Aspiring to Contribute: Lam Dong’s Female Candidates for the 16th National Assembly

This figure not only reflects the growing commitment to the development of female and ethnic minority officials but also demonstrates the increasing confidence, capability and influence of women in the province’s political and social life.

Entering the election campaign, many female candidates bring with them years of dedicated public service and close engagement with grassroots communities, along with a strong aspiration to bring voters’ voices to the National Assembly.

Aspiration to improve ethnic minority livelihoods

Born and raised in the K’Ho ethnic community, Cil Bri, Deputy Director of the Lam Dong Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, has a deep understanding of the lives and concerns of ethnic minority communities and religious followers in the province.

Holding a general medical degree and a Level I specialization in public health, she has spent many years working in the field of ethnic and religious affairs, gaining extensive practical experience in policy consultation, public administration and strengthening connections between authorities and local communities.

Beyond understanding the aspirations of ethnic minorities and religious leaders, she has also played a role in translating those concerns into effective public policies. Her long-standing engagement with grassroots communities and close coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations provide an important foundation for fulfilling the role of a National Assembly deputy if entrusted by voters.

For Cil Bri, a National Assembly deputy represents the will and aspirations of the people, participates in constitutional and legislative work, decides on major national issues and exercises supreme oversight over state activities.

Being nominated as a candidate for the National Assembly, she said, is both a great honor and a profound responsibility before voters. If elected, she hopes to contribute to promoting green economic development, strengthening social welfare policies, improving living conditions for ethnic minority communities and enhancing oversight to ensure that Party and State policies are effectively implemented.

Commitment to preserving cultural identity

Having spent many years working in the field of culture and sports, Vi Thi Thu, Deputy Head of the Sports Management Division at the Lam Dong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has long been committed to preserving and promoting the distinctive cultural values of the Central Highlands.

Born in Son La but having built a long career in Lam Dong, she has witnessed the unique cultural exchange between indigenous ethnic communities and people from different regions who have settled in the province.

If elected to the National Assembly, she said she would advocate for policies that strengthen the preservation and promotion of ethnic cultural heritage while also developing traditional craft villages to create sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

She also aims to contribute to policy frameworks that preserve the cultural heritage of the K’Ho people and other ethnic minorities, while encouraging the preservation of cultural traditions among communities originally from Hanoi and northern provinces who have long settled in Lam Dong.

According to her, integrating new rural development with cultural preservation is a crucial pathway toward sustainable socio-economic growth.

Dedicated to healthcare and social welfare

With many years of experience in the healthcare sector, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Head of the Internal Medicine – Pediatrics – Infectious Diseases Department at the Dak Mil Regional Medical Center, has devoted her career to treating patients and improving public health services.

Beyond her clinical work, she has actively participated in scientific research, training young medical professionals, and contributing to community activities.

If elected, she said she would strive to serve as a bridge between voters, the National Assembly and central agencies, ensuring that people’s voices and aspirations are faithfully represented.

Drawing on her professional experience, she is particularly concerned with improving healthcare quality, reducing hospital overcrowding, strengthening grassroots healthcare capacity, and ensuring that all citizens—especially those in remote and disadvantaged areas—have equitable access to appropriate medical services.

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If elected to the National Assembly, I will devote my full efforts to serving with dedication and objectivity, always placing the interests of the people first, and contributing to the development of a fair, efficient and humane healthcare system

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, candidate for the 16th National Assembly

Bringing the voice of heritage to the National Assembly

Entering the election campaign with a strong passion for cultural preservation, Lu Thai Tuyen, a cultural sector official from the Cham ethnic group, hopes to bring the voice of culture and community to the National Assembly.

With more than two decades of experience working in the field of heritage conservation, she has developed a deep understanding of the cultural traditions of various ethnic groups and the challenges of preserving those values in the context of a modern development.

If elected, she hopes to promote policies that view culture and society as endogenous drivers of development, enabling local communities to directly participate in and benefit from cultural resources while creating sustainable livelihoods rooted in indigenous culture.

She also aims to strengthen the implementation of national target programs, particularly those focused on socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, while promoting gender equality and creating opportunities for women—especially ethnic minority women—to contribute more actively to society.

Voters’ trust and expectations

The significant number of female candidates running for the 16th National Assembly reflects not only progress in gender equality but also the increasingly important role of women in the political system.

Each female candidate brings a different professional journey—from ethnic affairs and cultural management to healthcare and public administration. Yet they share a common commitment to public service, grassroots engagement and the aspiration to contribute to the country and its people.

Regardless of the election outcome, the fact that these women confidently present their action plans and aspirations before voters demonstrates the vitality of democratic participation and social progress.

Voters in Lam Dong hope that these journeys of dedication will bring more passionate and responsible voices to the 16th National Assembly, contributing to sustainable national development and improved living standards, particularly for residents in remote areas and ethnic minority communities.

Female voters in the province, in particular, place great expectations on these candidates—described as “bright blossoms” expected to help advance gender equality and empower women, especially ethnic minority women, to thrive and contribute in the country’s new era of development, described as the “Era of the Nation’s Rise.”