Vo Thi Sau was just a schoolgirl when she became involved in revolutionary activities. When Ho Chi Minh declared independence against the French in 1945, she was only 12 years old. A few years later, she joined the Viet Minh and became a guerilla fighter.

At the age of 14 while in a busy market, she tossed a grenade at a group of French soldiers. She managed to kill one officer and injure several others. She was able to escape undetected. At 16, she planned another grenade attack, however, the grenade failed to detonate and she was apprehended by the French authorities. She was then shipped off to three different prisons, the final being Con Son prison on the Con Dao archipelago. She was executed by firing squad in 1952. She was only 19-years-old. It’s said she refused to be blindfolded and stared into the eyes of the soldiers while singing until she was killed.

Today, she is considered a national hero and a symbol of the revolutionary spirit. Her grave is frequently visited by Vietnamese citizens, especially at night, to honor her memory. Many streets, parks, and schools are named after her across Vietnam.