(HBO)- We visited Thuan Hoa Social Protection Centre in Mai Chau in a rainy afternoon. A 20-square-metre room was teeming with clattering sounds of the fabric weaving loom and over 30 women were busily making brocade pieces in kaleidoscopic patterns. We heard that the Thuan Hoa Centre, and especially its developer Vi Thi Thuan, have been popular in Chieng Chau commune. Thuan is famous for her fortitude and compassion for developing traditional craft products herself and helping tens of women with disabilities work and have stable income.
Photo: Vi Thi Thuan guides and examines products made by women in Thuan Hoa
Social Protection Centre.
From tough
beginning
"Through local people, I myself went to mountainous villages to find women with
disabilities, and learnt that they came mostly from impoverished ethnic
minority and mountainous communes (under the programme 135). I persuaded their
parents to allow them to take on vocational training,” Thuan said. Receiving approval
from their families, they were jovial to leave villages to learn traditional
craft, she added.
"It’s hard to generate for able people, you know. But it is much harder to
create jobs for physically-challenged people as they often fall ill and need intensive
care when the weather changes. However, with strong desire to help women with
disabilities, I was determined to set up a "house” for my own and those women which
warm all up with the love and passion for brocade. I built the centre in 2008
with seven women with disabilities. In the third year (2010), I decided to extend
the centre’s reach to rural women who were unemployed and had no income,” Thuan
shared.
Thuan said her happiness is seeing these women working ardently every day and
together taking care of their home. These women have overcome a complex about
their disable situation as well as many early difficulties and produced dozens
of brocaded souvenirs branded "Hoa Ban” that are sold at airports, and tourist
attractions across the country.
The job has brought a better life for people at the
centre where each person earns an average monthly income of 2 million – 4
million VND.
…
Humanitarian journey…
After a decade working with the passion for brocade
and desire to help those in need, Thuan truly understood what she has been
through.
"But the luckiest thing in my life is I always have
family and sisters at the centre by my side, sharing and giving me courage,”
she said. "Coming from all walks of life, they came here to work and live
together.”
"After many years, I have built a place for them to
live together as a big family. At the same time, I taught them how to weave,
sew and make products but also let them grow on their own, so that they can
open their own business”, she noted.
"Thuan has always been an outstanding woman in the
district for many years, Chairwoman of the district’s Women’s Union Ha Minh Huan
said.
"With her compassion, she has helped and created jobs
for many other women in neighboring areas. She stood out in the campaign of
learning and following late President Ho Chi Minh’s moral and work style,” she
added.
In late March, 29 labourers from Da Bac district were sent to work as seasonal farm workers in Buyeo county, Chungcheongnam province, the Republic of Korea (RoK). Upon arrival, they quickly settled into their jobs, enjoying good working conditions and benefits, with wages aligned with the terms of their signed contracts. The programme is now being expanded, with relevant departments and sectors actively seeking additional seasonal employment opportunities in various localities across the RoK.
Luong Son Industrial Park has invested in standardised wastewater and emissions treatment systems, enforced tight emission controls, reduced noise, dust, and solid waste, and expanded green spaces, contributing to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development.
Hoa Binh police are collecting public feedback on amendments to the 2013 Constitution via the national identification app VNeID. This innovative approach marks a giant leap towards modernising grassroots democracy and enhancing transparency in public consultation.
A total public investment capital of 113 billion VND (over 4.3 million USD) was disbursed for a project to upgrade infrastructure and stabilise residents in the vicinity of the Da River reservoir between 2021 and the first quarter of 2025, giving a facelift to local rural areas and improving the quality of people's life.
Since the end of 2023-2024 academic year, Cu Yen Primary and Secondary School in Luong Son district has deployed e-study records for all of its 500 primary students, said the school principal Nguyen Thi Tuyen.
The Labour Federation of Hoa Binh city has actively worked to protect the rights and welfare of nearly 8,000 local workers and union members at 152 grassroots unions. Through regular dialogues, education campaigns, and welfare programmes, the federation has helped foster stable, progressive labour relations.
