23 January on Con Dao: Remembering Hero Võ Thị Sáu

23 January is a day of remembrance for Võ Thị Sáu, a Hero of the People’s Armed Forces who was executed on Con Dao on 23 January 1952. Her anniversary is associated with Hàng Dương Cemetery, Con Dao Memorial Temple and the island’s enduring tradition of honouring those who sacrificed their lives for national independence.

As January returns to Con Dao, the sound of the sea and the tall casuarina trees seem to accompany a quieter moment of reflection. More than seven decades after her death, the story of a young woman from Đất Đỏ who remained steadfast in the face of execution continues to resonate.

Her remembrance day honours not only one person’s extraordinary courage but also the countless patriots and political prisoners who suffered or died during the island’s prison era.

Why is 23 January important on Con Dao?

23 January in the Gregorian calendar is the anniversary of Võ Thị Sáu’s death. She was executed on 23 January 1952, corresponding to the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month in the Year of Tân Mão.

These are two ways of expressing the same historical date. They do not mean that 23 January and the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month coincide in subsequent years.

On Con Dao, her annual remembrance ceremony is associated with the Gregorian date of 23 January. It is a time for local residents, veterans, families, service personnel and visitors to honour her memory and learn about the country’s struggle for independence.

From a young woman in Đất Đỏ to a courageous resistance scout

Võ Thị Sáu was born in 1933 in the Đất Đỏ area of the former Bà Rịa Province. Growing up under French colonial rule, she joined the revolutionary movement while still very young.

In 1947, at approximately 14 years of age, she became involved with the Đất Đỏ district’s volunteer security force, undertaking scouting and intelligence-related tasks in support of the resistance.

According to historical accounts of her life, on 14 July 1948 she took part in a grenade attack targeting a gathering organised by opposing forces at Đất Đỏ Market.

In February 1950, during another operation in the area, she was arrested. Despite interrogation and harsh treatment, she remained steadfast and refused to betray her comrades.

She was subsequently held at Chí Hòa Prison in Saigon and sentenced to death by a French colonial court. The execution sentence imposed on such a young woman became one of the most widely remembered episodes of the anti-colonial resistance.

For further historical background, see the website’s biographical article about Võ Thị Sáu in Vietnamese.

Her final days on Con Dao and the morning of 23 January 1952

On 21 January 1952, French colonial authorities transported Võ Thị Sáu from Saigon to Con Dao for the sentence to be carried out. She was held temporarily at Sở Cò, a place now associated with her final days.

In the memories of former political prisoners and in stories passed down on the island, she is described as facing her final hours with composure and courage. Accounts of her singing patriotic songs, including Lên đàng and Tiến quân ca, have become powerful images of her resistance.

Retellings of the moments before her execution also describe her refusing a blindfold and affirming her belief in an independent Vietnam. These details are part of oral recollections and historical narratives, and should be distinguished from surviving administrative records of the execution.

According to the Con Dao prison death register covering 1947–1954, Võ Thị Sáu was executed at 7:00 a.m. on 23 January 1952. On the same day, French colonial authorities also executed the resistance fighter Hồ Văn Năm, known as Năm Đen.

Although her life ended when she was still a teenager, Võ Thị Sáu’s courage, conviction and sacrifice became part of the historical memory of Con Dao and Vietnam.

A Hero of the People’s Armed Forces

On 2 August 1993, Võ Thị Sáu was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, recognising her contribution and sacrifice during the resistance against French colonial rule.

Her name lives on through memorial sites, schools, roads and works of literature and music. In her home region of Đất Đỏ, as on Con Dao, she is remembered as a symbol of patriotism, resilience and determination in the face of oppression.

The annual remembrance of Võ Thị Sáu on Con Dao

Activities around 23 January have traditionally included paying respects at her grave in Hàng Dương Cemetery and commemorative ceremonies at Con Dao Memorial Temple, according to the official programme announced for each year.

On 23 January 2026, the Con Dao special-zone authorities held a ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of her death. The programme included paying respects at her grave in Section B of Hàng Dương Cemetery and a memorial ceremony at the temple. Educational activities for younger generations were also organised around the occasion.

These observances express the Vietnamese tradition of gratitude to earlier generations and help visitors learn about the island’s prison history, the sacrifice of revolutionary prisoners and the value of peace.

Important planning note: Although 23 January is the remembrance date, ceremony times, locations and participation arrangements may change from year to year. Visitors wishing to attend an official ceremony should consult announcements for the relevant year rather than relying on a past programme.

Paying respects at Hàng Dương Cemetery

Võ Thị Sáu’s grave is located in Section B of Hàng Dương Cemetery, one of Con Dao’s most significant memorial sites.

Among the trees and quiet walkways, visitors offer flowers and incense as a gesture of gratitude to her and to others who gave their lives for Vietnam’s independence and freedom.

A visit can be combined with an exploration of Hàng Dương Cemetery’s wider history, Con Dao Memorial Temple and the former prison complex. Together, these sites preserve memories of those who endured detention, forced labour and exile on the islands.

Visitors are encouraged to dress respectfully, keep quiet, follow staff instructions, avoid crowding and leave offerings only where permitted. Sincere remembrance begins with consideration for the heritage site and for others paying their respects.

Keeping her memory alive

Võ Thị Sáu’s life was short, yet her story left an enduring mark on Vietnam’s history of resistance and national liberation.

Her example encourages later generations to reflect on patriotism, civic responsibility and the value of a peaceful life. For the people of Con Dao, 23 January is a time when historical memory is kept alive through acts of remembrance and stories shared across generations.

Amid the island’s sea breezes and the rustling of its trees, the memory of Võ Thị Sáu continues to be honoured with gratitude and respect.

Đọc bài viết bằng tiếng Việt · Explore the tradition of remembrance on 22 December.