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| Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh and American writer and translator Lady Borton. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
She walked slowly, her soft, silvery hair shimmering in the sunlight, her voice gentle, yet her eyes shone with the emotion of someone about to reunite with a kindred spirit after many years of separation. That woman was Lady Borton, or Ut Ly, an American writer and translator who had dedicated more than half a century to Vietnam, to the Vietnamese people, and to the poignant memories of war, peace, and reconciliation.
For those in the delegation that day, it was also a meeting of two historical witnesses, two women who had lived through the turbulent years of the 20th century, witnessing war, peace, division, and then reunion; a reunion of great friends who had together traversed countless paths of diplomatic activity, reconciliation, and healing the wounds of war.
A gathering of extraordinary women
The small room at the 108th Military Central Hospital that day was devoid of elaborate ceremonies. There was only laughter, firm handshakes, and the sparkling eyes of two old friends reuniting after many years.
Upon entering, Lady Borton couldn't hide her emotion. She recalled her first meeting with Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh in 1973, when the war hadn't completely ended and Vietnam was still facing countless difficulties. "At that time, Vietnam was very poor. Ms. Binh was the Minister of Foreign Affairs . I had the opportunity to work with her from a very early stage," Lady Borton remembered.
Sharing her story with us, the American woman, who has spent much of her life accompanying Vietnam through its greatest upheavals, recalled the difficult period of the centrally-controlled economy, her travels, her educational projects, and the early years of Vietnam's re-establishment of relations with the world after the war.
In writer Lady Borton's story, former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh emerges not only as a brilliant diplomat but also as an exceptionally kind, open-minded, and progressive woman. "Ms. Binh helped me a great deal in understanding Vietnam. As a foreigner, how could I possibly understand all the relationships, history, and people?" Borton said.
Perhaps that's why, for over 50 years, their relationship has been more than just a professional one. It's a friendship, a bond of empathy, and trust built through years of upheaval.
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| Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh and Lady Borton reminisce about their experiences during the resistance war against the US. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
She has repeatedly mentioned the issue of Agent Orange – one of the greatest tragedies of war that both she and former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh have spent many years pursuing to raise awareness in the world. She recounted that at one point, neither Vietnam nor the US were ready to talk much about this issue. Vietnam at that time prioritized normalizing relations with Washington, fearing that mentioning the consequences of the war too much would hinder the reconciliation process.
"But Mrs. Binh stood up," writer Ut Ly said slowly. Along with General Vo Nguyen Giap and doctor Le Cao Dai, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh persistently spoke out about the consequences of Agent Orange on both Vietnamese soldiers and civilians.
It was a struggle for justice for war victims, and also a journey to force the world to face the truth. And it was through the efforts of so many people that the story of reconciliation between Vietnam and the United States gradually continued to be written with understanding instead of confrontation.
When mentioning Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, the writer's eyes lit up with natural admiration. She recounted that from the very beginning, President Ho Chi Minh saw in Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh the exceptional qualities of a diplomat. During the Paris Peace Accords and other international events, the image of a Vietnamese female Foreign Minister appearing among a host of male politicians made a strong impression on the world, and as Ms. Borton humorously put it: "Ms. Binh led the way, and the whole world was stunned."
At that time, there were very few female Foreign Ministers in the world. A Vietnamese woman, from a country engulfed in the flames of war, was able to confidently step onto international forums, speak fluent English and French, and demonstrate skillful and confident demeanor, a sight that astonished many.
But what Lady Borton remembers most is not just her diplomatic talent: “She was very approachable. She knew how to talk to each representative from each country.”
Perhaps it is this gentle yet resolute quality that has made Nguyen Thi Binh so unique – a woman who, through her composure, conveys a powerful message about independence, peace, and reconciliation.
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| Throughout the meeting, the two women held hands tightly. (Photo: Jackie Chan) |
Returning to memories
The conversation that day was constantly interrupted by laughter, as they both recalled the name of an old friend, a meeting from years ago in Algeria, or the days of working on a book about the Paris negotiations.
Lady Borton recalled that it took her team five years to create the bilingual book about the Paris Conference, compiling hundreds of documentary photographs and verifying the identities of each person appearing in them. “Many people are gone,” she said softly.
Perhaps that is why today's meeting is all the more special. It is a return to memory, where those who remain come together to recall a generation that lived fully for ideals and peace.
At nearly 100 years old, former President Nguyen Thi Binh still amazes Ut Ly with her sharp memory: "She still remembers everything. About General Giap, about the meetings in Algeria decades ago."
But what impressed the American writer most was the simplicity of the female politician who had traveled the world. "She lived very simply. Despite her position, she was very approachable," Lady Borton said emotionally.
Lady Borton moved those present at the meeting to tears when she shared that she had once drawn a large map documenting all the countries that Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh had visited during her diplomatic journey. According to her, a Vietnamese woman born during the colonial era, raised amidst war, and then becoming one of the faces representing the aspirations for peace of an entire nation—that journey itself is a historical story.
According to the American writer, former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh's greatest contribution was not only in diplomacy, but also because she "was one of the people who opened a new chapter in Vietnam's relations with the whole world." Recalling the early 1990s, when the land of the S-shaped country was no longer at war, Vietnam began to open up, and foreign international and non-governmental organizations gradually established a presence in Vietnam, Lady Borton recounted that in that process, Ms. Binh was one of the people who helped build the first bridges between Vietnam and the international community.
And Lady Borton was one of those who crossed those bridges with all her love and faith in Vietnam.
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| Lady Borton moved those present at the meeting to tears when she shared that she had once drawn a large map documenting all the countries that Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh had visited during her diplomatic journey. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Throughout that meeting, the two women held hands tightly. One was a renowned Vietnamese diplomat. The other was an American writer who had dedicated over half a century to telling stories about Vietnam to the world. They came from two countries that had once been on opposing sides of the war, but what they shared was not hatred, but mutual understanding between people.
They exchanged heartfelt hugs, the affectionate embraces of rare friends reuniting, the camaraderie of comrades who had walked hand in hand through a time of war and fire. Even in those deeply moving moments, these two renowned and strong-willed women, yet so ordinary, choked with emotion as they inquired about each other's lives, wished each other happy upcoming birthdays (former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh will turn 100 on May 26, 2027), and promised to sit together again someday.
When asked about the difference between "Madam Binh" of the past and present, writer Ut Ly smiled gently and said, "I find her to be the same as before, always cheerful."
After all the upheavals of the times, friendship and understanding remain the most precious things.
In late 1968, Lady Borton arrived in Vietnam to volunteer, assisting civilians affected by the war in the Quang Da area as part of the Quaker humanitarian organization. From 1970, she became a freelance writer and photojournalist. Thanks to her wide range of work, she had more opportunities to interact with both civilians and members of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. Her firsthand experiences on the battlefield helped her better understand the war that the United States had waged against the Vietnamese people. Having taught herself Vietnamese and spent over half a century living in Vietnam, the female writer has devoted much of her energy to researching the history of a country located half a world away from her homeland. She has made many contributions to the Vietnamese journalism and publishing industry through her writings, compilations, and translations, thereby helping to bring the image, history, and culture of Vietnam closer to international readers. |
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhung-nguoi-phu-nu-noi-nhip-hoa-binh-393161.html
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