The 27th day of the Lunar December has long become a sacred day in Côn Đảo — the death anniversary of National Heroine Võ Thị Sáu. From early morning until late at night, her grave at Hàng Dương Cemetery is covered with flowers, incense, and offerings, as islanders honor her the way they would a beloved family member.
The brave girl from Đất Đỏ
Võ Thị Sáu was born in 1933 in Đất Đỏ, Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu. At just 14, she joined the local guerrilla reconnaissance team, taking part in operations to eliminate oppressive forces. During the Lunar New Year of 1950, she volunteered for a mission to eliminate a group of collaborators who terrorized the Đất Đỏ market. The mission succeeded, but she was captured shortly after.
In April 1950, she was imprisoned in Chí Hòa. Although still a minor, the French colonial court sentenced her to death. Concerned about public backlash, they secretly transferred her to Côn Đảo for execution.
On January 21, 1952, she was transported to the island along with dozens of political prisoners. On the morning of January 23, 1952, she walked calmly to the execution site, refused to be blindfolded, and proudly sang the Vietnamese national anthem. The first volley failed to fell her — the executioners trembled under her fearless gaze. Only when an officer stepped closer and fired at point-blank range did she fall. She was just 19 years old.
A symbol of courage and patriotism
Võ Thị Sáu’s name lives on in poetry, song, sculpture, and in the hearts of generations of Vietnamese:
“She picked a wildflower by the road,
Tucked it gently in her hair,
And raised her voice in song
Amid the bayonets pointed at her…”
In 1993, the State of Vietnam awarded her the title Hero of the People’s Armed Forces. Today, her statue stands proudly in Đất Đỏ, while her restored grave at Hàng Dương Cemetery is visited daily by thousands of locals and travelers.
The guardian spirit of Côn Đảo
To the people of Côn Đảo, Võ Thị Sáu is more than a heroic martyr — she is regarded as a protective spirit of the island. The phrase “With Miss Sáu as my witness” has become a traditional vow. Some long-time island families still keep an altar dedicated to her in their homes. Fishermen stop by her grave before setting out to sea, traders pray before traveling, and couples visit before their wedding as a gesture of gratitude and hope.
Each year, on the 27th day of the Lunar December, Côn Đảo holds a solemn and heartfelt ceremony in her honor. Many people journey from Hồ Chí Minh City, Vũng Tàu, Cần Thơ, and the Mekong Delta — crossing the sea simply to attend her death anniversary. This tradition has continued especially since 2010, when the Côn Đảo Museum officially recognized the lunar date as her memorial day.
Võ Thị Sáu lives on — as a national hero, a symbol of youthful bravery, and in the spiritual life of the people of Côn Đảo.
