The history of the Vietnamese nation is forever marked by the brilliant legacy of female heroes who refused to succumb to enemies, who would not accept a life of slavery, and who rose up to fight against foreign invaders for freedom. Among them are Lady Trưng, Lady Triệu; General Bùi Thị Xuân, Nguyễn Thị Định, and Út Tịch, among others. Under the feudal and imperial regimes, women were oppressed, exploited, and faced numerous injustices, leading to a strong desire for liberation and a willingness to follow the revolutionary path. From the early days of resistance against the French, Vietnamese women actively participated in movements such as Cần Vương, Đông Kinh Nghĩa Thục, and Đông Du. Many notable women took part in the precursor organizations of the Communist Party of Vietnam, including Hoàng Thị Ái, Thái Thị Bôi, and Tôn Thị Quế.
The History of Vietnamese Women’s Day (October 20)
Since 1927, grassroots organizations began to form, attracting a large number of women, including the Red Labor Union, Red Peasant Union, mutual aid groups, vocational training organizations, and women-specific organizations such as:
- In 1927, the sisters Nguyễn Thị Lưu, Nguyễn Thị Minh Lãng, and Nguyễn Thị Thủy from Phật Tích village (Bắc Ninh) joined the Youth Revolutionary League, where they promoted and established vocational training groups for lace-making and literacy.
- The group led by Thái Thị Bôi included Lê Trung Lương, Nguyễn Thị Hồng, and Huỳnh Thuyên, who engaged in activities at Đồng Khánh Girls’ School.
- In 1928, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, along with Nguyễn Thị Phúc and Nguyễn Thị An, participated in the Red League of Tân Việt, connecting with Xân, Thiu, Nhuận, and Liên to establish the Liberation Women’s Newspaper in Vinh.
- On February 3, 1930, the Indochinese Communist Party was established. The Party’s first program stated: “Gender equality”. The Party recognized early on that women were a crucial force in the revolution and set the task: the Party must liberate women, linking national liberation, class liberation, and women’s liberation. The Party called for women to participate in revolutionary organizations (labor unions, peasant unions) and to establish separate organizations for women to engage various classes of women in the revolution.
Thus, on October 20, 1930, the Vietnamese Anti-Imperialist Women’s Union (now known as the Vietnam Women’s Union) was officially established. To commemorate this event, the Communist Party of Vietnam decided to designate October 20 each year as the traditional day of this organization and to honor Vietnamese women, naming it “Vietnamese Women’s Day.”
In the revolutionary struggle, Vietnamese women not only provided solid support for the front lines but also emerged as resilient revolutionary fighters, female militia members, and youthful volunteers who opened roads, transported rice and ammunition with indomitable spirit, enduring hardships with revolutionary optimism. They cared for the wounded and comrades with all their love. This includes Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Võ Thị Sáu, Lê Thị Hồng Gấm, Nguyễn Thị Định, and the heroic martyr – Doctor Đặng Thùy Trâm. Countless other silent, simple, and humble women contributed beloved children and husbands to the country; they waited eagerly for their loved ones during the war, often left without tears when their loved ones never returned. They are the mothers, grandmothers, and sisters of our nation. They are the heroic Vietnamese mothers!
Throughout various revolutionary periods, the role and position of women have been highly valued by the Party and President Hồ Chí Minh. He once stated: “The beautiful landscapes of Vietnam are woven and embroidered by Vietnamese women, both young and old, making them more beautiful and splendid.” In his immortal will left to the entire Party and nation before his passing, he wrote: “In the struggle against the Americans to save the nation, industrious women have made significant contributions in fighting and production. The Party and Government need to have practical plans to nurture, promote, and assist more women in taking on various responsibilities, including leadership roles. Women themselves must strive to rise up.”
Women have been an indispensable part of the success of the Vietnamese revolution during the two resistance wars against the French and the Americans. In the nation-building process, women have made significant contributions to the social development.
After 90 autumns, the Vietnam Women’s Union has grown stronger, with patriotic Vietnamese women increasingly educated, healthy, dynamic, creative, culturally aware, kind-hearted, and concerned for social and community interests. In the renewal process of the country, the noble qualities of Vietnamese women continue to be affirmed and strongly promoted. Women from all walks of life have remained united, dynamic, creative, actively competing, and striving to contribute to the nation-building efforts, with many talented women emerging as exemplary figures with outstanding contributions in leadership, scientific research, business, poverty alleviation, and building happy families…
Under the Party’s leadership, Vietnamese women constantly strive and grow in all aspects, with their educational levels, professional skills, and status in families and society increasingly elevated, and their material and spiritual lives continuously improving. The Party and State always highly value the efforts and significant contributions of women in family building and national development. They deserve to be recognized as those to whom Uncle Hồ awarded the eight golden words: “Heroic, indomitable, loyal, and industrious.”
These beautiful traditions and identities have been inherited and promoted by generations of Vietnamese women. It can be said that this is not only a pride of Vietnamese women but also a precious asset of the entire nation.
This year’s Vietnamese Women’s Day falls on: Sunday, October 20, 2024.
