Hien DangThere are things about our bodies that we only begin to notice when they speak up. But listening to our bodies should not begin only then. A year ago, Undress to Empower began with a question: what does a woman need to “undress” from in order to live closer to her true self? Preconceptions, pressures and invisible standards of beauty and strength – as well as expectations of how a woman should live – became the starting point for open conversations during the programme’s first edition.
Original Vietnamese version available here: Đọc bài viết tiếng Việt
Text: MINH NGUYỄN
This Pink October, that journey returns with Undress to Empower II, going deeper into something so close to us that it is often taken for granted: our own bodies. Because once all those layers have been shed, perhaps the first thing worth listening to is still the body each woman lives in every day.
From “undressing” to “listening”
Initiated by NỮ DOANH NHÂN – BusinessWoman Magazine during Pink October, “Undress to Empower” seeks not only to raise awareness of breast cancer, but also to open up broader conversations about physical and mental health, and women’s agency over their own bodies and wellbeing.
If the first edition was a journey of “undressing” – shedding the preconceptions, pressures and layers that can sometimes distance us from ourselves – “Undress to Empower II” chooses to begin with listening. Listening to the smallest changes in our bodies. Listening to the limits we so often try to push beyond. Listening, too, to the anxieties we have grown accustomed to overlooking – because we are too busy, because we tell ourselves “it’s probably nothing”, or simply because we have become used to putting so many other things before ourselves.
Listening to the body does not mean waiting until it has to speak loudly. It means actively noticing changes, understanding its signals and giving ourselves the attention we need. In that spirit, this year’s programme continues to create a space where women can meet, share and engage with valuable perspectives on health, prevention and self-care, while finding connection in the honest stories of other women.
Rather than setting an expectation that women must always be strong, always be positive or always be fine, Undress to Empower II begins somewhere more fundamental: understanding our bodies, respecting their signals and taking greater ownership of our own health.
One ticket, one more act of support
In 2025, the first edition of “Undress to Empower” received generous support from the community through ticket sales, a fundraising art exhibition and sale, as well as contributions from individuals and organisations. A total of VND 46,090,000 was donated to Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, providing additional support for breast cancer patients facing financial hardship.
This year, that journey continues. With “Undress to Empower II”, all funds raised through the programme will once again be donated to Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital to support breast cancer patients in difficult circumstances. Every ticket purchased is therefore more than simply a seat at the event; it is also a contribution to the programme’s collective fundraising effort.
In the lead-up to the event, the fundraising message of “Undress to Empower II” will continue to reach the wider community with the participation of artists, influential voices and friends of the programme, encouraging more people to contribute by purchasing a ticket. Because conversations about breast cancer become more meaningful when awareness and prevention extend beyond those attending the event and are translated into tangible support for those who genuinely need it.
Listen – Share – Act
On the afternoon of 19 October 2026, at Novotel Saigon Centre, “Undress to Empower II” will once again bring together personal stories, perspectives on health and connections between women in an open and welcoming setting. Three values run throughout this second edition:
- Listen to the body – to recognise and pay attention to changes in our bodies, rather than waiting until something feels wrong before we begin to care for them.
- Open dialogue – to create room for conversations about our bodies, health, fears and anxieties without the need to hide them or fear judgement.
- Meaningful action – to ensure that awareness does not end with a single afternoon, but translates into taking greater responsibility for our own health and making tangible contributions to women facing breast cancer.
Because our bodies do not deserve attention only when something is wrong. They deserve to be heard even when we believe everything is fine.
UNDRESS TO EMPOWER II
Time: 14:00 – 17:30 | 19 October 2026
Venue: Novotel Saigon Centre, 167 Hai Bà Trưng, Xuân Hòa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Registration for “Undress to Empower II” officially opens today, 29 September 2026. All funds raised through the programme will be donated to Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital to support breast cancer patients facing financial hardship.
Register and purchase your ticket: Here
Further details about the programme, guests and special fundraising activities for “Undress to Empower II” will continue to be announced by NỮ DOANH NHÂN – BusinessWoman Magazine.
ABOUT NỮ DOANH NHÂN – BusinessWoman Magazine
Since the publication of its first print edition in November 2008, NỮ DOANH NHÂN – BusinessWoman Magazine has steadily evolved into a comprehensive media ecosystem for modern women. Beyond in-depth content on business, lifestyle and personal development, NỮ DOANH NHÂN – BusinessWoman Magazine has expanded its reach through networking events, inspirational workshops, recognition awards, financial podcasts, and programmes dedicated to health and life balance. With a multi-channel presence spanning print, digital platforms and real-world experiences, NỮ DOANH NHÂN – BusinessWoman Magazine accompanies Vietnamese women as they create meaningful and lasting value.
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