HÀ NỘI — The Museum of Vietnamese Women in the capital city is hosting a photo exhibition that chronicles the experiences of migrant women.

The exhibition, entitled "Nơi Tôi Đến" (Where I arrive), is the culmination of a study on 20 women, aged between 16 and 34, who left their rural homes in search of a better future.

These women now work in various occupations, such as street vendors, chefs, hairdressers, and restaurant servers in Hà Nội.

The research was conducted jointly by the Museum of Vietnamese Women, Hà Nội University of Civil Engineering, and the Việt Nam Social Sciences Academy. It aims to examine the entertainment and public space needs of these women, who come from regions such as Sơn La, Cao Bằng, Nghệ An, and Hà Tĩnh.

Canadian Ambassador to Việt Nam Shawn Steil (first right) gets his shoes shined by a migrant woman at the event. — VNS Photo Lê Hương

The exhibition is divided into three topics during their journeys, namely Nơi Tôi Đi (Where I Left), mentioning their background and motherland, Nơi Tôi Đến (Where I Arrive) where they work and Nơi Ấy Có Tôi (Where I am) with ideal public spaces to ease their life pressures.

“Migrant women have been an important labour force, making contributions to the economic development of cities and industrial zones,” said Nguyễn Thị Minh Hương, vice president of Việt Nam Women Union. “Yet they face more challenges and obstacles in the cities, on both work and family life, than men.”

As well as the demand to improve their income, migrant women hope to have a better living environment, including public spaces, she said.

Hương said that concerned agencies have proposed favourable policies and projects to assist migrant women, like supporting them in sending children of under 36 months of age to nursery school and increasing models of a safe community for women.

“In this process, we really need the cooperation of individuals and organisations, especially the migrant women themselves,” she said.

Canadian Ambassador to Việt Nam Shawn Steil expressed his pride that the Canadian government has long been on the top of countries that care most about gender equality in Canada and other countries, with other partners in Việt Nam.

The ambassador appreciated the initiation by the organisers to make cities in Việt Nam more living-worthy and friendly to everyone, including vulnerable populations like migrant labourers or young women.

The exhibition is run at the Museum of Vietnamese Women at 67 Lý Thường Kiệt Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hà Nội. — VNS