The tearful moment of 'rocket girl' Le Thi Hang

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi Hang - the first female Hero of the People's Armed Forces in the renovation period for her achievements in missile research and manufacturing - shed tears when telling stories of her children's 'longing for their mother'.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi Hang (second from right) with authors and characters who won A prize - Photo: Organizing Committee

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi Hang, journalist Ha Dang, and Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu are the characters in the articles awarded A prize in the 16th "Ordinary but noble examples" writing contest (2024 - 2025) organized by the People's Army Newspaper.

She and the honored characters along with the authors of the articles awarded the contest on September 25 in Hanoi .

Heroine Le Thi Hang is a "simple yet noble example"

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi Hang is a character in the two-part article "Rocket Girl" by the author group Manh Thang - Thu Hoa.

Two other works also honored with the A prize are "Journalist Ha Dang - A giant of Vietnam's revolutionary journalism" written about veteran journalist Ha Dang - former member of the Party Central Committee, former Head of the Central Ideology and Culture Committee, by the group of authors Pham Van Tuan and Tong Thi Hai Ly.

And the work "General Nguyen Huy Hieu - A simple general and a life of dedication" is about General, Academician, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Huy Hieu - former member of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Minister of National Defense , by author Nguyen Thi Huong.

Three B prizes were awarded to the series of two articles "The General from the lecture hall to the border" written about Major General, Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Huu Chien - Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of the Border Guard, by author Dang Tue Lam;

Series of two articles "Chau La Viet: Literature and life, always a soldier" written about writer and veteran Chau La Viet by author Nguyen Thanh Tu.

Series of two articles "Lieutenant Le Tuan Thanh and the spirit of action for the community" written about Senior Lieutenant Le Tuan Thanh, Hra Commune Police, Gia Lai Province, by Dang Hoang An.

There are also 4 third prizes and 7 consolation prizes.

Authors and characters won B prize - Photo: BTC

“Science does not distinguish between genders”

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi Hang is currently the director of Center C4, Viettel Aerospace Institute, Military Industry and Telecommunications Group. She was born in 1985, her hometown is Bac Ninh.

In August 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi Hang was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the President, she is also the first female Hero to be awarded the title in the renovation period.

The noble title was awarded to her for the special success in her and her team's research, marking a historical milestone for the first time that Vietnamese people were independent in researching, designing, and successfully manufacturing self-guided heads, something that many developed countries have not yet been able to do.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi Hang, 'rocket girl' receives honor for Simple but Noble Role Models - Photo: T.DIEU

Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online after the honoring ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Le Thu Hang said she was happy to be honored with the authors of the article.

Happily, after this article, she has a new “nickname”: “rocket girl”. Although “girl” combined with “rocket” seems not very suitable for women, she is happy with that name.

Regarding her so-called “extraordinary” achievements in rocket research and production, the “rocket girl” said she found them very normal. “Few people work on it so people think that achievement is extraordinary, but it is just a normal research and development process,” said Ms. Hang.

As a woman participating in rocket design research, she said that "science does not discriminate by gender", science is for all those who are passionate and determined to follow their passion.

Of course, if women do science, it will be harder than men because they have more family responsibilities.

For her, she tries to spend all her time outside of work on her family, leaving no time for friends or personal hobbies.

However, many times she still shed tears when hearing her child say: "Why don't you take me to school like the other kids, but only dad?", or when her son, who was a few years old, "advised" her to come home early because going out in the dark was very dangerous.

Ms. Hang had tears in her eyes when recounting what her children said.

BIRD OF PARADISE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khoanh-khac-rot-nuoc-mat-cua-co-gai-ten-lua-le-thi-hang-20250925165447017.htm