Born: 1945 (Tân Bửu Commune, Bến Lức District, Long An Province, Vietnam)
Died: 2014
Biography:
Võ Thị Thắng (10 December 1945 – 22 August 2014) was a Vietnamese revolutionary and stateswoman who made significant contributions to her country. Born in Tân Bửu Commune, Bến Lức District, Long An Province, Vietnam, she grew up in a family that supported the North Vietnamese government. Thắng was the youngest of eight siblings.
At the age of 16, Thắng joined the underground National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (NLF). Her commitment to the cause of Vietnamese independence and reunification led her to move to Saigon (present-day Ho Chi Minh City) at 17, where she joined the local branches of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Vietnamese Students’ Association. Both organizations were banned under the South Vietnamese government, highlighting the risks she was willing to take in her pursuit of freedom and justice.
During the Vietnam War, Thắng played a crucial role in the Tet Offensive in July 1968. The NLF assigned her with the task of assassinating a suspected spy in Saigon. Regrettably, she was unsuccessful in her mission and was subsequently arrested by the South Vietnamese authorities. Thắng faced a military court and was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor in Côn Đảo Prison.
In a display of unwavering determination and resilience, Thắng boldly confronted the court upon receiving her sentence. She defiantly retorted, Will your government last long enough to imprison me for 20 years This iconic moment, captured in a photograph taken by a Japanese reporter, would become popularly known as the Smile of Victory. Thắng’s smiling face served as a powerful symbol of Vietnamese women who participated in the war, embodying their courage and unwavering spirit.
Thắng’s indomitable spirit would prevail, as she was released on 7 March 1974 following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. Despite serving less than six years of her sentence, she emerged from prison with her determination intact, ready to continue her fight for Vietnam. After the Vietnam War and the reunification of the country on 30 April 1975, Thắng retired from the People’s Army of Vietnam and dedicated herself to the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.
Recognizing her unwavering dedication and leadership qualities, the Vietnamese government appointed Thắng as the standing vice president of the Vietnam Women’s Union. She played a vital role in advocating for the rights and empowerment of Vietnamese women. Thắng’s impact extended beyond Vietnam as well. She served as the Chairwoman of the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Association, forging diplomatic ties and promoting solidarity between the two nations.
Thắng’s political career was also marked by her service in the National Assembly of Vietnam. Elected to represent Long An Province, she served in the fourth (1971–1975), fifth (1975–1976), and sixth (1976–1981) sessions. Additionally, she held positions of influence within the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, serving during the eighth and ninth congresses.
Võ Thị Thắng’s contributions to Vietnamese society, her courage in the face of adversity, and her unwavering dedication to the cause of independence and equality for all are testament to her remarkable character. Her iconic smile, captured in the Smile of Victory photograph, serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of Vietnamese women.