Posthumously awarding the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to comrade Vo Thi Thang

On the afternoon of September 10, 2015, in Ho Chi Minh City, on behalf of the President, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh presented the decision to posthumously award the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to comrade Vo Thi Thang, former member of the Party Central Committee, former General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

This is a meaningful work to recognize the great contributions of comrade Vo Thi Thang in the struggle for independence, freedom and national reunification, as well as her steadfast and indomitable heart during the time she was imprisoned by the enemy.

Director General of the General Department of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan speaks at the ceremony

In his speech at the awarding ceremony, General Director of the General Department of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan reviewed the revolutionary activities of the comrade; at the same time, he expressed that the Vietnam Tourism Industry is very honored and proud to have a responsible and enthusiastic leader. As the head of an important comprehensive economic sector with profound cultural content, inter-sectoral, inter-regional and highly socialized, he has managed and directed the completion of the development of the planning strategy and development plan of the Industry, contributing to the development and promulgation of the Tourism Law, creating an important legal corridor for the development of the Industry. He and the collective have overcome difficulties to maintain and integrate the Tourism Industry deeply and comprehensively with regional and international tourism.

The representative of comrade Vo Thi Thang's family received the decision to posthumously award the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to comrade Vo Thi Thang, presented by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh, authorized by the President.

Director General Nguyen Van Tuan emotionally shared: We will never forget the posture, smile and words of Comrade before the enemy's Court 46 years ago, recorded by a Japanese reporter right after hearing the Court read the sentence of 20 years of hard labor: "How long can your government survive to sentence me to 20 years in prison?". Vo Thi Thang, a daughter of Long An with "Victory Smile", "Vo Thi Thang Smile" has become one of the beautiful symbols for the heroic generation in the resistance war for independence, freedom and national unification. The posture, smile and words of Comrade Vo Thi Thang were once a source of inspiration for many poetic works, contributing to encouraging and urging many people to overcome difficulties and move forward; the photo also crossed national borders, touching the hearts of many international friends who love peace.

Comrade Vo Thi Thang was born in 1945 in Ben Luc (Long An) in a family with a patriotic tradition. During the Mau Than General Offensive in 1968, while carrying out the task of eliminating traitors in Phu Lam, District 6, she fell into the enemy's hands. During 6 years of imprisonment, she was tortured, imprisoned, and tormented by the enemy from Thu Duc Prison to Chi Hoa Prison, from Tan Hiep Prison, Ho Nai to Con Dao Prison. But with the spirit of a revolutionary soldier, she, like many other comrades, did not succumb to the violence and tyranny of the enemy. According to the Paris Agreement, the enemy had to return many imprisoned revolutionary soldiers and she returned to the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam at Loc Ninh Airport on March 7, 1974.

After the country was reunified and peace was restored (April 30, 1975), she worked at the City Youth Union and the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Union. She was then assigned the position of Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union and was elected to the Party Central Committee for the 8th and 9th terms. She was a National Assembly delegate for the 9th, 10th and 11th terms, and served as Director General of the General Department of Tourism (1996 - 2007), and President of the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association until her retirement.

She was awarded many noble titles: Second Class Independence Medal, First Class Labor Medal, 40-year Party membership badge, First Class Resistance Medal, First Class Victory Medal, along with many other Orders, Medals, Badges, Commemorative Medals... and many other noble awards. She was also awarded the Friendship Medal of the Cuban State Council, Medals of the Cuban Women's Union and Youth Union. The names Vo Thi Thang and "Smile" have been given to a number of schools in the capital city of Havana - Cuba.

According to Vietnamtuorism