US lawyer Nancy Hollander also shared memory about the first people-to-people diplomacy meeting between Vietnam and the US in 1965.

The Vietnamese Women's Museum organized a ceremony on March 7 to receive over 450 documents and objects from US lawyer Nancy Hollander about the first people’s diplomacy meeting between Vietnam and the US in 1965.

Nancy Hollander speaking at the ceremony. 

Nearly 54 years ago, in July 1965 in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, the first meeting between the women from the US and Vietnam was held. Nancy Hollander was the youngest member among the 10 American female delegates who attended the meeting.

“Besides the meaningful event, which is the reception of over 450 documents of the first meeting, the event was also a reunion between former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh and I, two important witnesses of the meeting in Jakarta in 1965,” said Nancy Hollander.

Questions arose as to why it took more than half a century for over 450 documents and objects to be here in Vietnam or in which way these documents and objects are connected to the Vietnam Women’s Museum and who arranged the meeting of the delegates from the two women’s delegations for first time in 54 years.

“When former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh and I met at the meeting in 1965, we also said that someday we will meet again in Vietnam in peace time. It took a long time for that meeting to happen,” said the US lawyer on the sidelines of the event.

Vietnamese Women's Museum organized on March 7 a ceremony to receive over 450 documents and objects from US lawyer Nancy Hollander about the first people’s diplomacy meeting between Vietnam and the US in 1965. 

The Vietnamese Women's Museum organized on March 7 a ceremony to receive over 450 documents and objects from US lawyer Nancy Hollander about the first people’s diplomacy meeting between Vietnam and the US in 1965. Photo: Ha Phuong

In 1965, when she went to Jakarta, Nancy was just 21 years old. According to Nancy, at that time, all American women knew that they had to do everything they could to bring the end to the war in Vietnam.

“There are not many people who read or know about this meeting. For all these years, I’m keeping the documents and objects about the meeting in a box in my house, waiting for the opportunity to bring them to Vietnam. I hopes that these documents and objects will help other people learn and know about Vietnam – US people diplomacy,” Nancy added.

Nancy Hollander also said through all documents and objects, young people know what the Vietnamese women and American women do to find peace

From the initial assessment of the documents and objects, much important historical and diplomatic information about the Jakarta meeting can be found. Vietnamese people see a strong anti-war movement of American people, especially women, youth and students, among them Nancy Hollander with significant contribution.

Over 450 documents and objects from the first meeting in Jakarta. 

Hanoitimes/VNA