Vietnam Women's Union

Celebrating 115th birthday of late VWU President Nguyen Thi Thap

23/10/2023

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap, or Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tot by real name, was born on October 10, 1908. She came from a poor farmer family with a patriotic tradition in Long Hung commune, Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province. She got married at the age of 17 at the request of her father. The marriage did not work out, she left her child at the husband’s and came back home. Since then, she joined the Revolution with the youthful enthusiasm.

In May 1935, she was arrested and put in cell in Sai Gon by the French colonialists, and then was released due to insufficient evidence. During her revolution activities, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap and Mr. Le Van Giac became a couple. Their happiness is closely linked to revolutionary victories. They were well-known to the puppet regime by the nicknames "King Giac" and "Red Queen". In 1940, the pregnant Thap directly led the largest armed uprising since the French colonialists invaded the country.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap’s portrait

After the Geneva Agreement (1954), the country was divided in two. Under the direction of the Central Government, she moved to the North. She was elected VWU’s President for 18 years from 1956 to 1974 - the longest presidency in the VWU. Continuously from term I to term VI, she was elected to the National Assembly and served as the National Assembly’s Vice Chairwoman for 21 years (1960-1981) from term II to term VI.

In her position as VWU’s President and the National Assembly deputy, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap always looked out for women’s thoughts and aspirations so as to make proposals on the policies to ensure practical benefits for women and children.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap (front row, sixth from right), VWU’s President (1956-1974) with delegates attending the 4th National Women's Congress in Hanoi, March 1974.