A bamboo sword

PANO – Visitors to the Vietnam Women's Museum are sure be impressed when introduced to the bamboo sword used by Ms. Hoang Thi Trinh in Cao Mai Doai vilalge (Quang Trung commune, Kien Xuong district, Thai Binh province).

After the August Revolution in 1945, the fledgling Revolutionary Government of Vietnam had to face huge hardship and challenges, from hunger and illiteracy to foreign invaders, etc. In response to the plots of the enemy to invade the country once more, President Ho Chi Minh called for the whole nation to join the war of resistance.

The bamboo sword of Ms. Hoang Thi Trinh

Responding to the call, Thai Binh province actively prepared for the resistance by building revolutionary forces ready to fight the enemy. Along with the preparation, a guerrilla movement also thrived among women and female guerrilla groups were set up across all localities of the province.

In Kien Xuong district, the movement was widespread. Village women actively joined production while enthusiastically training with swords, waiting for opportunities to contribute to the resistance war. To have sufficient weapons for training, the women inventively made simple weapons like swords and spears from available materials such as bamboo.

Ms. Hoang Thi Trinh, in Cao Mai Doai village, was an active member of the guerrilla movement in the commune. With support from her husband, she enthusiastically joined production activities and meetings, listened to and spread the guidelines of the Party, State and mobilized families to support the revolution. She also actively practiced using weapons and learnt martial arts. The weapon that she always carried with her was the bamboo sword her husband made for her, which she used from 1946 to 1954. After the success of the war of resistance, the bamboo sword was carefully kept as a keepsake.