From the fateful meeting to Queen Nam Phuong's gold contribution to support the state

(Dan Tri) - On the opening day of "Golden Week" in Hue in 1945, Queen Nam Phuong donated many pieces of jewelry to help call on people to actively support the revolutionary government.

On the morning of September 17, 1945, the sun had just risen from the East, the golden sunlight gently spread over the calm surface of the Perfume River. On the South bank, Hue people wearing Ao Dai stood crowded on both sides of the road, looking towards the hall where the “Golden Week” was opening.

Different from the simple image often seen after King Bao Dai abdicated, Queen Nam Phuong appeared in a long dress embroidered with gold, a necklace around her neck, bracelets on her hands, ten fingers sparkling with gold rings, and delicate earrings in her ears.

The last queen of the Nguyen Dynasty walked slowly into the hall. All eyes followed, some people wondered: "Now that there is a revolution, why are you still dressed like that?"

During the "Golden Week" of 1945, Ms. Nam Phuong made material contributions and spread the message, calling on everyone to respond in Hue (Photo: Provided by the researcher).

Before everyone's curious eyes, she quietly took off each piece of jewelry and placed it on a table covered with a red cloth, declaring that she was donating it all to the state.

Many people remember Mrs. Nam Phuong for her elegant beauty, as the last queen of the Nguyen Dynasty and the Vietnamese monarchy. Few people know that she played an active role in the "Golden Week" movement in Hue. Her appearance contributed to encouraging patriotism, creating confidence for all classes of people to respond together.

Symbolic action

After reading the abdication edict on August 30, 1945, former Emperor Bao Dai went to Hanoi to work as an advisor. Madame Nam Phuong stayed in Hue to live with her children in An Dinh Palace located on the An Cuu River.

She quickly integrated into the life of a commoner. People saw her enthusiastically cycling to Women's Union meetings and sending her children to classes in the neighborhood. The last Empress of the Nguyen Dynasty lived a quiet, happy and gentle life with everyone.

In that context, at the beginning of independence, the treasury of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam had only 1.25 million Indochinese piastres, but a part of it was torn money waiting to be destroyed. Famine and illiteracy were rampant... the fate of the country was "hanging by a thread".

The government launched the "Golden Week" movement nationwide from September 17 to 24, 1945 to encourage people to donate money and property to support the revolutionary government.

Along with other localities, the "Golden Week" in Hue received support from the people. The appearance of the former queen immediately attracted the attention of the masses.

On the opening day, she actively participated and contributed to creating a strong ripple effect. The former Queen received a badge with the red flag and yellow star and was invited to chair the “Golden Week” in Hue.

Queen Nam Phuong during her visit to Dong Khanh Girls' School in Hue (Photo: Provided by researcher).

After donating gold to the state, Mrs. Nam Phuong happily answered the press. She expressed her honor and gratitude for the kind treatment of her family by the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and shared her joy at seeing women actively participating in the cause of national salvation.

"I just moved from the Imperial City, the house is not yet arranged, I can't do much at the moment, in the future when my sisters need me for something, I will be very happy to take on part of the work", an article in Quyet Chien newspaper published on September 18, 1945 quoted Mrs. Nam Phuong.

As a result, the “Golden Week” in Hue mobilized a total of 925 taels of gold. Of which, Mr. Nguyen Duy Quang - who used to work in the Royal Office of King Bao Dai contributed 42 taels of gold and Mr. Ung Quang contributed 40 taels.

During her days living in An Dinh Palace, the former queen still followed current events and received progressive women from Hanoi. On September 12, 1945, a French army company, hiding under the British army, entered Saigon with the plot to invade Vietnam for the second time. Not wanting to witness the prospect of war and the country sinking into suffering, Mrs. Nam Phuong sent a message calling on women around the world to support Vietnam's young independence.

With strong but emotional words of a mother and wife, she called on women across the five continents to stand on the side of justice and join hands to protect the peace of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

From young lady to queen of Nguyen dynasty

Before being crowned empress, the turning point in Nam Phuong's fate came from a fateful encounter with the emperor after a chance encounter.

Queen Nam Phuong was born on November 14, 1913 at villa number 37 Tabert Street (now Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Ho Chi Minh City). At birth, she was named Jeanne-Mariette Nguyen Huu Hao, her Vietnamese name is Nguyen Thi Lan.

At the age of 14, Nguyen Thi Lan was sent to France to study at Couvent des Oiseaux - a prestigious convent school for daughters of upper-class families. After completing high school, the female student decided to return to Vietnam.

The beauty of Queen Nam Phuong when she was in her twenties (Photo: Getty Images).

The real opportunity came in February 1933, during the king's inspection tour of Central Vietnam. At a lavish gala at the Langbian Palace Hotel (Da Lat), Nguyen Thi Lan followed her uncle to attend.

Amidst the bright yellow lights, in a simple black silk ao dai, she attracted attention from the moment she appeared. The moment the tango sounded, King Bao Dai invited the young lady to dance, opening the door to a fateful relationship.

From that meeting, the two gradually became close. King Bao Dai was impressed by the gentle young woman who exuded a modern Western look. In 1934, a grand wedding ceremony took place in Hue, and Nguyen Thi Lan officially became Queen Nam Phuong - the last queen of the Nguyen Dynasty.

She gave birth to five children for King Bao Dai. In 1963, the former queen passed away in France due to heart disease, ending the impressive life of a mother of the world.

Kind heart

Born into a wealthy family with a life of luxury, but since she was a child, Queen Nam Phuong lived close to her grandmother, Huynh Thi Tai - a woman who was very good at managing the family and helping with social work - so she was taught and educated to live a kind lifestyle.

That's why, when she became the mother of the world, she still kept her compassionate heart and always turned to the less fortunate.

She once visited Quy Hoa leprosy hospital to visit and encourage patients. This disease does not cause death but leads to deformities in the face, hands, feet... so patients are shunned by everyone. Her visit helped to warm the unfortunate lives.

During a visit to Da Lat in 1938, she visited poor people without any transportation or officials to welcome her. The Queen was accompanied by her mother, Lady Long My Quan Cong Le Thi Binh, Crown Prince Bao Long and Princess Phuong Mai.

In the new land, which was still full of difficulties, the queen did not mind the mud, walking through the newly cleared gardens. She entered the thatched houses of the farmers, giving them useful advice to stabilize their lives.

Queen Nam Phuong in ao dai (Photo: Pestre).

Sharing with Dan Tri reporter , Dr. and researcher Vinh Dao (living in France, descendant of the Nguyen Dynasty) said that Ms. Nam Phuong's participation in the opening of "Golden Week" in Hue and taking off her jewelry to donate to the revolutionary government has a profound symbolic meaning.

"This action shows that she wants to remove unnecessary or inappropriate things to contribute to the common cause, and at the same time set an example and encourage others to follow," he said.

Evaluating Ms. Nam Phuong's social work, Mr. Vinh Dao said that in every work, she always puts honesty and compassion first.

“When visiting hospitals, schools, and social centers, the Queen always asks an attendant to discreetly hand over to the board of directors an envelope containing a sum of money donated by her.

"Mrs. Nam Phuong always used her family's own money, never using a single coin from the royal court or the protectorate state," said Mr. Vinh Dao.

Dr. Nguyen Vinh Dao (right) at the book launch in Vietnam in 2024 (Photo: Minh Nhan - Minh Trang).

80 years have passed, and to this day, the meaning of "Golden Week" remains intact. It is a beautiful image of the power of the people and the art of mobilizing people's strength, promoting the strength of great national unity.

From a country with many difficulties and a depleted treasury in the early days of independence, Vietnam has achieved important achievements such as: GDP ranked 33rd in the world, reaching 476.3 billion USD, being one of the top 20 economies in terms of trade scale, ranking 23rd in the world in terms of export turnover. In 2024 alone, the economy will achieve a growth rate of 7.09%, among the few countries with high growth in the region and the world.

As an overseas Vietnamese living far away from his homeland, Mr. Vinh Dao often arranges his time to visit his homeland twice a year. Every time he returns home, he sees changes in the localities, and people's lives are increasingly improving.

"I am impressed with the rapid development of my homeland. Vietnam's high economic growth rate is a number that European countries aspire to," the Vietnamese-origin researcher emphasized.

*The article uses materials from the book Following the footsteps of Queen Nam Phuong and King Bao Dai.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/doi-song/tu-cuoc-gap-dinh-menh-den-gop-vang-ung-ho-nha-nuoc-cua-nam-phuong-hoang-hau-20250817195614429.htm