THE TOONG VASE OF "EASTERN HEROINE" ARMED FORCES HERO HO THI BI

The Southern Women's Museum is one of the country's unique cultural institutions, established with the mission of researching, collecting, preserving and displaying historical and cultural values associated with Vietnamese women, especially women in the South. In the collection of artifacts associated with typical historical figures, reflecting the heroic and steadfast spirit of Southern women in the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, there is a toong vase of People's Armed Forces Hero Ho Thi Bi - often called "The Eastern Heroine". The aluminum toong vase, her companion from the Hoc Mon battlefield (1950), through Duong Minh Chau base, then with her across Truong Son to Viet Bac (1953). In 1996, she donated this artifact to the Southern Women's Museum. The pot, though old and dented, still retains its historical value, especially as a living relic. It is not only a household item, but also a testament to her resilient life of fighting in the revolutionary life. The artifact is being displayed at the theme "The struggle movement of Southern women through two resistance wars" at the Southern Women's Museum.

The vase of the "Eastern female hero" (photo source at the Southern Women's Museum)

From the vase, let's look back at her revolutionary activities with her glorious achievements that were praised by Uncle Ho and awarded the title "Female Hero of the East" when she met him in Viet Bac.

Her real name is Ho Thi Hoa (1916-2011), her hometown is Tan Hiep village, Xuan Thoi Thuong commune, later moved to Tan Hiep, Hoc Mon (now Hoc Mon commune, Ho Chi Minh City). Orphaned at an early age, she, her mother and sisters had to rely on her maternal grandparents to make a living. In 1936, she joined the "Friendship Association" in Hoc Mon - a mass organization established by the Party to unite, help each other in life and fight against oppression and tyranny. This was also the environment that fostered her revolutionary ideology.

During the August Revolution of 1945, she participated in leading the mass uprising to seize power in Hoc Mon, and was later elected as Vice President of the District Women's Association, in charge of supplies for the war. When the French colonialists returned to invade, she put aside her motherly love, sent her children to relatives to join the resistance. From 1946 to 1950, she held many important positions: Head of Working Committee No. 12 (City Commandos), commander of Company 2804, and Deputy Commander of Battalion 935 of Regiment 312 of Gia Dinh province. With her intelligence and bravery, she commanded many battles that terrified the enemy.

In 1951, she was assigned as Battalion Commander of Battalion 999, building the Duong Minh Chau base ( Tay Ninh ), a strategic location bordering Vietnam - Cambodia. Despite having to overcome numerous difficulties, she successfully completed her mission, ensuring logistics for the battlefield. In 1953, she went to Viet Bac, met President Ho Chi Minh and was honored to be praised by him, and awarded the title "Female Hero of the East".

In the following period, she continued to hold many important positions: Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union (1956), was promoted to Captain (1959), promoted to Major (1965) - becoming the female officer with the highest rank of that period. In the period 1974-1975, she was Deputy Chief of Politics , Ho Chi Minh City Command. After the country's reunification, she was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (1978), the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces (1980), along with many noble orders and medals such as: Independence Medal, Class 2, Resistance War against France, Class 1, Resistance War against America, Class 1; Military Exploit Medal, Class 2, 3; Feat Medal, Class 1, 2; Glorious Soldier Medal, Class 1, 2 and 3; Labor Medal, Class 1; 70-year Party membership badge. After retirement, she continued to be active in social activities, was one of the founders of the Southern Women's Museum, and was a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans Association.

Armed Forces Hero Ho Thi Bi (photo source at Southern Women's Museum)

She is also one of the founding members of the Southern Women's Museum and a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans Association.

Mrs. Ho Thi Bi – a resilient woman of the land of the Southern citadel, devoted her whole life to the Fatherland. She passed away on October 12, 2011 in Ho Chi Minh City, at the age of 95, and was buried at the City Cemetery (Thu Duc).

Besides the artifacts of Mrs. Ho Thi Bi, the Museum also preserves many other souvenirs associated with female soldiers, heroes, heroic Vietnamese mothers who have created the "indomitable - loyal - responsible tradition" of Vietnamese women. Each artifact here is a story, a piece of the puzzle contributing to recreating the heroic history of the nation.

Today, the Southern Women's Museum is not only a place to preserve heritage, but also a cultural address, historical education and patriotic traditions for generations. Through displays, exhibitions and research activities, the museum affirms its role as a bridge between the past and the present, contributing to spreading the sustainable values of Vietnamese women in general and Southern women in particular in the process of national history.

Ho Chi Minh City, September 3, 2025

Dao Thi Hong Quyen

Department of Communications, Education and International Relations

References

The Colonel's Book - Author Vo Tran Nha

Website https://phunuvietnam.vn/

Documents and images of the Inventory and Preservation Room of the Southern Women's Museum

Source: https://baotangphunu.com/chiec-binh-toong-cua-nu-kiet-mien-dong-anh-hung-luc-luong-vu-trang-ho-thi-bi/