Notable Vietnamese Women in History

Vietnamese history is not only written by heroic men but also by the important contributions of resilient and brave women. They stood up to fight, led the army, and devoted themselves to the country during the most difficult times. This article will introduce the outstanding women in Vietnamese history who left a deep mark and were respected and loved by the Vietnamese people.

1. The Trung Sisters (Trung Trac and Trung Nhi)

The Trung Sisters are two of the first heroines in Vietnamese history. Born around the first century AD, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi led an uprising against the rule of the Eastern Han Dynasty in 40 AD. After Trung Trac’s husband Thi Sach was killed by the Eastern Han army, the two sisters stood together and called on the people to rise up.

The Trung Sisters' uprising was a resounding success, they defeated the Eastern Han army and won independence for the nation. The Trung Sisters became a symbol of patriotism and the indomitable fighting spirit of Vietnamese women. Although the uprising failed, the Trung Sisters are forever honored as the first national heroes in Vietnamese history.

2. Lady Trieu (Trieu Thi Trinh)

Lady Trieu, also known as Trieu Thi Trinh, is one of the most famous heroines in Vietnamese history. Born in 226 in Thanh Hoa, Lady Trieu rose up against the Ngo Dynasty in 248 at the age of 23. With her tall stature and bravery, she often wore golden armor and rode a war elephant into battle.

Lady Trieu was described as a resilient woman with an indomitable fighting spirit, famous for her famous quote: “I just want to ride the strong wind, trample the fierce waves, kill the whales in the East Sea, sweep the country clean, save the people from misery, and not bow down to be someone else's concubine.” Although her uprising was unsuccessful, Lady Trieu's fighting spirit became a source of inspiration for many generations to come.

3. Queen Mother Y Lan

Y Lan (real name Le Thi Yen) was one of the most powerful and talented queens in the feudal history of Vietnam. She was born into a peasant family and became the queen of King Ly Thanh Tong, Ly Dynasty. After King Ly Thanh Tong passed away, she became regent for her son, King Ly Nhan Tong, directly running the court.

Queen Mother Y Lan was known for her intelligence, wisdom and leadership. She implemented many important economic and social reforms, bringing the country to great development. She also made great contributions in protecting the country from foreign invasion. Y Lan's life and career are a testament to the excellence of women in leading and managing the country.

4. Vo Thi Sau

Vo Thi Sau is one of the famous heroines of the resistance war against the French. Born in 1933 in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Vo Thi Sau joined the revolution at a very young age and quickly became a staunch fighter in the activities against the French colonialists.

In 1949, at the age of 16, Vo Thi Sau was arrested and sentenced to death by the French colonialists for her resistance activities. On January 23, 1952, she was executed in Con Dao, but before going to the execution ground, Vo Thi Sau still showed her steadfast and fearless spirit, terrifying the enemy. The image of Vo Thi Sau became a symbol of the courage and patriotism of Vietnamese youth in the resistance war against the French.

5. Nguyen Thi Dinh

Nguyen Thi Dinh was one of the most outstanding female leaders during the anti-American resistance war. She was born in 1920 in Ben Tre and joined the revolution at the age of 16. She is known for her role as the commander of the “Dong Khoi Ben Tre” movement in 1960, one of the largest uprisings of the army and people of South Vietnam in the early stages of the anti-American resistance war.

With her excellent leadership, Nguyen Thi Dinh was elected Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam, becoming the first and only woman to hold a high position in the revolutionary army. She is a symbol of the resilience and indomitable fighting spirit of Vietnamese women in the cause of defending and liberating the country.

Vietnamese Women

Vietnamese women who stand out in history are not only steadfast fighters in resistance wars but also talented leaders who have made important contributions to the development of the country. They have proven that women can do great things and contribute significantly to the construction and protection of the country.

Let us always remember and cherish the great contributions of these women, so that their brave and resilient spirit can become a source of inspiration for today's and future generations.