Hanoi, September 10, 2024, The Europe Today: Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, Ambassador Đặng Hoàng Giang, recently met with Amanda Nguyen, the first woman of Vietnamese origin scheduled to fly into space. The meeting, held on September 5, 2024, celebrated Nguyen’s selection to join the Blue Origin New Shepard Rocket mission in mid-2025.
Ambassador Giang extended his congratulations to Nguyen, highlighting the significance of her upcoming spaceflight in showcasing the capabilities and promoting the image of Vietnamese women on a global stage. He emphasized that Vietnamese women have historically played a crucial role in the nation’s development, from its ancient history to the present day.
The Ambassador also underscored Vietnam’s commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women, noting that the government has prioritized creating conditions that enable women to contribute to socio-economic development and participate actively in international efforts. Vietnam’s active role in promoting women’s rights and gender equality at the United Nations, including its forthcoming tenure on the UN Women board for 2025-27, was also highlighted.
Ambassador Giang encouraged Nguyen to further strengthen the ties between Vietnam and the United States through her groundbreaking achievement.
Amanda Nguyen, who was born in the United States in 1991, expressed her pride in her Vietnamese heritage and the honor of becoming the first Vietnamese-American woman to travel to space as part of the Space for Humanity project. She expressed her hope that her spaceflight would enhance the visibility of Vietnamese women, foster community connections, and advance efforts towards gender equality and the fight against violence and abuse.
Nguyen is renowned for her advocacy against discrimination and sexual assault in the United States. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, recognized as one of Time magazine’s Women of the Year in 2022, and has received numerous accolades, including the Heinz Award for Public Policy and the Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award. She has also been featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and was named one of Foreign Policy magazine’s top 100 global thinkers.
