) to present the plan to summarize women's history and request to establish the Southern Women's Traditional House in Ho Chi Minh City and received consensus. From then on, in parallel with taking care of the historical summary documents, it was necessary to collect documents and artifacts and prepare the material facilities for the establishment of the Southern Women's Traditional House.

As Secretary of the City Party Committee, Comrade Nguyen Van Linh participated in many meetings to evaluate the outline as well as contributed many ideas on the contents and contributed to the establishment of the Southern Women's Traditional House in 1985. He always promoted the role of women (especially Southern women) through the resistance wars, and welcomed the initiative to write the history of Southern women. For him, "the history of Southern women is closely linked to the common history and the cause of national defense as well as the persistent struggle for 100 years against the French and American empires" . He also said that "Women have many heroes, all ages from young people to mothers have heroes ". In addition, the City Party Committee always created suitable conditions for the female members of the Southern Women's History Group to complete the initiative.

Alongside the late General Secretary, there was always a woman who accompanied him and was equally talented. Ms. Ngo Thi Hue was born in 1918 in Tra On district, Vinh Long province, in a patriotic peasant family. She held many important positions such as member of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union and National Assembly delegate. However, she always maintained a simple, loyal lifestyle and many noble ideals. In particular, she was also one of the members of the Southern Women's History Group, contributing to the formation of the Southern Women's Museum.

Former General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh and his wife Ngo Thi Hue (photo collected)

It can be said that the late General Secretary and his wife were among those who contributed to creating the historical value of Vietnamese women in general and Southern women in particular. He alone - a leader with many urgent issues and many areas that needed attention, but he still paid attention to the contributions of women in society, especially in the history of resistance.

On the occasion of the 110th birthday of the late General Secretary, the Southern Women's Museum recalls his great contributions to the work of building and renewing the country. He was the one who initiated and led the implementation of the renovation policy at the 6th Party Congress in 1986, leading the country out of the socio-economic crisis, gradually developing according to the socialist-oriented market mechanism. His contributions laid a solid foundation for the sustainable development and integration of Vietnam later.

Comrade Nguyen Van Linh and Ms. Nguyen Thi Dinh - President of Vietnam Women's Union
Ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate the Traditional House (Photo: Southern Women's Museum)

 

Ho Chi Minh City, July 11 , 2025

Duong Kim Ngoc

Department of Communications - Education - International Relations

 

References

1. Comrade Nguyen Van Linh – General Secretary of the Doi Moi https://special.nhandan.vn/Dong-chi-Nguyen-Van-Linh-Tong-Bi-thu-doi-moi/index. (Accessed on July 7, 2025)
2. Comrade Nguyen Van Linh, Outstanding Leader of the Party https://www.qdnd.vn/chinh-tri/cac-van-de/dong-chi-nguyen-van-linh-nha-lanh-dao-xuat-sac-cua-dang-tong-bi-thu-thoi-ky-dau-doi-moi-813762 (accessed on July 8, 2025)
3. Twelve years of a journey , Southern Women's History Group (1995), Southern Women's Museum.

Source: https://baotangphunu.com/dong-chi-nguyen-van-linh-nguoi-tong-bi-thu-trong-thoi-ky-doi-moi/