A female lawyer who helps the underprivileged.

Despite reaching retirement age after more than half a century of dedication to her profession, Lawyer Truong Thi Hoa continues her tireless journey of providing free legal assistance, bringing the light of justice to the vulnerable in society. She is honored to be one of 60 outstanding individuals in the cause of building, protecting, and developing Ho Chi Minh City from 1975 to 2025.

"Becoming involved" with the lives of the disadvantaged.

For the people of Ho Chi Minh City, lawyer Truong Thi Hoa is a very familiar name. For half a century, she has been a constant companion to the city since liberation, dedicating herself to her profession, to charitable activities, providing free legal assistance to the poor, contributing to lawmaking, writing dozens of books, and appearing on various panel discussions, offering suggestions for the city's development. I had the opportunity to meet her again on a pleasantly cool day. Her law office, weathered by time, nestled modestly in a small alley in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. She was still the same as when I met her a few years ago: petite, with a gentle smile, a soft demeanor, and a slow, expressive voice; the only difference being that her hair had turned much grayer. She kindly chatted with me in her office, a place usually bustling with her work, surrounded by neatly arranged stacks of thick files.

Lawyer Hoa is always humble and reserved when talking about herself. But in reality, her life has been devoted to the legal profession, the judicial system, the development of Ho Chi Minh City, and to countless disadvantaged and vulnerable people in need of support, legal advice, and defense in court.

Lawyer Truong Thi Hoa is reviewing the case file at her office.

Ms. Truong Thi Hoa was born in Tra Vinh but chose Saigon-Ho Chi Minh City as her place of study and career. After the reunification of the country in 1975, when the city had not yet established a bar association, she worked at the Center for Legal Research under the Ministry of Justice , the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam; and was also an active member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Association for the Protection of Children, the Women's Charity Association, and the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association from its early days. It was during this transitional period, when the country faced countless difficulties, that she became involved with many disadvantaged people in society.

She recounted that, back then, small traders faced great difficulties, goods were scarce, and women suffered greatly. During her legal studies, Ms. Hoa sought out these individuals to understand their thoughts, aspirations, and legal problems. Some had lent money before liberation but sought help from the revolutionary government after liberation, while many others, burdened by debt, intended to flee. Using her reputation, she mediated many such cases, advising debtors not to flee, emphasizing that "if you owe money, you must acknowledge it" and not get into legal trouble due to a lack of legal knowledge.

Society has developed significantly, yet many impoverished individuals still seek assistance from her office. She recounts that disputes often involve inheritance issues; unable to reach a consensus, after the division of assets, siblings each receive only a little over ten million dong, but family bonds are shattered. Seeing this, she feels deep regret and profound sorrow. Therefore, after liberation, she became one of the pioneers in bringing the light of law to the poor and vulnerable through legal awareness and education activities organized by socio- political organizations.

Illuminate justice with compassion.

Despite being a veteran in her profession, she always addresses everyone she meets with great politeness, regardless of whether they are rich or poor. She even spoke to people young enough to be her grandchildren, like me. The female lawyer confided: “Each case is like a human story. Those who are vulnerable often don't fully understand their problems, so the role of a lawyer in providing advice is crucial, helping them see their rights and ensuring they are protected according to the law. I've interacted with many vulnerable people and felt the sincerity and simplicity in their way of presenting their cases. In some instances, just a few words of sharing were enough to move them to tears, and I couldn't hold back my own tears either. Those are moments that deeply affect me and strengthen my resolve to stand by them.”

Throughout her story, recalling memorable moments, she repeatedly paused, took off her glasses, and her eyes welled up with tears. Ms. Hoa couldn't remember exactly how many cases she had advised and supported in her 55 years of practice, or how many radio and television programs she had produced to bring legal knowledge to the community. Not only did she provide free advice, but many poor people also received a small amount of money from her to cover their transportation costs.

For her, the legal profession is a noble one, so she is always ready to participate in community activities. She is very happy to see that young lawyers today have a community spirit, love volunteer work, and share with those in need. In the courtroom, whether it's a small case or a complex one, she always maintains a professional demeanor, acts with compassion, and views each case not only as a legal dispute but also as an opportunity to heal, to do good, and to ensure justice is served. Even now, Truong Thi Hoa Law Office remains a familiar address for many generations of young lawyers to learn from. She still comes to the office every day, reading files and carefully taking notes on every detail. The image of the petite woman in a white ao dai sitting beside an old bookshelf is a beautiful symbol of dedication and kindness.

The person who "ignites the passion" for the profession.

Among the legal professionals in Ho Chi Minh City, lawyer Truong Thi Hoa is one of the few from the first generation of lawyers who received formal training and participated in building the city's legal and judicial system. Her professional life has been intertwined with the city's development; she serves as a historical witness in the city's legal field, from the early trials of the fledgling judiciary to the increasingly complete and transparent legal system we see today.

With her extensive experience, competence, and prestige, lawyer Truong Thi Hoa also teaches at universities. During her 20 years of teaching at the Judicial Academy, she inspired many generations of students, and she always feels happy to see her former students standing alongside her in court with dignified demeanor and solid arguments. She happily says, "I am always proud and moved to see the younger generation of lawyers becoming increasingly mature, professional, and ethical."

Not only is she an exemplary lawyer, Ms. Truong Thi Hoa has also made significant contributions to the fields of academia and culture. Together with her husband, researcher Tran Huu Ta, she has compiled and published 28 books, including many valuable works such as the series "History of Press Regimes in Vietnam" and "Dictionary of Vietnamese Historical Figures," which have been highly praised by scholars and readers alike.

Holding the book "Citizens' Inheritance Rights" in her hand, she proudly showed me that it was a popular legal book that was close to everyday life, widely accepted by readers, and had been printed in over 25,000 copies. Indeed, these books not only reflect her extensive knowledge but also demonstrate her dedication to her profession, to justice, and to society.

At an age when many people have chosen a peaceful life with their children and grandchildren, lawyer Truong Thi Hoa is still diligently working on legal cases. She further confided: “As long as I am still mentally sharp and people still trust and seek my services, I will continue to work and pursue the journey of providing legal assistance to the vulnerable, especially poor women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. I hope that the development of the country's legal profession will go hand in hand with building social trust in the law, so that each lawyer becomes a companion of the people on their journey to justice.”

“Throughout her long career, amidst the many changes in life, lawyer Truong Thi Hoa has kept her passion burning brightly. Her demeanor, gestures, words, and arguments radiate the warmth of kindness. She leaves behind not only insightful and reasonable defenses but also lessons in compassion and dedication to people,” – this is the sentiment of journalist Vu Thoai Diem, editor of many legal advice programs on Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television, about her idol.

 

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-17/nu-luat-su-cua-nhung-phan-doi-yeu-the-912814