Growing Up Fifteen
What it means to be a 15-year-old girl in Viet Nam
- English
- Tiếng Việt
In 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set out a vision for a world where every adolescent girl can grow up safe, educated and empowered.
Thirty years later, with support from the women in their families, 15-year-old girls in Viet Nam are carving out their own paths—asking bold questions, challenging barriers, and imagining new possibilities. These are their stories.
Thu, 15
"Hello, I'm Thu, 15 years old. I want to be an edtech entrepreneur, and I must admit...
I have doubted myself countless times when pursuing my dream.
Many people assume girls can’t thrive in STEAM.
In STEAM classes at my school, boys always outnumber girls.
My mom noticed it. She told me: “Self-belief is power.”
At 15, my mom was told to play it safe - get a ‘woman’ job, marry well, and settle down.
Social norms like these still exist today. But change is happening.
More families encourage girls like me to follow our passions. I see more women leading, innovating, and breaking barriers in areas traditionally dominated by men.
After months of experimenting, I finally built an app to help fellow students form better learning habits.
I share about my passion, because girls should know they too do belong in tech boardrooms, coding labs, and beyond.
Doubts still creep in sometimes. But as my mom said, I chose to believe in myself, and I hope you do too."
Linh, 15
"Hello, I’m Linh, 15 years old.
At 11, I emailed 40 schools in Ha Noi, asking them to stop releasing air balloons into the sky on school opening days.
Balloons are meant to symbolize students’ dreams soaring. But they don’t just disappear.
Each year, they fall into rivers, oceans, and forests—harming birds, sea turtles, and other wildlife.
I knew this had to change, but wasn’t sure if I was the one to change it.
Back then, I was a shy kid. Speaking up felt scary.
But my mom said: "Every change starts with courage".
So, I took a deep breath and hit send. Four schools said yes with enthusiasm.
That year, and in the years that followed, fewer balloons drifted into the sky.
A small win. A sign that one voice can make a difference.
That one email was just the start. Since then, I’ve kept going—raising awareness, leading campaigns, even writing a book.
Because my dream isn’t just about stopping balloons. I want to change how girls learn about the environment. Not just the problems, but the solutions.
When we know better, we do better.
So, what change will you make?"
What advice would you give to your 15-year-old self?
Now 24, Miss World Vietnam 2019 Luong Thuy Linh reflects on the past and shares her three pieces of advice to her 15-year-old self.
"Here are 3 things I wish I knew when I was 15.
At 15, I wish I had known that with hard work and a clear mind, anything is possible.
At 15, I wish I had realized that simply being born healthy is a gift. Maybe then, I would have taken better care of myself—eating better and building healthier habits.
At 15, I wish I had learned about UNICEF’s work sooner. I would have gained more awareness of social issues and found ways to contribute to UNICEF Viet Nam’s initiatives."
