• Providing support for Agent Orange victims in Dat Moi.
  • Bringing Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) to victims of Agent Orange.
  • Taking care of Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations for victims of Agent Orange.

Homes of love and compassion

I've known her for a long time, but I truly understood her in 2019, when I traveled with her – at that time the Chairwoman of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Bac Lieu province – on official trips. Those journeys left me with many profound emotions about this female official who always prioritized responsibility above all difficulties.

I still remember the visit to Agent Orange victims on a day of incessant rain. After traveling dozens of kilometers, the delegation had to continue their journey by small boat along a network of canals. The cold wind seeped into our skin, and the choppy waves sometimes made the boat rock precariously. Despite the harsh weather, she maintained her usual composure. What concerned her most wasn't the hardship of the trip, but the families of the Agent Orange victims who were anxiously awaiting assistance.

Comrade Pham Van Thieu, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council of Ca Mau , together with Ms. Vo Thi Hong Thoai, visited, encouraged, and presented Tet gifts for the Year of the Horse 2026 to Agent Orange victims in Ly Van Lam Ward.

Most Agent Orange victims live in remote, impoverished areas. Reaching their homes requires navigating numerous narrow, muddy dirt roads. But for her and the association's officials, these difficulties and hardships have never been a barrier.

Every situation is a painful one. If we don't go there ourselves, if we don't see it with our own eyes, we won't be able to fully understand what they need in order to help them in the right way.

Ms. Vo Thi Hong Thoai, President of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin
Ca Mau province, sharing

Witnessing the sick and impoverished lives of Agent Orange victims—some with the ability to do light work, others completely dependent on their families—she persistently connected philanthropists, businesses, and social organizations to raise funds for their support. Each "Agent Orange Shelter" house built was not just a place to live, but also a source of hope for these families to overcome adversity.

Mr. Huynh Cong Danh, a benefactor who supports the construction of shelters for victims of Agent Orange, shared: "What made me decide to support victims of Agent Orange poisoning was not only empathy but also the dedication and transparency in the activities of Ms. Vo Thi Hong Thoai's association."

The joy was evident in the eyes of the Agent Orange victims when they received help. And in the eyes of that woman, nearly 70 years old, I found a very simple happiness: the happiness of someone who has contributed.

New mission, greater responsibility.

In July 2025, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces merged to form Ca Mau province, significantly increasing the number of Agent Orange victims to over 6,700 cases requiring assistance. The vast geographical area and the lack of established organizations in some locations made initial work challenging. Undeterred by these new difficulties, she continued to visit local communities weekly to assess the situation in each area. For her, the work of the association was not only about mobilizing support but also about caring for the spiritual well-being of Agent Orange victims' families.

The Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Bac Lieu province (formerly) presents a "Agent Orange Shelter" house in Hoa Binh district (formerly). Photo: Lam Ngoc Hoa

During her spring trip in 2026 to Da Bac hamlet, Luong The Tran commune, she thoughtfully recounted her years of revolutionary activity in Ca Mau, where she and her comrades participated in commando operations, living and fighting deep within enemy territory, facing danger to complete their missions.

Unexpectedly, the person the delegation visited that day turned out to be their former comrade, Mr. Bui Hoang No. The reunion after decades brought tears to her eyes when she learned that her comrade suffered from the effects of Agent Orange and could not have children. Before the joy of the reunion could be complete, sorrow was evident in her eyes.

In that moment, war was no longer a story of the past, but was present in the fate of her comrade before her, a haunting reminder that fueled her journey of sharing today.

The oath still resonates.

At nearly 70 years old and with 50 years of Party membership, Ms. Vo Thi Hong Thoai has held many important positions, including: Deputy Director and Director of the Department of Industry of Bac Lieu province; Deputy Head of the Bac Lieu Provincial Delegation to the 12th and 13th National Assembly; Member of the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly; Member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Bac Lieu province; Vice President of the Union of Science and Technology Associations of Bac Lieu province; and currently serves as President of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Ca Mau province.

Ms. Vo Thi Hong Thoai visited and presented gifts to Agent Orange victims in Ly Van Lam Ward on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse).

At an age when many people choose retirement, she remains dedicated to grassroots work. Her oath to the Party, taken at the age of 18, still resonates in her memory and has become her guiding principle throughout her life. Ms. Vo Thi Hong Thoai believes that: "As long as I live, I will continue to contribute to my homeland, my country, and my people, wholeheartedly upholding my oath before the sacred flag of the Party and the Fatherland."

Tan Tien

Source: https://baocamau.vn/tron-loi-tuyen-the-a127119.html