Long Hung's daughter

(ABO) That is the title of a Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) play about the heroine Le Thi Hong Gam, a daughter of Long Hung commune, Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province.

To commemorate the tradition of resistance against foreign invaders by the army and people during the war against the US for national salvation, on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam on April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2024, Tien Giang Radio and Television Station, in coordination with the District Party Committee and the People's Committee of Chau Thanh District, organized the production of the Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) play "The Girl from Long Hung," with a duration of 90 minutes, script by Meritorious Artist and playwright Huynh Anh, and featuring performances by artists such as People's Artist My Hang, Meritorious Artist Dao Vu Thanh, Meritorious Artist Nhon Hau, Meritorious Artist Minh Hoang, Artist Huynh Mo, Artist Hai Long, Artist Hung Vuong, etc.

A scene from the Cai Luong play "The Girl from Long Hung".

Le Thi Hong Gam was born in 1951 into a peasant family in Long Hung commune, Chau Thanh district. Living and growing up in a homeland rich in revolutionary traditions, Hong Gam, like many other young people in Long Hung commune, quickly became enlightened and participated in revolutionary activities. Le Thi Hong Gam and her comrades fought in 49 battles, killing and wounding 219 enemy soldiers, including 22 Americans, and shooting down one aircraft. She was awarded 4 Certificates of Merit, 3 Certificates of Heroism in the fight against the Americans, and 1 Second-Class Military Merit Medal. On September 20, 1971, Le Thi Hong Gam was posthumously awarded the Third-Class Liberation Merit Medal and the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam. She was the first female Hero of the People's Armed Forces to be awarded this title in Tien Giang province. Le Thi Hong Gam will forever be a source of pride for the people of Tien Giang in particular and the whole country in general, a shining example for all generations to follow. Inspired by the courageous fighting spirit of the heroic female guerrilla fighter, composer Pham Tuyen created the song "The Wings of the Crimson Brocade Birds," which has become widely popular.

During the resistance war against foreign invaders, Chau Thanh district was always a central point, a gateway between our forces and the enemy, and also the site of direct battles following enemy sweeps or supply convoys. From the defeat at Ap Bac until the Tet Offensive of 1968, the enemy frantically employed pacification and repressive tactics against our people, especially in the border areas close to their key strategic points.

Growing up witnessing firsthand the brutality of enemy forces, Le Thi Hong Gam secretly joined the village guerrilla team at the age of 16. Later, she was assigned to Long Hung as the deputy head of the village militia, building up forces to fight the enemy and protect the villages. On many occasions, while carrying secret documents and leading cadres across enemy lines to confront the enemy, she cleverly and bravely escaped safely.

A scene from the Cai Luong play "The Girl from Long Hung".

Although she operated in a limited but extremely dangerous area, she had to cross enemy bases in the Binh Duc belt whenever she went on assignment, sometimes delivering seven documents a day. Whenever she encountered the enemy, she remained calm and resourceful, never revealing her whereabouts.

The story of the cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) play "The Girl from Long Hưng" begins around the period of 1960-1970. This was a significant time, marking the beginning of her revolutionary life. Ông Hổ outpost was always an important stronghold, and Hồng Gấm influenced many soldiers to join the revolutionary ranks, including Tân - a gentle soldier who was drafted into the army and became an inside agent for the revolution.

A scene from the Cai Luong play "The Girl from Long Hung".

Following the successful transport of supplies, supplies, and personnel, the outpost commander became increasingly frenzied in his attacks, and Hong Gam, in her capacity as platoon deputy commander, proposed a plan to destroy the Ho outpost. On April 18, 1970, to prepare for the night battle, she and two female guerrillas went to buy food supplies for the platoon. They were discovered by the enemy en route. After providing cover for her comrades and shooting down a HU1A helicopter, she bravely sacrificed herself at a very young age.

With a length of 90 minutes, divided into 7 scenes and 7 characters, the Cai Luong play "The Girl from Long Hung" portrays a revolutionary soldier. To enhance its artistic quality, the author has added fictional elements to the true historical story, such as the commander of the Lap outpost and the soldiers of the Tan outpost, to further instill hatred of the enemy in the hearts of the people and to highlight the character of the revolutionary soldier.

Le Thi Hong Gam Street in My Tho City, Tien Giang Province.

Besides her bravery and resilience, Hong Gam remains a gentle and innocent Vietnamese girl, with her first love being a soldier named Khoa, and they faithfully promised to marry each other when peace and national reunification were achieved.

It can be said that these details, created by the author, make the character of Le Thi Hong Gam shine even brighter and the play more nuanced through the language of art when writing about the image of a Vietnamese revolutionary soldier.

TRUNG TIN - TT

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