The woman who brought Vietnam's image to shine in Europe

Born and raised by West Lake during the difficult years of the country, Phan Bich Thien early nurtured the will to rise up through knowledge. Her childhood with the early morning mist, the sound of the bell of Tran Quoc Pagoda, the fragrant scent of lotus every summer gradually instilled in her a love for beauty and Vietnamese culture. And, she became one of the talented young Vietnamese people of that time, sent to study abroad in the Soviet Union - where she completed her doctorate in economics in 1997.

A beautiful opportunity continued to bring her to another country - Hungary, the homeland of her classmate and also her husband. During nearly 40 years of living abroad, Phan Bich Thien always carried with her the desire to contribute and a deep belief that knowledge is not only for self-development, but also a bridge connecting the community and spreading good values. That is what motivated her to constantly innovate to create cultural spaces, practical activities and leave a lasting impression.

“I always keep in mind that, no matter where I am, I am a child of the S-shaped country, and have the responsibility to do something so that Vietnam not only lives in the hearts of Vietnamese people, but also clearly appears in the lives of international friends,” she shared.

What is special about Dr. Phan Bich Thien is her pioneering spirit. When she first proposed many of her ideas, some people doubted their feasibility, some thought they were too difficult, too many barriers. But for her, "whatever is useful for the community and for Vietnam, no matter how difficult, I am determined to do it."

The Hungarian magazine “Successful Women” commented about her: “Phan Bich Thien is someone who always puts collective interests above personal interests and her contributions have helped Hungarian people get closer to and understand more about Vietnam.”

With her courage and prestige, Dr. Phan Bich Thien quickly became a representative face in the Vietnamese community in Hungary. She was trusted to hold many important positions: Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front for many consecutive terms; President of the Vietnamese Women's Association in Hungary, where she initiated a series of activities to connect overseas Vietnamese women; President of the Vietnamese Women's Forum in Europe, gathering representatives from 18 countries, a network connecting Vietnamese women to share, learn and support each other...

In 2005, together with her husband, Thuróczy László, she bought and renovated the Fried Castle Hotel - a 100-year-old Hungarian architectural work. From the ruins, she turned this place into a luxurious eco-resort, honored many times in the top of the most beautiful and favorite hotels in Hungary.

Not only stopping at business, she has cleverly integrated Vietnamese cultural features into every detail of the hotel - from decoration, interior to cultural introduction activities. Thanks to that, Fried Castle is not only a resort destination, but also becomes a place where Eastern and Western cultures meet, helping European tourists understand more about Vietnam.

In particular, the project to build the Vietnam - Hungary Friendship Symbol with a bronze drum statue in Paks city, initiated by her and implemented in coordination with Hungarian government agencies in 2010, affirmed her persistent efforts in promoting national culture and fostering the relationship between the two countries.

Another mark associated with the name of Dr. Phan Bich Thien is Dai Bi Pagoda - a Vietnamese pagoda built on top of a hill, leaning against the mountain and overlooking the river, bearing the typical features of Vietnamese culture. This is not only a place for spiritual activities of Vietnamese people but also contributes to introducing the traditional culture of the nation to international friends.

One of Dr. Phan Bich Thien's initiatives is to establish the Vietnamese Women's Forum in Europe - the first continental women's organization abroad. The forum has the participation of hundreds of Vietnamese women from many countries, sharing stories of integration, starting a business, preserving cultural identity, educating the younger generation, connecting together to bring the position of women in particular and Vietnamese people in general higher and higher in the host country's society and internationally.

In particular, the Forum had an event held at the Hungarian Parliament Senate. This was an important milestone as for the first time, a forum of overseas Vietnamese officially took place at the headquarters of the highest authority in a European country.

"I was moved and filled with national pride when I saw the Vietnamese flag and the Ao Dai fluttering in the solemn atmosphere of the Hungarian Senate," Dr. Phan Bich Thien shared.

Dr. Phan Bich Thien's efforts and contributions have received worthy recognition:

In 2023, she was honored by the Hungarian magazine “Successful Women” (Sikeres Nők) as one of the 50 outstanding women of the year; received the Honorary Title of the city of Simontornya, where the Fried Castle Resort is located.

She is the only foreign woman included in the book “21st Century - Mission of 21 Women”, honoring 21 inspirational faces of Hungary. For many years, Dr. Phan Bich Thien has been praised by community organizations and domestic and foreign press as a symbol of connecting Vietnamese culture and community in Europe.

In particular, during the Covid-19 pandemic, she helped the Fried Castle resort overcome difficulties, maintaining jobs for dozens of workers. This story was published in the Hungarian press as a testament to the bravery and intelligence of Vietnamese women.

For Dr. Phan Bich Thien, the community is a big house where each member contributes small bricks. She initiated many activities to connect and enhance the community's position in the host society. She is especially interested in women and the younger generation. Starting from her suggestion, the Mid-Autumn Festival for Vietnamese children in Hungary is organized annually by the Women's Union.

It was her sympathy and desire to honor Vietnamese women abroad that prompted her to come up with the idea and actively coordinate the successful implementation of the first poetry writing contest on the topic of Vietnamese women abroad.

She believes that cultural soft power is only truly effective when it reaches people’s hearts. The painting contest “Vietnam today in the eyes of children” for international students in Hungary is a testament to that. The contest, organized by the Vietnamese Women’s Association in Hungary, attracted the participation of students from more than 50 schools across Hungary. The organizers also received many entries from students from Austria, Denmark, Sweden, etc.

“When I look at the paintings of Hungarian, Austrian, Swedish children… drawing images of ao dai, lotus flowers, pho, Ha Long Bay… I believe that Vietnam has entered their souls in the most natural way,” shared Dr. Phan Bich Thien, President of the Vietnamese Women’s Association in Hungary, Head of the Organizing Committee of the contest. The contest won the Innovation Award within the framework of the 10th National Award for Foreign Information.

Ms. Phan Bich Thien is also the person who proposed to organize the National Great Unity Day in the Vietnamese community abroad.

Not stopping at the community, as the President of the Foundation for Hungary - Vietnam Relations, Dr. Phan Bich Thien has launched many charitable activities towards her homeland such as: Supporting flood victims, supporting the poor, building kitchens for students in highland areas, contributing during the Covid-19 pandemic, being a godmother to children in difficult circumstances. Her family is sponsoring 6 orphans in Vietnam.

Looking back on her journey of nearly four decades, Dr. Phan Bich Thien is not only an intellectual or a successful businesswoman, she is a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Europe, a "fire keeper" for the community, and an inspirational example for the younger generation in the spirit of dedication and steadfastness in preserving national identity.

She confided: “Preserving national identity means keeping our roots to grow and integrate firmly. If we forget our roots, we will lose the courage to assert ourselves anywhere.”

More than international titles and honors, Dr. Phan Bich Thien's greatest success is perhaps in awakening national pride in every child living abroad, so that no matter where they are, they are always proud that: "I am Vietnamese".

Design : Amy Nguyen

Thai An

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nguoi-phu-nu-dua-hinh-anh-viet-nam-toa-sang-giua-troi-au-2454356.html