Top 5 Best Essays on Vietnamese Heroic Mothers

There is no other nation on Earth that honors its mothers with the title 'Heroic Mother.' No other country celebrates a day as sacred and moving, dedicated to honoring mothers for their sacrifices and contributions that words cannot fully express.

It is no surprise that generations of musicians have poured their love and emotions into immortalizing the image of Mother, whose sacrifices are both painful and beautiful. Mother is an integral part of a tragic, heroic history, the deep notes in an eternal anthem full of pride and honor.

Inspired by the figure of Mother Suot (Bảo Ninh - Đồng Hới) after a visit to Quảng Bình, musician Trịnh Công Sơn created the legendary song 'The Legend of Mother' (1984), which beautifully encapsulates the image of a strong, compassionate, and generous Mother of the Nation: 'By the light of the lamp, I remember the old stories / Mother stands in the rain, shielding her sleeping children / Watching every enemy's step / She sits beneath the storm…' This is the Mother of thousands of brave soldiers, her shade a safe haven for revolutionary generations to return to: 'Mother is the water that overflows / Washing away my troubles / So that life remains pure / Mother sinks into hardship.'

Following this emotional theme, Mother appears in 'My Country' by musician Phạm Minh Tuấn (1985, based on Tạ Hữu Yên's poetry), both quietly majestic and simple yet steadfast: 'My country, slender like a đàn bầu string / Soothing the pain of Mother / Three times sending her child away / Two times crying silently / My brothers did not return / Only Mother remained silent…' This is the portrait of a hardworking, loyal mother who embodies the truth of the revolutionary cause: 'We share the rice, whether full or hungry / We remain true, sharing both joy and sorrow.'

Musician Xuân Hồng's 'My Mother' (1989) speaks for millions of Vietnamese children, for the struggles of the nation have taken everything from Mother: 'Mother’s tears have stopped / For she cried for each child / Who left and never returned / Time passed / The wounds on her skin healed with time / But the wounds in her heart remain heavy…' This song urges the generations raised in peace to share their hearts, show gratitude, and live meaningfully, honoring the sacrifices of Mother: 'Oh, Mother Vietnam, Mother of mine / Thank you for your endless love.'

During the long years of war, Mother endured countless hardships in silence. After the war, from a post-war perspective, musician Phan Long captured the deep sorrow of loss and sacrifice in the song 'Mother' (1992, based on Đoàn Ngọc Thu's poetry): 'Father spent his life in the army / The only gift for Mother was gray hair / And the scars on Father’s chest / When the wind shifts, they ache again…' Mother remains a symbol of nobility, a place where each child can return for comfort after life’s struggles: 'I only want to return to Mother / In her arms, vast as the ocean…'

With 'Sing for the Heroic Vietnamese Mothers' (1994), musician An Thuyên created a grand anthem for Mother and the month of July, full of pride and honor. The lyrics resonate deeply with today’s generation: 'Sing for the Vietnamese mothers, sing for the heroic mothers / A life dedicated to the nation, Mother lives through hardship / Sacrificing her whole life for the country…'

We thank Mother for the life she lived, for her quiet yet profound sacrifices. Beyond all medals, honors, and recognition, Mother has shaped the resilience of this Nation and will forever stand as an immortal monument!

Essay by: Ngô Thế Lâm

As July arrives, a month marked by relentless rains yet imbued with the heroic spirit of fallen soldiers, war veterans, and the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives—or parts of themselves—for the independence and freedom of the nation, we reflect on the true meaning of Motherhood.

Nowhere in the world does the concept of Motherland resonate like it does in Vietnam. And perhaps never before has the phrase 'Mother Vietnam' evoked such profound emotions as it does today. Let me take a moment to write about Mother, the Heroic Mothers of Vietnam, with gratitude and deep national pride.

'Oh Mother Vietnam, / The word 'sacrifice' defines your entire life, / Endless hardship and sorrow that never cease, / Yet you carry on, turning all struggles into golden moments, / To witness the smile of Mother, a fleeting joy.'

War and peace intertwined, separations longer than reunions, poverty enduring longer than prosperity—Mother’s life has always been tied to the fate of the nation, a destiny both proud and harsh.

We know that for the peace and unity we have today, nearly two million children of Vietnam perished. And just as many mothers mourned their sons, and widows grieved their husbands. Thus, wherever we go, from the northernmost reaches to the southern tip of Cà Mau, we encounter the deep pain of these mothers.

These unspoken sorrows have filled the pages of our national history. These mothers, fragile as the shape of Vietnam itself, with conical hats on their heads, shoulders bearing the weight of the nation, and feet firmly planted on the soil.

Seemingly small and fragile, these mothers possess an extraordinary strength of spirit, a vitality that never falters. The glory and pain of the Heroic Mothers of Vietnam has amazed and humbled the world.

Indeed, which country has mothers who, after waiting for over 20 years for their husbands to return, labor tirelessly to raise their children, fight against dark forces just to survive, hold back tears as they send their sons off to war, only to never see them return? Which mothers hold their grief inside, fight the enemy with weapons in hand, and continue to face the guns of the enemy in defiance?

Only the mothers of Vietnam can embody such resilience and sacrifice. That is why, in Vietnam, the image of the Mother has always been synonymous with the nation. And that is why, we never ask why the nation is called 'Mother.'

The brutal war forced many mothers into heartbreaking decisions: to choose between their child's life or the safety of a whole battalion. The sacrifice of these mothers is both noble and deeply painful. Each mother’s situation is unique, yet they share the common thread of silently grieving the loss of their children.

In the joy of victory, mothers joined the crowds cheering in the streets, yet deep inside, they suffered as their children were missing from the triumphant ranks. After the war, many mothers had to tighten their belts and live in hardship, steadfast and clear-eyed in the face of daily struggles and crisis. The generations born after the war must never forget the silent grief of these mothers, nor can they forget the sacrifices that were quietly made, like a lullaby sung in the background of the triumphant songs of victory.

Today, every incense we light at the graves of our fallen heroes is a tribute to these mothers—'The Heroic Mothers of the Heroes.' Some of these mothers have passed on, while others remain, watching their country transform, seeing their children and grandchildren grow up, studying and working to build a prosperous future. For them, this is the greatest gift, more precious than any golden bell or silver gong after a lifetime of suffering with the storms of history.

And so, each July, these mothers stand and gaze toward the graves in the cemeteries, where their sons—sons of other mothers—rest. Their eyes, dried from years of longing, search for the faces of their children.

'In July, Mother stands, gazing far, / Looking into the realm of memories, / Her dry eyes heavy with each breath, / A breeze sweeping away her pain. / In July, Mother wishes for / To see her children pin roses on their shirts, / As the autumn leaves flutter in the cemetery, / A drop of rain freezes, as a prayer is whispered...'

Compiled

According to legend, the first mother of the Vietnamese people was Mother Âu Cơ. She laid a hundred eggs, which hatched into a hundred children. The eldest son followed his mother, and together with his siblings, they founded the Văn Lang Kingdom.

Mother moved to live in Tản Viên,

Where she arranged the borders and preserved the structure.

She shaped the hills and mountains,

Building fortifications and dividing the land...

(Thiên Nam Ngữ Lục)

Regarding the tale of Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ, Professor Vũ Đức Vượng (former Director of the General Education Program at Hoa Sen University) noted: 'Beyond teaching us about our origins, it is a beautiful, human story and the clearest page of gender equality in ancient Vietnam.' Professor Vượng further stated, 'The story of Mother Âu Cơ and Father Lạc Long Quân is the cornerstone of Vietnamese culture.'

One legend follows another. We also have the story of the poor mother who gave birth to the heroic Son of Saint Gióng, a mighty warrior who fought against foreign invaders. Throughout Vietnam's struggles for independence and unity, countless mothers have silently sacrificed, offering their beloved ones for the homeland.

68 years ago, on March 8, 1952, in a letter to Vietnamese women on the anniversary of the Hai Bà Trưng uprising and International Women's Day, President Hồ Chí Minh emphasized: 'The land of Vietnam, with its beauty and prosperity, has been crafted by the hands of our women, young and old, making it even more splendid.'

The statue of the Heroic Vietnamese Mother in Quảng Nam province is based on the real-life figure of Nguyễn Thị Thứ (1904-2010), a mother who lost the most children and grandchildren in the two wars against France and America. Mother Thứ lived in Rừng village, Thanh Quýt 2 commune, Điện Thắng Trung, Điện Bàn, Quảng Nam. She had nine sons, one son-in-law, and two grandchildren who died in the wars. Her eldest daughter, Lê Thị Trị, was also honored as a Heroic Vietnamese Mother due to the sacrifice of her husband and two daughters. Therefore, Mother Thứ represents the 11,659 Heroic Vietnamese Mothers of Quảng Nam and the 138,000 Heroic Vietnamese Mothers nationwide.

In the 'steel land' of Quảng Trị, there is the family of Heroic Vietnamese Mother Lê Thị Hẹ. This family has made remarkable contributions and sacrifices to the revolutionary cause, with seven Heroic Vietnamese Mothers and 17 martyrs. Among the 17 martyrs, 11 were her biological children, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. Mother Hẹ herself has one daughter and three daughters-in-law honored as Heroic Vietnamese Mothers. Additionally, she has two sisters-in-law and six nephews who were awarded the same title.

There are ten mothers who are both Heroic Vietnamese Mothers and Heroes of the People's Armed Forces. They include: Mẹ Văn Thị Thừa (born 1915, Quảng Nam), Mẹ Nguyễn Thị Rành (born 1900, Ho Chi Minh City), Mẹ Phạm Thị Ngư (born 1912, Bình Thuận), Mẹ Võ Thị Nhã (born 1921, Quảng Ngãi), Mẹ Đỗ Thị Phúc (born 1906, Nam Định), Mẹ Bùi Thị Thêm (born 1924, Kiên Giang), Mẹ Huỳnh Thị Tân (born 1906, Sóc Trăng), Mẹ Đoàn Thị Nghiệp (born 1925, Tiền Giang), Mẹ Mai Thị Út (born 1913, Tiền Giang), and Mẹ Nguyễn Thị Điểm (born 1941, Ho Chi Minh City).

Three sisters, all Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, include Mẹ Bùi Thị Hải (born 1908), Mẹ Bùi Thị Tư (born 1916), and Mẹ Bùi Thị Nhỏ (born 1922) from Hàm Chính, Hàm Thuận Bắc, Bình Thuận province.

Today, the Heroic Vietnamese Mothers stand as shining examples for future generations to follow.

In recent years, the Party and State have continuously cared for and promoted the 'Gratitude' movement by providing practical support, such as caring for the surviving Heroic Vietnamese Mothers and building homes for them. Although time passes, the immense sacrifices of these mothers will live on. The Party, State, and people will forever remember their sacrifices, contributions, and the tremendous role they played in the struggle for national liberation, reunification, and the defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. As Professor Vũ Khiêu (the first Director of the Vietnam Institute of Sociology) wrote in his couplet praising the image of the Heroic Vietnamese Mother: 'The homeland honors the fallen soldiers, the people remember the heroic mothers.'

All artistic works about Heroic Vietnamese Mothers are heartfelt, vivid, and moving. But one of the most popular and widely publicized is the song 'Song for the Heroic Vietnamese Mother' by the late Major General, composer An Thuyên. The melody of the song, reflecting the lives of these heroic mothers, is truly touching: 'A life dedicated to the nation, mother lives amidst hardship, sacrificing her whole life for the country.'

The 138,000 Heroic Vietnamese Mothers nationwide truly deserve the eight golden words given by President Hồ Chí Minh: 'Heroic – Unyielding – Loyal – Capable.' Today’s youth may not know the bombs and guns, nor witness the pain and loss of past wars, but they understand that the price of today's peace is paid by the sacrifices of many generations before, by the pain and great loss of Heroic Vietnamese Mothers like Mẹ Thứ, Mẹ Hẹ, and Mẹ Rành...

Nguyễn Văn Toàn

Throughout the history of our nation and the world, the image of the mother represents the most sacred and greatest value. It is no coincidence that for thousands of years, mothers have been revered in all cultures as symbols of selflessness, unconditional love, and boundless sacrifice, especially within the family unit.

Since ancient times, in the world of the Greeks, all men and children participated in a celebration dedicated to the goddess Cybele. Every year, the ancient Greeks held a festival at the height of the sun’s brightness to honor mothers.

In Vietnam, the bond between mother and child carries even greater significance. To this day, most Vietnamese are familiar with the practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess—a tradition that venerates female deities. This belief system is one of the oldest folk religions in Vietnam, and it has become a core cultural identity of the Vietnamese people.

The worship of the Mother Goddess (Đạo Mẫu) has existed for centuries. Over time, this practice expanded to include the veneration of female heroes who contributed to the liberation struggles of the nation. These women, known for their valor in battle, labor, and healing, were revered and respected by society, and through time, they became deified as sacred figures. The deities of Đạo Mẫu embody the qualities of motherhood: divine, yet close and relatable to everyday life.

Đạo Mẫu focuses less on the afterlife and more on the practical aspects of life, emphasizing desires for peace, happiness, and the alleviation of worldly sorrow and suffering. It can be said that the Mother Goddess tradition is a symbol honoring the sacred, compassionate, and selfless Vietnamese mother, always ready to sacrifice for her children. These courageous mothers, skilled and determined, fought through the horrors of war to protect every living being and ensure peace for all, rooted in the legendary tale of Âu Cơ. This remains a revered image, one that descendants will forever honor with deep affection and reverence.

If Vietnamese history is the story of wars fought to defend the land, it is also the history of the countless sacrifices made by millions of Vietnamese mothers who quietly sent their sons to battle. It is the history of their untold pain, losses, and sacrifices. It is a history of poignant and immortal ballads—a saga of sorrow and pride of Vietnamese mothers. Perhaps nowhere else in the world have mothers experienced such immense sacrifice, but these sacrifices were made for the survival of the nation, bestowing an indomitable spirit on the homeland.

During the wars against the French and Americans, millions of Vietnamese mothers tightened their belts, bravely and silently burying the pain of losing husbands and sons, sacrificing for the nation's independence and freedom. Countless young volunteers, female soldiers, and youth never saw their twentieth birthdays, having fallen in battle or on the march. “When the enemy comes, even women fight,” was the resolute proclamation of Vietnamese women when their nation was under invasion. We will never forget the image of Vietnam’s first female communist, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, in the prime of youth, captured and executed by the French in 1941. Then there was Nguyễn Thị Chiên, the first female hero of the military, who boldly led the Tán Thuật guerrilla unit in Thai Binh, famous for her exploits in capturing the enemy bare-handed. And let us remember Đinh Thị Vân, who created an intelligence network that rattled the top American and puppet forces, greatly aiding the 1968 Tet Offensive. Võ Thị Sáu, another hero, joined the revolution at just 15 and, though tortured by the enemy, remained unwavering in her commitment to the cause.

We also recall the legendary feats of 11 girls from the Huong River who, for 25 days, fought fiercely against 10 tanks, armored vehicles, and an entire US marine battalion. Their battle is still etched in the memory of every Vietnamese person today. Then, there are the 10 girls from Đồng Lộc intersection, who withstood countless bombs dropped by the enemy to protect a vital road for the troops. On a fateful day, a bomb struck their position, and none of them survived. The sacrifice of these girls and the cruelty of the enemy will forever be remembered in Vietnam’s collective consciousness.

The heroic struggle of the nation forever honors these sacrifices, highlighting the pain and glory of the mothers who gave everything for the country and its people. Today, the state has officially recognized nearly 130,000 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, but this number represents only a fraction of the immense sacrifices made. The price of peace was paid by millions of brave sons and daughters who fell in defense of the nation.

Although the war has ended, the pain remains. Thousands of unnamed graves, countless sons, husbands, and fathers of the Vietnamese nation remain lost in remote forests and mountains. The relentless search for the remains of the fallen continues, and some mothers will never have answers:

“For thirty years, she searched for her brother’s grave, but never found it. What fault did she have, that he could not come home?”

On holidays, people offer incense and flowers to their loved ones in the cemeteries of martyrs, but for some mothers, the incense rises to an empty sky.

Perhaps nowhere else in the world have mothers and wives endured such excruciating sacrifices, waiting decades for husbands and sons who never returned, while simultaneously facing harsh natural disasters and struggling to send rice to the frontlines. Many mothers silently wept as they bid farewell to their children, knowing they would never return from the battlefields. Other mothers fought alongside their children, holding guns and fighting until their last drop of blood to defend every inch of their homeland. Indeed, nowhere else do such frail and weak mothers possess such indomitable will, a vitality that nothing can subdue. It is no coincidence that the image of the Vietnamese mother is synonymous with the very essence of the nation. Across the length of the country, there is no place where the sacrifices, courage, and sorrow of Vietnamese mothers have not left their mark. Each mother has a unique fate, but all share the same pain, with silent tears that weigh heavily on their hearts. We have witnessed many mothers, after the war, standing by the door, waiting for their children to return, but time forever carried them away. In Quảng Nam, there is Nguyễn Thị Thứ, a Heroic Vietnamese Mother who lost 9 sons, a son-in-law, and 2 grandchildren to war. These mothers, wives, and daughters—seemingly ordinary in name—carry burdens of sorrow far beyond what can be expressed. Their pain is distilled in blood and tears.

The thousand-year history of Vietnamese mothers is one of “gritting their teeth, swallowing their tears, and sacrificing pieces of their hearts in every battle for the country’s survival.” This essence flows through the veins of every Vietnamese mother, wife, sister, and daughter whenever the homeland is threatened.

We take pride in the Heroic Vietnamese Mothers and pledge to do everything we can to honor them. But no matter how much has been done in recent years to show gratitude, we can never repay the immense debt we owe to the Vietnamese mothers. A house of love, a warm family, the laughter of children, and the heartfelt devotion of grandchildren in the centers that care for elderly mothers—all serve as meaningful gestures of remembrance. However, above all, the wish of every Vietnamese mother is likely for her children and grandchildren to thrive, overcome all hardships, and build a democratic, prosperous, and thriving nation...

TRẦN THÁI PHƯƠNG

Seventy-five years have passed since July 27, 1947, yet the incense continues to be lit with reverence at war memorials and heroes' cemeteries. The deep gratitude of generations of Vietnamese people is again directed towards the wounded, the disabled veterans, and the Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, as we reflect on their sacrifices.

The figure of Mother is inseparable from the tragic, heroic history of our people. She is the somber and uplifting melody of an immortal anthem, filled with pride and dignity. Quiet yet profound, simple yet courageous, she inspires generations of composers who have poured their hearts into immortalizing her in music.

Inspired by the story of Mẹ Suốt (Bảo Ninh, Đồng Hới), after a visit to Quảng Bình, composer Trịnh Công Sơn wrote the timeless song “Huyền thoại mẹ” (The Legend of Mother) in 1984, capturing the resilient, compassionate, and loving image of Mother Vietnam: “By the lantern’s light, I recall/ The stories of old days gone by/ Mother stood in the rain/ Shielding her children while they slept/ Watching for the enemy’s approach/ Mother sat beneath the rain…” This is the mother of thousands of brave soldiers, whose strength and wisdom protected generations of revolutionaries, offering them refuge as they fought: “Mother is like the water that overflows/ Carrying away my worries/ So that life remains pure/ Mother endures hardship.”

It is no surprise that so many composers have devoted their affection to Mother, crafting portraits of her beauty, loss, and sacrifice. In his 1989 song “Người mẹ của tôi” (My Mother), composer Xuân Hồng captured the immense sorrow felt by countless Vietnamese children, expressing how the nation’s long struggles have taken everything from Mother: “Mother’s tears are gone/ For she wept for those sons/ Who left one by one, never to return/ Time passed, the wounds on her skin healed/ But the wounds in her heart, Mother still bears…” This message encourages the next generations, who live in peace, to live with greater gratitude and humility, acknowledging the sacrifices of Mother that can never be repaid.

In 1992, composer Phan Long wrote the song “Mẹ” (Mother), based on a poem by Đoàn Ngọc Thu, capturing the post-war perspective of a mother who waited twenty long years for her husband’s return: “For a lifetime, Father served in the army/ The only gift he brought back to Mother was hair turned gray/ And scars on his chest/ When the wind changes, the pain still returns…” In those tumultuous years, the mother endured countless hardships without complaint: “For twenty years since we wed/ We’ve lived as husband and wife/ For twenty years, Mother raised the child alone.”

Each year, the glorious anthem of July, full of pride and reverence, stirs the hearts of today’s generation: “Sing for the mothers of Vietnam, sing for the heroic mothers/ Their lives devoted to the nation, Mother lived through hardship/ For the country, she gave her whole life…” (“Hát về Mẹ Việt Nam anh hùng,” composer An Thuyên).

Throughout our nation’s long struggle for freedom, the image of Mother has been etched into the very fabric of our country. She has become a central figure in our music—simple, yet vibrant, alive with energy. Beyond all the medals, decorations, and post-war recognition, Mother is an immortal legend. She has lived, given, and sacrificed in a quiet, simple, yet noble life that will never be forgotten!

NGÔ THẾ LÂM