Top 10 Courageous and Intelligent Women in Vietnam

Hai Ba Trung are the first national liberation flag bearers in Vietnamese history, the first heroic female generals to rise and raise the rebellion flag. Hai Ba Trung consists of Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, two sisters, daughters of the legendary general Me Linh, belonging to the Hùng Vương lineage. Their homeland is the land of Cổ Lai, now in Mê Linh commune, Yên Lãng district, Vĩnh Phúc province today.

Due to the oppressive policies and brutal exploitation of the Han Dynasty, and the murder of Trung Trac's husband by the cruel Tô Định, the Trung sisters rose in rebellion. The uprising of Hai Ba Trung (Trung Trac and Trung Nhi) erupted in the spring of Canh Ty 40 AD, the rebel army quickly took control of Mê Linh, then marched down to Cổ Loa and Luy Lâu. The uprising quickly succeeded under the skillful leadership of the two female generals.

This is considered the first comprehensive and widespread uprising of the people of Âu Lạc, opposing the northern feudal forces at the beginning of the Common Era. The uprising, initiated by Trung Trac along with her younger sister Trung Nhi, had significant contributions not only from Hai Ba Trung but also from many female generals and soldiers in the army. It was a rebellion led solely by women in the history of the Vietnamese people, establishing an independent, unified, and autonomous dynasty at that time. It marked the end of the first period of northern feudal domination lasting for 246 years (207 BCE - 39 CE).

Known for her beauty, martial prowess, and love for swordplay, Bùi Thị Xuân stood as a pillar and a founding hero of the Tây Sơn dynasty. In July 1775, Nguyễn Nhạc sent Nguyễn Huệ to attack Phú Yên. Nguyễn Huệ entrusted Tây Sơn to Bùi Thị Xuân and Võ Đình Tú for management, leading the army to Phú Yên.

In 1785, Bùi Thị Xuân and her husband played a pivotal role in the Rạch Gầm - Xoài Mút battle, dispersing 20,000 Siamese troops and achieving grand success. She skillfully beheaded the Siamese general Lục Côn. According to historical records, during the significant defeat of the Manchu forces in early spring of the year Kỷ Dậu 1789, she commanded the infantry of the Trung Đạo army under the leadership of King Quang Trung. In the subsequent years, she and her husband led the army to suppress opposition forces to the new dynasty, including the forces of the imperial family member Lê Duy Chỉ conspiring with Tù trưởng Bảo Lạc (Hà Tuyên)...

Following the sudden death of King Quang Trung on July 29, 1792, the Tây Sơn dynasty faced internal strife. Seeking to salvage the nation's situation, in the spring of 1802, King Cảnh Thịnh sent his younger brother Nguyễn Quang Thùy to guard Nghệ An, while he personally led the army to recapture Phú Xuân. In this campaign, Bùi Thị Xuân was ordered to take 5,000 troops to support the front. Witnessing the increasingly unfavorable situation, Bùi Thị Xuân, riding an elephant, bravely charged into the Trấn Ninh fortress, where Nguyễn Phúc Ánh was defending, her armor soaked in blood and sweat. However, upon hearing the news that General Nguyễn Văn Trương had defeated the Tây Sơn navy at Nhật Lệ seaport, seizing most of the ships, and the gatekeeper Nguyễn Văn Kiên had surrendered, her army panicked, abandoning all weapons and ammunition to flee...The Tây Sơn dynasty slid into decline. And that marked the fierce final battle of the heroic female general.

In the spirit of patriotism, compassion for the people, and hatred for the cruel oppression of the Dong Ngo officials, after nearly two centuries, the land of Cuu Chan, Thanh Hoa, witnessed the emergence of a heroic woman named Triệu Thị Trinh with an ironclad oath: 'I only want to ride the strong wind, tread the fierce waves, cut the whale in the East Sea, reclaim the territory, establish independence, break free from slavery, and not bow down as a concubine to anyone!' leaving a mark in the history of our country.

Without resentment but with justice against the harsh rule of the Dong Ngo officials, Triệu Thị Trinh and her younger brother Triệu Quốc Đạt conspired to rebel against the occupation forces. From two bases on the mountains of Nưa and Yên Định, the siblings led the army to capture the administrative district of Tư Phố situated at the confluence of the Mã River. This was a major military base of the Dong Ngo officials in the land of Cuu Chan. Victorious, the righteous forces redirected their activities to the delta of this river.

While the battle was raging, unfortunately, Triệu Quốc Đạt, her younger brother, fell ill and passed away. With determined resistance against oppression, courage, and bravery, she was elevated to leadership. She collaborated with three cousins, the Lý brothers in Bồ Điền, to conquer the remaining territories in present-day Northern Thanh Hoa. Simultaneously, she built a defensive line from the Bồ Điền stronghold to the Thần Phù seashore to block the enemy's naval forces attacking from the North.

When heading to battle, Lady Triệu wore a golden armor, donned ivory shoes, adorned with golden earrings, rode a pure ivory elephant, and was honored as the General Orchid Beauty. Wherever her army went, it received overwhelming support from the people, terrifying the enemy forces. Fierce battles took place; however, due to the disparity in forces and the absence of support from other resistance movements, the Bồ Điền stronghold was surrounded, isolated, and only stood firm for just over two months. Lady Triệu chose to ascend the Tùng mountain, located in Triệu Lộc commune, Hậu Lộc district, Thanh Hoa, in the year Mậu Thìn (248), at the age of 23. Today, the Tùng mountain area (Triệu Lộc commune) still preserves the tomb relics of Lady Triệu. Not far from her burial site, on the Gai mountain right next to National Highway 1 (passing through Phú Điền hamlet, Triệu Lộc commune, 18 km north of Thanh Hoa city), there is a temple dedicated to her. Every year, on the 21st day of the 2nd lunar month, the local people organize a memorial ceremony to commemorate her contributions to the homeland.

Sister Võ Thị Sáu was born in 1933 in Phước Thọ commune, Đất Đỏ district, now Long Đất district, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu province. Born in a region rich in revolutionary tradition, in 1947, at the age of 14, she joined the District Revolutionary Police Force of Đất Đỏ with the desire to punish the wicked. Since then, she has become a brave reconnaissance soldier with many famous exploits. In February 1950, leading a team, she used a grenade to ambush and eliminate two wicked individuals, Cả Suốt and Cả Đay. Unfortunately, she fell into enemy hands. They subjected her to various forms of torture, but unable to extract any information, they took her to the Chí Hòa prison in Sài Gòn for further interrogation and later held a trial, sentencing her to death.

During the public trial, although only 17 years old, Sister Võ Thị Sáu boldly displayed the heroic demeanor of a Vietnamese young woman, making the court officials and their associates fear her. She confidently affirmed: 'Loving the country and resisting the imperialist invaders is not a crime.' When the judge rang the bell to silence her and announced the verdict, 'Death penalty, confiscation of all property,' she shouted at him: 'I still have a few trash cans at Chí Hòa, you guys should go confiscate those!' Following that were cries of: 'Overthrow the French imperialists!' and 'The resistance will surely triumph!' Due to her not reaching the age of criminal responsibility, they did not immediately carry out the death sentence. On January 23, 1952, they executed the verdict, shooting her on this distant island after two days of bringing her here.

At four in the morning on January 23, 1952, after the chief justice completed the execution procedures, the prison chaplain spoke up: 'Now, confess your sins to God.' She defiantly replied to the priest: 'I have no sins. The one about to execute me here is the one with sins...'. He patiently tried to persuade her: 'Before you die, do you have any regrets?' She looked directly at him and the chief justice, answering: 'I only regret not having exterminated all the imperialist invaders and their lackeys who sold our country.' These were the resolute words she spoke before sacrificing herself.

Lieutenant Colonel Đinh Thị Vân (Born 1916) is a renowned female intelligence hero of Vietnam. She was born in Đông An village, Xuân Thành commune, Xuân Trường district, Nam Định province. Her real name is Đinh Thị Mậu, born into a Confucian family with a patriotic tradition. From a young age, she was aware of the spirit of fighting against the colonial regime for national independence. As she grew older, her patriotic spirit grew stronger. She sacrificed her personal happiness, embracing the profound duty even as she arranged a marriage for her husband to take care of household affairs, creating conditions for her to fulfill her mission.

She became the organizer and director of the intelligence network in Saigon during the resistance against the United States. With her intelligence, agility, and unwavering loyalty, she built a strong intelligence network, providing timely information to the Party Central Committee about the U.S. disguised sweeping operations targeting our anti-war leadership in the Southeastern region. Her intelligence system effectively served the plans of our army's attacks from the Tet Offensive in 1968 until the complete liberation of the South in 1975.

Comrade Võ Thị Thắng was born on December 10, 1945, into a patriotic family where her parents and nine siblings were all involved in the revolution.

She experienced a heroic and intense childhood: At just 9 years old, she delivered letters and carried food to revolutionary soldiers hidden by her parents in a secret underground chamber in the family garden when the enemy swept through the South. At 13, she attended the public school Gia Long Saigon (now Nguyen Thi Minh Khai School). At 16, she became a member of the National Liberation Front in Ben Luc - Long An district. At 17, she organized activities in secret within the Youth - Student - Pupil Movement in Saigon; later, she shifted to the Workers' Movement and then to the armed forces in the urban areas.

During the 1968 Tet Offensive, while carrying out an anti-enemy mission in Phu Lam, District 6, she fell into the hands of the enemy. Enduring 6 consecutive years of imprisonment, she suffered torture and captivity from Thu Duc Detention Center to Chi Hoa Prison, from Tan Hiep Prison, Hoc Nai to Con Dao Prison. Despite the violence and tyranny of the enemy, she, like many comrades, remained unyielding. Following the Paris Agreement, the enemy had to release many imprisoned revolutionaries, and Comrade Võ Thị Thắng returned to the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Vietnam at Lộc Ninh Airport on March 7, 1974.

After the reunification day, when peace was restored (April 30, 1975), she worked at the Youth Union, the Women's Union of Ho Chi Minh City, later assigned the position of Deputy Permanent Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women's Union. She was elected to the Central Party Executive Committee in the VIII and IX terms, a Deputy of the National Assembly in the IX, X, and XI terms, undertaking the role of General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Chairwoman of the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association until her retirement.

Madam Nguyễn Thị Định (1920 - 1992), born in Bến Tre province. In 1974, she held the rank of Major General, Deputy Commander of the armed forces liberating South Vietnam. Those who knew Major General Nguyễn Thị Định, affectionately known as 'Madam Ba Định,' all believe that she truly deserves the 8 golden words that Uncle Ho bestowed upon Vietnamese women: 'Heroic, Indomitable, Virtuous, and Reliable.'

In 1936, at the age of just 16, she began her revolutionary activities. Two years later (1938), she joined the ranks of the Communist Party of Indochina. During this time, she started a family with Mr. Nguyễn Văn Bích, a member of the Provincial Party Committee of Bến Tre, but not long after, her husband was arrested by the French and died in Côn Đảo. Upon receiving news of her husband's sacrifice, her resentment multiplied. Despite having young children, whom she entrusted to her mother's care, she separated to engage in revolutionary activities in her home province. In 1940, she was again arrested by the French and imprisoned in Bà Rá Prison, Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu province (now part of Bình Phước province).

Three years in prison demonstrated her strong and indomitable spirit. In 1943, upon release, she returned to Bến Tre, contacted the Party organization, the revolutionary government of the province, and participated in seizing power in August 1945. Despite her young age, thanks to her strong will, intense patriotism, and cleverness, she was selected by the Provincial Party Committee to be the captain of the first sea-crossing mission to the North, reporting to the Party and Uncle Ho about the situation on the Southern front and requesting weapons support. From then on, her name became brightly associated with the 'Hồ Chí Minh Sea Trail.'

After the reunification of the country, she became the first female Vice Chairman of the State Council of Vietnam and the Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women's Union.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Chien was born in 1930, in Trại Đồng hamlet, Tân Tiến commune (now part of Nê town, Kiến Xương district, Thái Bình province). Her journey to become a local guerrilla member unfolded naturally. After the 'Tiếng trống Tiền Hải' movement in 1930, Thái Bình became a hot spot in the anti-French resistance. Despite being besieged and suppressed, the movement here did not weaken. The revolutionary network was synchronized, established, and Kiến Xương district, where Ms. Chien lived, was chosen as the base for revolutionary activities.

During the day, she worked as a laborer for hire, and in the evening, she wandered around pig and chicken pens. After pretending to turn off the lights and go to bed, she sneaked to where the guerrillas were training and performed tasks assigned by them. Revolutionary activities for Ms. Nguyen Thi Chien continued day by day. However, in April 1950, when the authorities brought officials to work in the commune, she was captured by the enemy, detained for more than three months. Despite intense torture, the courageous female guerrilla endured the pain, remained resilient, and did not surrender.

After her release, Nguyen Thi Chien resumed her guerrilla activities, achieving numerous feats for the country. She was awarded the Third-class Military Exploit Medal, the First-class Combat Medal, and two First-class Resistance Medals.

In 1952, Nguyen Thi Chien had the honor of being the only female guerrilla selected to report on typical deeds at the First National Heroes and Exemplary Soldiers Congress held in Việt Bắc (1/5/1952). For her contributions, Nguyen Thi Chien was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai was a communist revolutionary fighter in the homeland of the Soviet Union, who illuminated the revolutionary traditions of Vietnamese women. She was born in 1910 in Vinh (Nghệ An). During her school days, she was guided and enlightened by teacher Tran Phu about revolutionary ideals at an early age.

In 1927, she joined the Revolutionary Party of the New Vietnam. In 1935, she studied at the Far East University in the Soviet Union. She officially represented the Communist Party of Indochina at the 7th International Communist Congress in Moscow. In 1936, she returned to the country conveying international communist directives, appointed as the Secretary of the Saigon City Party Committee and a member of the Southern Regional Party Committee. In September 1939, following the Southern Regional Party Committee's decision to rebel, she and her husband, Le Hong Phong, were captured at the crossroads on their way home. Recognizing her importance, the enemy used every means to torture her but failed; they then took her to the large prison in Saigon.

On November 23, 1940, the Southern Uprising erupted. The enemy used this as a pretext to sentence her to death after failing to break the brave communist. Alongside her comrades, she boldly confronted the enemy and refuted all their accusations.

Comrade Minh Khai sacrificed herself on August 28, 1941, at the Bà Điểm-Hóc Môn firing range along with her comrades Võ Văn Tần, Phan Đăng Lưu, Nguyễn Văn Cừ. Nguyen Thi Minh Khai was a resilient and indomitable communist fighter who devoted her entire life to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the Vietnamese people.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh was born in 1927 in Sadec, Dong Thap province; her ancestral home is in Quang Nam province. She is the granddaughter of patriot Phan Chu Trinh, a national hero in the early 20th century. Inheriting the patriotic tradition of her family, she actively participated in the struggle for the country's independence (1945). She was one of the leaders of the Women's Movement to Save the Nation in Saigon - Cholon; actively involved in leading the student movement, the progressive women's movement with the names 'Yen Sa', 'Beautiful Yen'; actively participated in the struggle to defend peace among intellectuals. Arrested and imprisoned at Chí Hoà prison from 1951-1953. She was the Vice Chairwoman of the National Liberation Front for Southern Vietnam (1960), then the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, Head of the negotiating delegation at the Paris International Conference on Vietnam, and one of the four signatories of the 1973 Paris Agreement. She served as the Minister of Education of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 1976 to 1987.

Since 1992, she has been the Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Born into an intellectual family, enlightened and developed in the Revolutionary Movement of the people, Nguyen Thi Binh is an intelligent, graceful, humble, and persuasive woman. In diplomatic activities, when interacting with heads of state, politicians, as well as with people from all continents of Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America..., she left a good impression on international friends. Especially, from 1969-1975, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Binh visited many countries worldwide to promote and mobilize support for the struggle for peace, independence, and reunification of the Fatherland of the Vietnamese people.

She has significantly contributed to clarifying the righteous cause of a nation, 'willing to sacrifice everything, never accepting the loss of the country, refusing to be enslaved'. Until now, the Vietnamese people and the people of many countries have highly appreciated the strong and widespread global movement supporting Vietnam's anti-invasion war in the 60s and early 70s, unprecedented in history. The role and contributions of the 'peace ambassador' Nguyen Thi Binh are a valuable symbol of Vietnam in the late 20th century.