The Heroes of Vietnam




Name Lifetime Known For Wikipedia Link
Trưng Sisters 12-43 Sisters who rebelled against Chinese rulers Link
Trần Hưng Đạo 1228-1300 Repelled three Mongol invasions Link
Lê Lợi 1428–1433 Overthrew Chinese with legendary sword, emperor of Vietnam and founder of the Lê dynasty Link

The Trưng Sisters

sisters

These two sisters saw the horrors of the Chinese and made a stand. They created a great army of women and took the capital, holding it for three years before their suicides following overwhelming odds against a Chinese army. They are revered in Vietnam, symbols of equality, which created a more equal society in Vietnam in the future.


Trần Hưng Đạo

scout

Trần Hưng Đạo was a servant of the Tran Dynasty, a Grand Prince. He led the Vietnamese against the Mongols sent by Kublai Khan himself three times, defeating them every time. He utilized guerilla tactics extremely effectively, pioneering its use. His most famous battle- The Battle of Bạch Đằng River, was a work of tactical and strategic genius. He set stakes out at low tide and at high tide lured the Mongol vessels into them, diabling most of the fleet.


Lê Lợi

turtle

First emperor and founder of the Le Dynasty, Lê Lợi challenged the Chinese and won. He again made use of guerrilla tactics, facing at least three separate armies of over 100,000. He initially used guerilla tactics, but one day he came across a shining sword, Thuận Thiên, or Heaven's Will. He took it as a sign to take the fight to the Chinese, and he did. The sword gave him the height of many men, and the strength of a thousand. Later, he was asked to return the sword to a golden turtle. The turtle and the lake both exist, Hoàn Kiếm Lake possessing a rare kind of large soft shell turtle.


Call of the Citizens- South Vietnamese National Anthem Translated. Oh citizens! Our country has reached the day of liberation. Of one heart we go forth, sacrificing ourselves with no regrets. For the future of the people, advance into battle, let us make this land eternally strong. Should our bodies be left on the battlefields, the nation will be avenged with our crimson blood. In troublesome times, We the People will be rescued, We the People remain resolute in our hearts and minds. Courageously we will fight such that everywhere, The Glory of the Vietnamese forever resounds! Oh citizens! Hasten to offer yourselves under the flag! Oh citizens! Hasten to defend this land, escape from destruction, and bask our race in glory, make its name shine, forever worthy of our forebears!


Other Vietnamese Heroes