Vietnam Airlines: Advancing Women's Progress – Towards Sustainable Development

Vietnam Airlines Corporation (Vietnam Airlines) held a Training Conference on Women's Advancement – Population, Family and Children – and Prevention of Social Evils, along with a source-tracing journey to Tây Ninh Province organized by VIAGS’ Committee for the Advancement of Women.

The conference attracted the participation of many senior leaders from regulatory agencies, international organizations, and the business community. Ms. Lương Thị Hải Anh – Deputy Director of the Department of Gender Equality and Youth, Ministry of Home Affairs – and Ms. Caroline T. Nyamayemombe – Country Representative of UN Women in Vietnam – attended and shared policies and international experiences in promoting women’s economic empowerment.

Overview of the Conference on the Advancement of Women 2024 and Orientation for 2025 (Photo: Mai Hương).

Major General Ngô Hoài Thu – Deputy Director of Department X03, Ministry of Public Security – Mr. Nguyễn Quang Vinh – Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and Ms. Mai Thị Diệu Huyền – Acting Vice President of the Vietnam Businesswomen’s Council (VCCI) – also participated, making important contributions regarding gender equality policies in labor and business environments.

The event also saw the presence of Vietnam Airlines’ leadership and numerous employees, demonstrating the company’s strong commitment to promoting women's advancement.

Deputy CEO Lê Đức Cảnh delivering the opening speech (Photo: Mai Hương).

In his opening speech, Mr. Lê Đức Cảnh – Deputy CEO of Vietnam Airlines – emphasized that gender equality is not only a social goal but also a crucial driver for the sustainable development of both enterprises and the nation.

With women accounting for 54% of its workforce and 28% of leadership positions, Vietnam Airlines has continuously created opportunities for women to advance equally with men, even in traditionally male-dominated fields such as piloting and aircraft engineering.

The presentations attracted lively discussion among VNA Group leadership and employees (Photo: Mai Hương).

The conference also heard critical insights from experts on promoting gender equality within businesses. Speakers from UN Women and VCCI presented the Gender Gap Analysis Tool for the Workplace, designed to help enterprises evaluate and improve HR policies to ensure fairness. This tool not only helps identify barriers faced by women at work but also enhances corporate productivity and talent retention.

Presentations by speakers from UN Women and VCCI (Photo: Mai Hương).

Another important topic discussed at the conference was Gender-Responsive Procurement, introduced by international experts. Applying gender equality criteria in corporate procurement not only fosters a fair business environment but also enhances corporate branding in the eyes of customers and partners.

In the summary session, Mr. Đỗ Đông Hưng – Deputy Head of Vietnam Airlines' Committee for the Advancement of Women and Deputy Head of Communications – delivered a report reviewing the achievements of 2024. Vietnam Airlines partnered with UN Women to organize many activities aimed at raising awareness of gender equality, including the “Orange Flight,” the HeForShe campaign, and various contests on gender equality and domestic violence prevention. The company also emphasized training and leadership development programs for female staff through specialized workshops.

Through reports, presentations, and expert sharing, the conference contributed to enhancing awareness of equal rights and fostering a fairer, more sustainable working environment (Photo: Mai Hương).

For 2025, Vietnam Airlines will continue key programs such as "Ring the Bell for Gender Equality" and the "Blue Flight," while intensifying gender equality communications across mass media platforms. Close collaboration with international organizations and state management agencies will further improve policies supporting women in the workplace.

Leaders presenting awards to outstanding individuals and teams promoting gender equality (Photo: Mai Hương).

The conference concluded with a ceremony honoring collectives and individuals who made outstanding contributions to promoting gender equality. Vietnam Airlines leadership expressed sincere gratitude to all agencies and organizations that have supported the airline’s sustainable development journey.

Ms. Lương Thị Hải Anh (Ministry of Home Affairs) and Ms. Caroline T. Nyamayemombe (UN Women) delivering keynote speeches at the event (Photo: Mai Hương).

Major General Ngô Hoài Thu (Ministry of Public Security) sharing plans to collaborate with Vietnam Airlines for the upcoming "Blue Flight" project (Photo: Mai Hương).

The conference reaffirmed Vietnam Airlines' unwavering commitment to building a fair, inclusive work environment that empowers women to fully realize their potential and contribute meaningfully to the company’s and society’s overall development.