Her tears and heartfelt reflections deeply moved everyone in attendance, leaving their hearts heavy with emotion.
“Lotus” embodies revolutionary integrity
Within the framework of the “Heritage and Peace” journey 2026, marking the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, the exhibition “Lotus in stone” is open from May 12 to July 2026 at Con Dao Museum, Ho Chi Minh City.
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Delegates visit the calligraphy exhibition space. |
Standing before 25 portraits of female revolutionary soldiers, meticulously crafted from dried lotus leaves, Truong My Hoa was moved. For her, the name “Lotus in stone” carries profound emotional resonance. It is not merely art, but a vivid symbol of her comrades, who stood by her in confronting violence and chains in the “hell on earth” of Con Dao.
The lotus symbolizes purity and nobility, while the stone represents the harshness and brutality of the prison.
She emphasized that the 25 portraits in the exhibition represent tens of thousands of Vietnamese women who lived and fought like lotus flowers. Despite imprisonment and both physical and psychological torture, they remained steadfast, loyalty and unyielding faith, continuing to spread their fragrance to life.
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Former Vice President Truong My Hoa (far right) admires her portrait created from dried lotus leaves by artisans. |
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Delegates in a joint photo |
Message for “lotuses” of peacetime
Former Vice President Truong My Hoa also affirmed that although the war ended long ago, the spirit of “Lotus in the stone” should continue in the modern era.
Today’s “stone” is no longer chains or prisons, but the challenges and hardships in life, work, and creativity. She believed that even in peacetime, there is always a need for “lotuses in the stone,” who quietly overcome difficulties and contribute to science, agriculture, and medicine to build the country.
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Former female political prisoner of Con Dao Le Tu Cam stands beside her portrait. |
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A delegation from Laos visits the portrait of heroine martyr Vo Thi Sau. |
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Delegates deeply moved while viewing the artworks and stories of former female prisoners of Con Dao displayed at the exhibition |
The exhibition leads visitors into an artistic space of calligraphy and works crafted from dried lotus leaves, divided into three sections.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, CEO of Senhouse Vietnam, shared that “Lotus in stone” is not only a symbolic title but also a profound message for present and future generations.
“The use of dried lotus leaves to create portraits of female revolutionaries is not only artistically unique but also a deep tribute. Through the exhibition, we hope to create an emotional journey where past and present intersect, where memories of patriotism ignite inspiration for future generations,” she expressed.
Translated by Quynh Oanh