Enhancing the status of women:

Over the past period, the Hanoi City Women's Union at all levels has affirmed its pioneering role through creative and practical models in contributing to the construction of new rural areas and civilized urban areas. Not only has this created transformation and changed the face of the city, but women have also enhanced their status and become a force contributing to the sustainable socio-economic development of the capital.

Playing a leading role in building new rural areas.

Over the past period, the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Women's Union has proactively proposed and advised the Hanoi People's Committee to approve the Project "Strengthening the role of women's unions at all levels in building new rural areas and civilized urban areas by 2025" (according to Decision No. 1843/QD-UBND dated June 2, 2022 of the Hanoi People's Committee). In its role as the lead coordinating body for the implementation of the project, the Hanoi Women's Union has focused on coordinating with relevant departments and agencies to direct, guide, and implement the project systematically and strategically, ensuring the successful achievement of the set goals and targets.

Pham Thi Thanh Huong, Standing Vice President of the Hanoi City Women's Union, delivers a speech. Photo: Bao Lam

At the conference summarizing the project "Strengthening the role of women's associations at all levels in building new rural areas and civilized urban areas by 2025" held on the afternoon of December 9th, the Standing Vice President of the Hanoi City Women's Union, Pham Thi Thanh Huong, shared that, recognizing the role and responsibility of women and women's associations in participating in building new rural areas, the city's women's associations at all levels have closely followed the City Party Committee's work programs to select priorities and implement specific activities to fulfill the criteria for building new rural areas.

Alongside this, efforts to promote awareness and encourage women's participation in building new rural areas have been intensified through various rich and creative forms.

Activities carried out through appropriate projects, tasks, and models have a profound and widespread impact, bringing about changes at the grassroots level and contributing to solving practical problems in rural areas such as: building "5 no, 3 clean" and "5 yes, 3 clean" families; sorting and processing waste; improving the environmental landscape; participating in the construction of rural technical infrastructure; supporting women's economic development; applying science, technology, and engineering in the development of green and ecological agriculture; social welfare activities; maintaining security and order; and building a strong grassroots political system…

Delegates visit the women's booths. Photo: Bao Lam

"The effectiveness of the Women's Union at all levels has been highly appreciated by the Party committees and the government, making an important contribution to the overall achievements in building new rural areas and civilized urban areas in the city," said Comrade Pham Thi Thanh Huong.

As of September 30, 2025, all four targets of the Project "Strengthening the Role of Women's Unions at all levels in building new rural areas and civilized urban areas by 2025" have been completed and exceeded the plan. More than 900,000 women's union members and business households have received awareness-raising training to participate in collective economic organizations; over 700,000 members have received environmental protection education, exceeding the plan by 34%; 402 out of 402 establishments have implemented waste and straw treatment models; and 402 out of 402 communes and towns have at least one model or project contributing to building a green, clean, beautiful, and civilized environment.

To achieve the above accomplishments, the close cooperation between the Department of Agriculture and Environment (the permanent agency of the National Target Program on New Rural Development) and the Hanoi City Women's Union is indispensable.

Ngo Van Ngon, Deputy Head of the Office in charge of the New Rural Development Program Coordination Office of Hanoi City, affirmed that the National Target Program on New Rural Development for the period 2021-2025 in Hanoi City has achieved outstanding results thanks to the close coordination between the Hanoi City Women's Union and the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, and the significant contribution of women's associations at all levels in implementing the Project "Strengthening the role of women's associations at all levels in building new rural areas and civilized urban areas by 2025".

"The New Rural Development Program has truly brought new vitality and a new status to Hanoi's rural areas, creating a solid foundation for sustainable development. This is not only a revolution in infrastructure development, but also a remarkable leap forward in thinking, strategic vision, and the persistent and determined efforts of the entire political system and the people," Mr. Ngo Van Ngon emphasized.

Pioneers in environmental protection

Immediately after the Hanoi People's Committee approved the Project "Strengthening the Role of Women's Unions at all levels in building new rural areas and civilized urban areas by 2025," the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Women's Union proactively directed, guided, and implemented the project seriously, effectively, and with guaranteed quality.

The Hanoi City Women's Union is conducting training on the model "Women participating in the processing of straw after harvest". Photo: PV

In particular, the pilot projects on two models – "Sorting and processing organic waste at rural women's association member households" and "Women participating in processing straw after harvest" – achieved good results and were recognized and highly appreciated by the Party committee, government, and community.

To promote the model "Sorting and processing organic waste in rural women's households in Hanoi," the Women's Union organized a seminar titled "The role of women's unions at all levels in environmental protection and the launch of a model for sorting and processing organic waste in rural women's households" to consult with experts and share experiences from some members who have implemented the method of processing organic waste at home using microbial composting.

The Hanoi Women's Union selected several pilot communes to organize training sessions on the process and techniques of sorting and processing organic waste using microbial composting for core groups. Following this, they organized 657 training sessions on household waste sorting and processing; solutions for collecting, processing, and recycling solid waste; waste sorting and processing; and the application of IMO in agriculture, with 63,198 women members participating.

As a result, 62,892 out of 72,130 (87%) women's association member households successfully applied the organic composting method, producing organic fertilizer that met standards; helping to reduce more than 15 tons of waste directly discharged into the environment each year.

The "Women's Participation in Post-Harvest Straw Management" model is gradually reducing the amount of straw burned after harvests, improving environmental quality and people's health. This model involves 1,025 households of women members as a pilot project. The effectiveness of this pilot model has been highly appreciated by local Party committees and authorities, and has been enthusiastically embraced by the people.

Simultaneously, the "Clean Fields" model was implemented in 100% of the communes; cadres, members, and the people were encouraged to participate in general environmental sanitation, cleaning village roads and alleys; monthly field cleaning campaigns were maintained, and canals were dredged; 165 pesticide container tanks were built, collecting over 120 tons of garbage, pesticide packaging, and waste from the fields.

Women in Soc Son sort and process household waste and start businesses using organic waste. Photo: Thanh Thanh

For example, in Soc Son commune, to improve the effectiveness of environmental sanitation work in the locality, the Women's Union of the former Soc Son district developed the project "Soc Son Women Sorting and Processing Household Waste and Starting Businesses from Organic Waste in the period 2021-2023" and the model "Processing straw into organic fertilizer and joining hands to protect the environment". Ms. Pham Thi Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the commune and Chairwoman of the Soc Son Women's Union, said that these are two innovative initiatives that have been recognized and highly appreciated by the City Women's Union. These are the first models in environmental protection work by women in the commune that have been replicated in many localities throughout the city.

"From July 1st, 2025, implementing the two-tiered local government model, the Women's Union of Soc Son commune was established based on the merger of 7 communes with 64 branches and 12,896 members. The Women's Union of the commune has always maintained effectiveness and shown many innovations in implementing these two models. All levels of the Union always identify environmental protection as one of the key tasks that need to be prioritized and effectively implemented because it is about protecting the living environment for female cadres, members, and people in the commune," shared Comrade Pham Thi Thanh.

Similarly, in response to the "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful" emulation movement and the "Green Weekend" day, the Women's Union of 126 communes and wards, such as Lang, Cau Giay, Phu Dong, Gia Lam, Bat Bat, Ba Vi, etc., has continued to maintain and beautify the local landscape with models that have a widespread impact, such as: the model of green, clean, beautiful, and flower-filled model roads undertaken by Women's Unions at all levels; the model of Women's Union branches building bright, green, clean, beautiful, safe, and civilized residential areas; and models of waste sorting at source, plastic waste recycling, and exchanging plastic waste for green plants and environmentally friendly products.

Women in Dong Da ward participate in environmental sanitation campaign. Photo: Bao Lam

With hundreds of flower-lined streets, green spaces, mural-painted roads, and recycled flower-lined paths, 100% of the Women's Associations in residential areas maintain a regular weekly environmental sanitation schedule, increasingly contributing to the construction of model new rural areas.

This result affirms the role of women in building model new rural areas and civilized urban areas. Women in Hanoi have truly become a pioneering force, making important contributions to improving people's lives and building a more sustainably developed Hanoi.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nang-cao-vi-the-cua-phu-nu-bai-1-gop-suc-xay-dung-nong-thon-moi-do-thi-van-minh-726242.html