I was lucky to meet Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh.

Surely many people, like me, received the news that former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh was awarded the title of Labor Hero with a proud but very gentle and calm mood, as if it was an obvious thing to do!

General Secretary To Lam respectfully presented the title of Hero of Labor to former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh at the ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Diplomatic sector on August 25. Photo: Pham Hai

Saying “obvious” because perhaps, in the minds of millions of Vietnamese people who have experienced painful loss, had to live in poverty due to the country being severely devastated by war, being surrounded and embargoed… then for a person with many achievements like Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, being awarded such noble titles is a certainty!

Children born in the South before 1975, even though they were still young at that time, all felt the pain of losing their homes and loved ones due to the war. Therefore, peace to us was simply a sleep without being startled by the sound of bombs and bullets. Peace was the men in the family and clan not being forced to join the army, only to receive the bad news of someone dying in battle every now and then.

That is why we admire Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh - Madame Binh - the granddaughter of the respected patriot Phan Chu Trinh, a female intellectual who was enlightened early and followed the path of fighting for independence for the Fatherland, freedom for the people, and who contributed to the restoration of peace in Vietnam.

When I was still in school, I admired her through books and the fascinating stories my teachers told about the Paris Conference. So, meeting Madame Binh on the day she received the First Class Freedom Medal from the Lao State was a fate for me.

At 98 years old, with difficulty moving, she talked to us with a warm and clear voice, with sharp, intelligent eyes.

That look and that demeanor became legendary when she was the Head of the Negotiation Delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam at the Paris Conference for 5 years - from May 1968 to January 1973.

At the conference with more than 200 public sessions, 45 private high-level meetings, 500 press conferences and 1,000 interviews, she left behind a famous quote when answering international journalists in Paris: “Americans can go to the Moon and return safely. As for Vietnam, we are not sure!” - a quote that made “insiders” have to look back at themselves.

Authorized by the General Secretary and President of Laos, Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh presented the First Class Freedom Medal to former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh on May 21. Photo: Pham Hai

With her steadfastness in the nation's independence and freedom, with the intelligence, courage and cleverness of a diplomat and the gentleness, kindness and elegance of a traditional Vietnamese woman, she excellently completed the mission entrusted to her by the Party, Uncle Ho and the people.

She became a symbol of faith and love for peace, contributing to closing the painful history of the nation when she persistently fought and represented one of the four parties that signed the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam - a decisive victory leading to the reunification of the country in the spring of 1975.

In life, there are opportunities that do not happen a second time. I was very lucky to meet Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh “in person”, a kind, sensitive, intelligent Mrs. Binh, who knows how to live and devote herself to the goals and ideals she worships, not a mysterious fairy in a fairy tale.

Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh and her memoir "Family, Friends and Country"

Nearly a hundred years old, she lives peacefully, taking pleasure in social activities. Just like in her youth, no matter what position she holds or what tasks the Party assigns, for her, the only thing she has is "to do for the country".

That graceful and resilient woman brought the dignity of the nation to the world, helping the progressive world better understand the country and people of Vietnam - a nation with its own identity, always loving peace and not knowing fear or submission to tyranny.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/toi-that-may-man-khi-duoc-gap-ba-nguyen-thi-binh-2436420.html