The touching story of the 10 heroic women of Lam Ha ward, the heroic memories of the nation through the accounts of historical witnesses are the highlights of the program celebrating International Women's Day on March 8th, the Hai Ba Trung Uprising organized by Noi Bai International Airport Port on March 5th, 2024.
On March 5th, 2024, the delegation from Noi Bai International Airport Port organized a traditional education program at the Lam Ha temple complex, where the anti-aircraft artillery battlefield relic has been recognized as a national historical site. The delegation participating in the traditional education program included the Trade Union officials, the Women's Union Board of Noi Bai International Airport Port from various periods, and female workers with outstanding achievements. The delegation engaged in discussions with 2 female militia members from Unit 3 - historical witnesses who survived the fierce battles against the American empire. Here, the delegation paid tribute, commemorated the heroic martyrs, and revisited the intense years of struggle of the military and people of Ha Nam province.
Lam Ha Ward, Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province was one of the targets of the American imperialists during the war of national salvation against the United States because the ward had 03 high-altitude artillery positions. These artillery positions cooperated in shooting down American aircraft, protecting the safety of targets in Hà Nam town at that time, especially safeguarding the North-South railway bridge and National Highway 1A, vital lifelines for the South. In an unequal battle between our troops and local self-defense forces against the US Air Force, the 10 female militia members of Lam Ha fought bravely until their last breath. The 10 names: Thu, Thi, Tâm, Tuyết, Lan, Phương, Thuận, Thẹp, Chung, Oánh fell, becoming legendary figures in the hearts of the people, embodying the nation.
"The sisters sacrificed before us, American planes circling like vultures above us, it's strange that we weren't afraid at all, just diligently following the orders of our soldiers to accurately and timely load ammunition. At that time, I was about 15, sister Hoa was 16 years old, we were very young, weighing only about 40kg, yet we carried heavy bags of up to 50kg running swiftly," Mrs. Vu Hong Nhung and Mrs. Bach Thi Hoa - 02 surviving female self-defense militia members recounted. "In that battle, the American bombardment was fierce, a bomb fell right in front of my and sister Hoa's bunker entrance, luckily the bomb buried itself in the ground, not exploding, we were fortunate to escape death in the nick of time, but many of my comrades, many young sisters, under 20, fell..." Mrs. Vu Hong Nhung choked up, tearfully recalling each beloved comrade who sacrificed in front of her during the battle on October 1, 1966.
The heroic sacrifice of 10 brave women on the battlefield, the steadfast determination to overcome the verge of death of the female army members, has touched the hearts of many generations to come about the spirit of "unyielding heroes, responsible and virtuous women" of the descendants of the Trung Sisters, Lady Trieu.
This spirit is being preserved, promoted, spread, and carried forward. In the solemn space of the seminar, the Organizing Committee presented gifts of gratitude to 02 historical witnesses and at the same time honored the former trade union officials, female workers of Noi Bai International Airport through different periods; The entire audience had moments of solemnity and emotion. Thuy An - a young member from the Port Office shared, "It's the first time I've been to an event with the trade union members, such a meaningful and interesting program. I will strive to achieve more accomplishments to participate with the members next year." Kim Nhung - a former female worker official, said this was a meaningful occasion for her to return to her second home, meet familiar faces, and learn about our roots together, immerse ourselves in the heroic historical stories of our nation. "I feel the passion boiling up as if time is flowing back to the fierce years of resistance. Faced with the spirits of the departed, we feel the need to exert ourselves even more to pass on the heroic traditions of our nation."
As part of the program, the delegation visited the Phi Lai Tu Pagoda - a temple with a strong Zen atmosphere located in a picturesque area with a beautiful mountainous terrain, giving the feeling of being lost in paradise. This is a place where many tourists seek for spiritual retreat.
The International Women's Day celebration, commemorating the Hai Ba Trung Uprising organized by the grassroots union, the Women's Union of Noi Bai International Airport, left deep emotions, lasting impressions, and unforgettable memories in the hearts of every member. It is a journey to understand more about our roots, to be prouder of the generations before us, to cherish the beauty of our homeland to live well, live beautifully, and appreciate what we currently have. 'The program contributes to spreading the cherished traditional values of the nation to every union member, every worker,' stated Ms. Trinh Thi Lien Huong - Chair of the Noi Bai International Airport Union. Previously, on Vietnamese Women's Day on October 20, 2016, the grassroots union of Noi Bai International Airport also organized an exchange with the Lam Ha female militia team at the Vietnamese Women's Museum to awaken the glorious traditions of the nation and the good qualities of Vietnamese women.