“Oh dear, my dear
Look harder and further
Into the four thousand years of our Nation
When invaders come and boys go to war
And girls return to foster their flesh and blood
The day intruders dare come even women fight back
Many have become heroes“
(Homeland – Nguyen Khoa Diem)
The grand picture of an infallible nation during wartime was not only painted with the gray of bombs, the bare horror of cataclysm, or the fright of loud bangs. Listen closely and you will also hear a mother’s lullaby, words of farewell mingling with tears of separation, or mellifluous singing resounding across the four seas. That is the benevolence, the quality of femininity on the verge of life and death. These women have lived lives devotedly, they are resilient yet tender, unwavering and enduring, and under any circumstances they are still the flora of mother nature where the frontline is. They have become the Nation, the future of youth aspiration, the hope of a brighter future of a nation. Where else can we find women without an education step towards the gate of death so proudly and unabashedly, having nothing but love - motherly, faithfully, and patriotically?
- Heroic Mothers of Vietnam
“Oh, Mother of Vietnam!
Sound is my night, in Mother’s arms
Oh, tough yet gentle warmth
Smeared with mud but flared with trust”
(Homeland – Nguyen Khoa Diem)
For a lifetime working away from the war’s veil of flames, never have they carried bullets, never have they shed blood in battlefields, but it is always them bearing the torturous loss of their own flesh and blood. No pain in the world can compare to the agony of a mother losing her own son or a wife losing her husband. No compensation can ever fill in the void of sending your son off to defend our homeland, only to wait for a return that never comes, or to meet a figure already standing at death's door. Never have they set a foot in the frontline, yet they embody the lifeblood of our nation, sacrificing their kin for the sake of our country’s future. In these delicate figures, we see an unshakable homefront and a burning source of motivation forever backing up the battle for justice. Excruciating pain and incessant loneliness notwithstanding, they never ask their pain to be shared. Quietly and tenderly, discreetly but caringly, the women’s longing feelings find their ways to the perilous but not less glorious battles. So lofty is motherhood that amidst such hellfire and brimstone on earth, their unconditional love shines even brighter than ever. Where would mothers have to carry such shooting pains for the entirety of their lives? Vietnam’s pages of history stand as a testament to not only the undying spirit of our people, but also the precious stream of blood sacrificed into protecting the land of our forefathers. The heroic Mothers of Vietnam have exchanged every possession they have as a mother and a wife and put their lives in the line all for the lands they are born into. They are the origin of our valorous bloodline, the essence of our nation, and the epitome of the heroes that have gone down in history. They sacrifice for the life-and-death situation and the eternity of our nation. Mothers silently hiding their tears behind the handkerchiefs to pridefully send their sons away to battlefields have long been poignant images of ultimate self-sacrifice during wartime. Nowhere can we find such selfless women – waiting for their husbands and sons throughout the span of history, against the oppression of arrogant colonisers, while also stepping into the workforce to feed the soldiers. No guns nor bullets, they fight their own way with photographs, letters, handkerchiefs, along with vegetables and cassava, together joining in the heroic spirit of the time.
“In every field and meadow
There carries a figure, an eager, a forefathers’ way of life
Oh Fatherland, leaving four thousand years behind
Into nature’s embrace, their lives have lay down…”
(Homeland – Nguyen Khoa Diem)
Within such a fragile physique lie extraordinary fortitude and vigor, because from them born our country’s heroes. It is no coincidence that after decades of independence, mothers are still holding tight onto their son’s pictures and their husband’s keepsake in search of their family’s remains in every hill and cemetery. Tracing back to a thousand years of history, we would find Vietnamese mothers’ courage and ever more respectable for their relentless contribution. To this day, the pain lives on as time ruthlessly slips away, not waiting for children to return to their mothers. How tormenting could it be for mothers to receive death notices as their son’s latest news. Not just once or twice, there are even mothers who received more than ten notices in her life. One of them is Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu in Quang Nam, a Vietnam’s heroic mother whose 9 birth children, 1 son-in-law and 2 maternal grandchildren all put their lives behind. Always so discreet and modest, yet they face all the greatest fears known to humankind – loneliness in their declining years in the permeating scent of incense. Just how heartbreaking it must be for our heroic Mothers to endure it all! For thousands of years, Vietnam’s heroic mothers have to “grin and bear it”, hold their tears back and sacrifice her own flesh and blood in every patriotic war.
“Tearful dusk, words blurred, eyes swollen
Heavens, is there a sorrow deeper than this
Oh Motherland in the shape of mothers
Waiting, dreaming, living a life mournfully
Mother of Vietnam, dear Mother of Vietnam
So mightily, the monument stands
Heart-wrenched, the song still resounds
‘Proud are we, children of our heroic Mother of Vietnam’“
(Mother of Viet Nam – Cao Hung Cuong)
- The Courageous Warrior Who Forgets Herself
“The young girl, oh so young,
Led to the firing range,
Between two rows of soldiers,
She smiled serenely
Plucking a fresh flower,
She pinned it delicately in her hair.
Her head held high, unyielding,
Even in her final moments.
Now beneath the casuarina tree,
She rests in the song of the sea.“
( “Vo Thi Sau” — Phan Thi Thanh Nhan)
Where else in the world can we find so many flowers that have offered themselves for the homeland? Where else do military uniforms take the form of the graceful ao ba ba (a traditional southern Vietnamese garment), embodying both elegance and courage? And where, if not in our nation, do we hear such songs sung in honor of heroic and valiant women? No longer are they merely figures waiting in the background, or caretakers of children at home; these women have emerged as extraordinary symbols of heroism for our country. They have stepped out of the shadows of history, no longer just faint reminders behind the broad shoulders of men. Instead, they stand tall with their own names, their own identities, and emotions that are uniquely theirs. These women have become the embodiment of the nation's resilience and spirit, nurturing the aspirations that intertwine with the dreams of their homeland. They have made the ultimate sacrifice, enabling the nation to rise and thrive. Within them resides a heart full of deep emotion, as natural as a woman's instinct. Their contributions to history, however, are by no means overshadowed by those of their male counterparts. It is this profound and intense love that has ignited their extraordinary resolve - an indomitable resolve that defies the perception of them as once delicate and fragile. The struggle for equality, for women's rights, and the affirmation of their boundless strength did not originate in the modern era. From the blood-soaked pages of history, we witness countless women who, beneath their neatly tied hair, their slender ao ba ba, and their shy, graceful smiles, concealed unyielding spirits devoted to their nation. These women took up arms, carried bombs, and fought relentlessly both in the light of day and under the cover of night. Their tasks were no less demanding than those of any soldier, as they contributed to every step of the nation's journey and participated in every historic campaign. The simple image of these roses, scarred and dusted by bombs in the hazy, smoke-filled photos, with blood flowing in streams, deeply stirs our hearts with sorrow. Yet, above all, they embody an indomitable vitality, a powerful force that endures through the years, through the currents of history, and through the eternal flame of love. In countless forms, these women have shattered all the stereotypes of their time regarding the character and qualities of women. No longer are they weak individuals in need of protection, relegated to the background, or defined by tears and fear. Instead, they have emerged as warriors, forged in the harshness of war, shedding the frail and delicate image the world had long imposed on them. In reality, they were guerrillas, spies, military doctors, young volunteers filling bomb craters, exceptional supply line workers, and extraordinary soldiers carrying the future of the nation on their small shoulders. In life-and-death struggle, they exchanged glances filled with hope, for deep within, they remained girls who loved nature, picking flowers to adorn their hair and shouting revolutionary slogans in the face of the enemy's bloodthirsty guns, all while listening to the birds sing. That is the natural instinct of women; no matter how resilient they become, at heart, they are still young girls in the prime of their youth. In a "silent and stormy history," women have refused to remain silent. They have used their emotions, their blood, to paint their tragic yet heroic lives with a language full of love and a distinctly feminine touch. Heroine La Thi Tam - a petite girl - stood firm amidst falling bombs and exploding bullets under the scorching June sun, running up and down the hill with over a thousand steps, while we might struggle to walk the same distance at a leisurely pace. Or consider the story of the female militia member, weighing only 42 kg, who carried two heavy ammunition boxes to supply the troops, as in the case of People's Armed Forces Heroine Le Thi Tuyen, surpassing the ordinary human limits. And then there is the story of Vo Thi Sau's indomitable spirit, transcending all eras. After a series of achievements that defied her young age, she was tragically captured by the colonialists when the second grenade in her hand failed to detonate. In the face of death, Vo Thi Sau remained unwavering in her loyalty to the nation, even as she was led to the execution ground. She refused to kneel and declared firmly, "There’s no need to blindfold me. Let my eyes see the beloved land one last time, and I have the courage to look straight into your guns!" After saying this, Vo Thi Sau began to sing Tien quan ca. When the soldiers cocked their rifles, she stopped singing and shouted her final words, "Down with the French colonialists. Long live an independent Vietnam. Long live President Ho." Her glorious revolutionary life and radiant death have etched her name into the brilliant pages of history, and her unyielding stance has become a part of the nation's spirit. The women of Vietnam have always been heroes, immortal and incredibly extraordinary, because they are among the most crucial contributors to the nation's dazzling victory, and because they are the daughters of a heroic era!
“You – a young volunteer
No gun, only the wounded and ammunition on your shoulders
Amid the enemy's bullets, your courageous heart shines
You traverse long roads to fuel the offensive
I see it, glistening in the midst of the march
Is the pride in your eyes
In your faded, patched shirt
My Vietnamese girl, so extraordinarily beautiful
Oh! The flowers that bloom on the battlefield."”
(Flowers on the fire front – Do Trung Quan)
- The faithful, loving wife
An old fairy tale says that on a remote mountaintop, there is a flower that only blooms when watered by the tears of waiting when one truly loves and looks forward to the return of one's beloved. That blossom, despite storms, rains or chilly winters, still does not wither, it still waits for the sun to illuminate before blooming in its most gorgeous colours. People call that flower "loyalty flower" as a symbol of unfading love, and unchanging loyalty. That story is not only a myth passed down on paper, but also the embodiment of millions of Vietnamese wives during the war years. During the fierce war, when the men left with the mission of protecting the country, the wives who remained ended up being faithful, silent and steadfast flowers, waiting for the day when they would see their loved ones once again in the house. They were not only the worried figures glimpsed faintly behind the village’s bamboo hedges but also the symbols of patience, loyal and unwavering love, and quiet sacrifice. It was them who became bright torches in history, illuminating the soldiers' path and providing an endless source of inspiration for literature and poetry. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tam, spouse of martyr Nguyen Van Be, is one of those icons. When receiving the news of her husband’s passing on the battlefield, Mrs Tam was still determined to keep her promise of "a lifetime alone", staying single to raise her children and waiting for the day she could reunite with her wedded partner. Her life is an epic of loyalty, not only to her deceased other half but also to the whole country. Through Mrs. Tam's portrait, there can be seen the resilience, patience, and a love so profound that it becomes everlasting. As the poet Nguyen Duy once wrote:
“There are deaths that become immortal
There are hearts that turn sacred,"”
Like a long melody of an endless love song about fidelity, from the steadfastness of Mrs Nguyen Thi Tam, we continue to witness another monument - Mrs Nguyen Thi Muoi, wife of martyr Tran Van Tho. If Mrs. Tam is the embodiment of the oath "single for a lifetime," then Mrs. Muoi appears as a silent monument of extraordinary strength, when turning the anguish of loss into an enduring flame of love in her heart, living fully with the memory of her deceased husband. Her life is not only a story about loyalty but also an epic about the sacrifice and tenacity of Vietnamese women. She brought up her children, preserving every memory of her beloved husband in her heart, like a smouldering flame that never goes out. Each passing day, she lives not just for herself but also for her spouse's unfinished dreams, as a pledge of unwavering loyalty and love. The image of her - a mother, a wife with sorrowful eyes but constantly bright with faith and determination, has come to represent fidelity and love that transcends the boundaries of life.
In Vietnamese literature, the representation of a faithful wife is always like a lighthouse, guiding men back from the battlefield, and is an endless inspiration for countless classic writings. One of the typical works that deeply depicts that image is the novel “The Mother Who Wields a Gun" by writer Nguyen Thi. The portrayal of Ut Tich, a woman who is both a resolute soldier and a faithful wife, has left an indelible mark on the hearts of readers. Even though her husband had sacrificed his life, she held on to her love and memories of him, a love untouched by the harsh flow of time or the challenges of life. Like a continuous symphony about the love and sacrifice of a wife during wartime, this image once again vividly comes to life in poetic works. In the poem "Lullaby for the Children Growing Up on Their Mother's Back" by Nguyen Khoa Diem, the picture of a mother - a wife with boundless love, steadfastly waiting for her husband on the battlefield appears very moving:
“Mother cares for him, her lullaby tells it
A young soldier, in the harsh battlefield
Mother is here, heart still full of love
The day he returns, smiles carried by the gentle breeze.“
This stanza portrays the image of a faithful wife with nothing but an ardent love and firm belief in a day of reunion. The mother in the poem is no ordinary, she is a heroine in wartime, the bearer of every suffering and loss for the love and happiness of her family. The mother’s affection for her husband is more than just a wife’s love, it is also maternal love towards her children, and patriotic love towards her home and country. Love and loyalty of a wife is expressed not only through sweet melodies of poetry, but also in the epic pages of literature. Among some of Huu Loan’s poems, “The Purple of Hill Gooseberry” with the story of a faithful wife, who forever lives in loving memories or her husband has become a timeless representation of loyalty and selflessness. In “The Purple of Hill Gooseberry” by Huu Loan, the image of a devoted wife is described despairingly through these lines:
“Coming home with no sight of you
Blood oozes out of my old wound…“
These lines are written as an outcry, expressing insufferable pain when the husband returns home without seeing his wife for the last time. Huu Loan utilizes the depiction of “blood oozes” to describe irreparable loss, symbolizing love as a forever bleeding wound inside one’s heart. The woman in the poem is not an exclusive depiction of an individual, as her trace can be found in any Vietnamese woman who had lived their life with yearning, anticipation, and devotion. The color purple of hill gooseberry becomes the color of eternal love, a love that overcomes death and lives forever in the readers’ heart as a tragic love song, yet filled with the power of faith and selflessness.
They are the beacons amidst the night, leading their loved ones home despite the distance of space and time. Those women live not only in the past or the pages of literature and poetry, they are also the embodiment of resilience and of everlasting love. Even when the world changes, war ends, the heroes with such willpower will always be the symbol of faithfulness, of noble sacrifice, of a timeless love striving upon everything. Their glimmering spirits have been and will continue to transform humanity, like a song without words, echoing with time.
“Long live ‘infallible heroines’
‘Well-rounded’ and ‘faithful’ as Bác praised
It is to take pride in
The Heroines of Vietnam
The Women of loyalty
Who brave the cruel war
And perish for their Nation
Every flower ends leaving a new seed of life!“
(Honoring Vietnamese Women – Mai Ngoc Thoan)
Author: Thúy Nga, Hồng Anh
English 
Vietnamese
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