Empowering young women to become independent

Some have graduated from university and secured stable jobs, while others have opened their own hairdressing or nail salons. These are among the achievements highlighted by Loan Tran, a Danish woman of Vietnamese origin, when speaking about young women who once received care at the Little Rose (Hoa hồng nhỏ) Shelter in Ho Chi Minh City.

Born and raised in Denmark, she was taught by her parents the importance of gratitude and responsibility towards the community. Her parents had experienced a life of hardship and always strived to ensure that their children could receive an education. These family experiences, together with the good educational opportunities available in Denmark, inspired her to devote her time to helping disadvantaged people in Viet Nam. Before returning to live in Viet Nam, Loan Tran was a member of the Denmark-Viet Nam Friendship Association (DAVIFO). Through the association, she learned about the Little Rose Shelter and began dedicating herself to supporting the young women there.

Established in 1992 by the Ho Chi Minh City Association for the Support of Children, the Little Rose Shelter provides accommodation and care for girls in particularly difficult circumstances, including those who have experienced sexual abuse or are at risk of abuse. At the shelter, they are provided with safe accommodation, healthcare, psychological support, general education, vocational training and life skills.

In addition to mobilising financial support, Loan Tran takes part in skills-development activities to help older girls prepare for life after leaving the shelter. One of the vocational training initiatives is Little Rose Bakery, established in 2017 with funding from DAVIFO and the Union Générale des Vietnamiens de France (UGVF).

At the bakery, the girls are taught how to make cakes, operate equipment and gain practical experience by fulfilling customer orders. Vocational training helps them develop working skills, while the proceeds from cake sales are used to support the shelter's operations.

According to figures shared by Loan Tran in 2020, nine girls had received vocational training in baking. The bakery had fulfilled more than 300 orders, producing over 1,000 chocolate cream puffs and more than 5,000 decorated cookies made to order.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused financial difficulties for the shelter. According to Loan Tran, approximately US$10,000 in regular funding was lost, putting the shelter at risk of having to cease operations. Together with her fellow supporters, she called for donations of money and food, as well as orders for products from Little Rose Bakery, to raise additional funds for the girls' care.

Girls at the Little Rose Shelter in Ho Chi Minh City practise baking and develop vocational skills as they take gradual steps towards an independent life.

Loan Tran and her Danish friends continued their efforts beyond that difficult period. On June 18, 2026, she attended a gathering organised by DAVIFO in Copenhagen, where she provided updates on the Little Rose Shelter. She shared information about the shelter's situation and explained how support from Denmark had helped improve the girls' lives.

According to DAVIFO, in 2026, the association continued to maintain a dedicated fundraising group for the Little Rose Shelter, led by Lise Malling Olsen, with Loan Tran and other members also participating. The group regularly contacts the shelter's management in Ho Chi Minh City to receive updates, assess its needs and mobilise additional support.

DAVIFO marked its 50th anniversary in 2026. In addition to supporting the Little Rose Shelter, the association has raised funds to purchase medical equipment and support staff training at Bao Loc Hospital in Lam Dong Province. It has also organised programmes introducing Vietnamese culture, music and daily life to audiences in Denmark.

During his State visit to Denmark, on October 20, 2026, General Secretary and State President To Lam met with representatives of DAVIFO, acknowledging the association's contributions over several decades. He expressed his hope that the association would continue to connect resources and implement initiatives supporting children, women and vulnerable groups, while expanding cultural and educational exchanges and strengthening connections between younger generations of the two countries.

The meeting took place in a year when Viet Nam and Denmark are celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (November 25, 1971-November 25, 2026), while also elevating their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Sung Quang Huy, a pupil in class 3A5 at Meo Vac Primary School, Tuyen Quang Province, stands beside his painting, which won Fourth Prize. (Photo: Kieu Thoan Thu)

Children contribute to nurturing friendship

While DAVIFO's activities help disadvantaged girls receive care and vocational training, in Viet Nam, the Viet Nam-Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA) creates opportunities for children to engage in exchanges, learn about Denmark and express their thoughts through art.

In his painting entitled “Green energy on the rocky plateau of my hometown”, Sung Quang Huy, a pupil in class 3A5 at Meo Vac Primary School in Tuyen Quang Province, conveys his wish for every village in his hometown to have electricity. Meanwhile, Giang Thi Hoa, a pupil in class 5B at Tung Vai Semi-Boarding School for Ethnic Minority Students, also in Tuyen Quang Province, dreams of having a “rain-making vehicle”. Rainfall is scarce in Hoa's hometown, and drought occurs at certain times of the year. She hopes that the vehicle will bring rain to the villages so that local residents will face fewer water shortages.

These wishes, rooted in everyday life in their hometowns, helped Huy win an encouragement prize and Hoa secure third prize in the 2025-2026 edition of the “Denmark through my eyes” competition.

Organised by the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam in cooperation with VIDAFA since 2016, the competition encourages students to learn about Denmark and express their thoughts on the environment and sustainable development.

Under the theme “Green living”, the 2025-2026 edition attracted more than 130,000 entries from students nationwide, the highest number in the competition's 10-year history. Through their paintings, the children presented ideas on clean energy, resource conservation and environmental protection, while also reflecting issues closely connected to everyday life in their local communities.

This exchange initiative also benefits children who do not directly participate in the competition. On September 11, 2026, the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam presented more than 100 paintings selected from the 2025-2026 competition to E Hospital in Hanoi. The artworks are expected to be displayed in the Departments of General Paediatrics, Paediatric Cardiology, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery and Mental Health.

On the same occasion, the Embassy donated children's books by Danish authors and toys manufactured in Denmark. Young patients also took part in drawing and colouring activities at the hospital.

Danish Ambassador to Viet Nam Lina Gandløse Hansen said that behind every painting lay a child's imagination, hopes and unique perspective on the world. She expressed her hope that the artworks would help make the hospital environment brighter and more welcoming, bringing colour and optimism to patients, their families and healthcare staff.

According to Dr. Nguyen Cong Huu, Director of E Hospital, the paintings help create a more welcoming environment, easing young patients' anxiety and fear while fostering a more positive mindset throughout their medical examinations and treatment.

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