General Vo Nguyen Giap and Vietnamese Women

Engraved in our mind is the image of the revered General, who after each victorious battle would return and cry silently in his own space for the fallen soldiers. He always vocally acknowledged the sacrifices and contribution of women to the victories gained by the army.

General Giap o­nce said “Vietnamese women have great contributions to the cause of national liberation and economical renovation”. In a letter sent to the Vietnam Women’s Union o­n the 50^th Anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory, he wrote: “In Dien Bien Phu Campaign, many women went to the front lines and provided information services and medical care for the soldiers. Most of the workers and youth volunteers who secured logistics for the Campaign were women. They worked hard day and night and made a crucial contribution to the great victory of the Campaign”. Significantly, as the Commander-in-chief of the Vietnam People’s Army and as Defense Minister, General Giap appointed a number of women to become military high officers, including General Nguyen Thi Dinh of the “long-haired army” and Colonel Ho Thi Bi - “Heroine in the Eastern region”.

Because he had beena history teacher, whenever meeting with the VWU staff, General Giap recalled the legendary heroines of our history such as Hai Ba Trung, Ba Trieu, Le Chan, and Bui Thi Xuan; and urged women of present generations to learn about and promote the heroic tradition of Vietnamese women.

The General devoted his whole life to the cause of national freedom and happiness of the people. After the war, he paid special attention to relieving the aftermaths of war that heavily burdened the women. Not o­nly by verbal encouragement, he took specific actions that helped change life of millions of Vietnamese women for the better. He strongly proposed support policies to the Party and the State for former youth volunteers, that at the time amounted 350,000 women. He said: “In resistance war, especially in military campaigns, the army would have encountered much greater difficulties without the efforts of female youth volunteers. These volunteers, together with the soldiers, made glorious victories and built up the proud tradition of the heroic Vietnam People’s Army. To me, female youth volunteers are no different from soldiers, they possess the qualities of Ho Chi Minh’s soldiers, and they ought to be treated with the same policies as soldiers”. He also encouraged the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA) to propose to the Party and the State social benefit schemes for more than o­ne million of women who are caring for their husbands and children affected by Agent Orange and living in extreme difficulties.

Vietnamese women of different generations have had special affection for Uncle Ho’s soldiers under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap. That special affection is no doubt to be treasured and nurtured by many generations of army officers, soldiers and women to come.

General Giap’s passing away deeply saddened all of VWU staff and women throughout the country. The feelings of loss, longing and gratitude are beyond our words. We pledge to study and work harder, upholding the women’s tradition of “Heroism, determination, faithfulness and resourcefulness” in national construction and defense, to pay tribute to our beloved General Vo Nguyen Giap.

VWU President Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa