France’s first female astronaut discusses women’s roles in science, leadership in Ho Chi Minh City

The panel discussion 'Women of Impact – Voices in Science and Leadership,' co-organized by the French Institute in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City and the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam, followed two earlier events in Hanoi on her Vietnam trip.

Haigneré is a rheumatologist, researcher, and the first French female astronaut to travel to space, with missions in 1996 and 2001.

With her extensive background in science and politics, she has consistently advocated for international cooperation in space exploration and encouraged young people – especially female students – to pursue careers in science and technology.

Changes are needed

At the Ho Chi Minh City event, Haigneré noted that while women’s contribution to science and high-tech industries has grown, the progress has slowed in recent years.

“Thirty years ago, in aeronautics, the high-tech industry and related industries, women made up less than 20 percent,” she said.

“Now it is around 25 or 26 percent, I don't know exactly, so it’s a growing number but for 10 years now, we are in a plateau. 

"And even in some fields, there is a decreasing slope.”

To address this, Haigneré urged for earlier action, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing young women at an early stage and offering real examples of passion.

Haigneré mentioned the importance of mentoring, noting that those who were once mentees can become mentors for the next generation, helping to reshape the culture of science and technology.

She added that the way science, technology, and engineering are presented should also change, shifting from abstract or exams to a narrative that connects with life and the evolution of society.

“This is the way I think we must do it,” she said. 

"Changing the narrative, doing more collaborative projects with diversity and embodying this in reality and science too.

“For the time being, it's still too much knowledge without action. 

"Knowledge to action, I think we have to change that.”

The CHARME principal and dual identity

Discussing qualities women demonstrate to succeed in their positions, Haigneré shared, partly in jest, that she often explains this in French using the acronym CHARME to describe leadership qualities.

“As women, we have to exert our leadership with CHARME (charm in French),” she said, explaining that C stands for conviction, H for humility, A for assertiveness or authenticity, R for responsibility and resilience, M for motivation, and E for equity, empathy, or exemplarity.

Hoang Tri Mai, Airbus chief representative in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, continued the discussion, admitting that “the one letter I was born without is assertiveness.”

She explained that in Vietnam, women are taught to be nice and gentle, so assertiveness is something she had to build up herself.

“What I learned,” Mai said, “is that you need to be bold.”

“And with all humbleness, I think I'm pretty there, but by breaking doors, by making self-conscious choices to be bold, to sometimes kick doors open to get my way in.”

Ton Nu Thi Ninh, former Ambassador of Vietnam to the European Union and Belgium, praised the CHARME approach, but noting that when put in a Vietnamese cultural, historical, and eco-political context, one should start with identity.

“You need to know in this challenging world, close to you and very far out there, who you are and where you stand,” Ninh said.

“The notion of identity, which is not simply national, it's cultural, it's personal, it's all sorts of facets synthesized into one.”

She expressed her hope that Vietnamese women would always recognize themselves as both firmly rooted in their Vietnamese identity and as members of the wider world.

“We need to have this dual identity, and the challenge is to navigate that link in a way that is not too challenging, not too disruptive,” Ninh added.

“In Vietnamese, there's the word que huong. It's not the country. Que huong is where you belong. It's the home, the homeland. And so in this globalized world, we still want to connect to a home, not a house.

“That combination of home and the world in a way that is enabling, not constraining you, opening doors for you to rise, do the best you can, and be the best version of yourself.”

By “the best version of yourself,” she meant the best version of female selves.

“We are still women. By that I mean we should not compare ourselves to male models,” she said.

“As we strive, rise, and grow, we shouldn't compare ourselves to men. 

"Women are their own version of themselves, so let's try to be the best version of our female selves.”

Ninh also confirmed Vietnamese women’s interest in science and technology.

“If they are provided the right conditions, I believe they can rise,” she said. 

“Vietnamese women are strong – not in a muscular sense but in terms of inner strength and characteristics. 

"To make an impact, you need to have characteristics.”