Persisting Impact of the "Three Responsibilities" Campaign

Unleashing Power: The Remarkable Role of Women in Vietnam's War Efforts

The rich tapestry of Vietnam has always been woven and embroidered by the tenacity of women. None have demonstrated this more so than during the turbulent era of the anti-American war and the struggle for Southern liberation.

One of the most enduring narratives of this time is the Ba Đảm Đang (Three Responsibilities) movement, which began 60 years ago. It stands as a beacon of resilience and unity in Vietnam's history, as women throughout the North embraced their duties, taking on economic production, managing families, and even assuming combat roles when necessary – all in the pursuit of national reunification.

A Testimony of Determination

In the mid-1960s, the Saì Gòn forces endured heavy defeats, leading the United States to escalate its military involvement in Vietnam by deploying combat troops in the South and intensifying air raids on the North to undermine the Southern liberation movement.

SIGNING UP: Students of Yên Hòa High School in Hà Nội volunteered to join the "Three Responsibilities" movement in 1965. VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tụng

In response, North Vietnam rallying cry, "For the Beloved South," ignited a wave of volunteers eager to defend their homeland. In this charged atmosphere, women bravely stepped forward to fill vital roles, maintaining production, managing homes, and standing ready to fight when called upon.

From villages to towns, from mountains to plains, women across the North submitted applications to their local governments and the Vietnam Women's Union, eager to shoulder the responsibilities of their absent husbands and sons. This spirit of sacrifice allowed families to stand strong, with the assurance of the women's action on the homefront.

Crowning this groundswell of commitment, the Central Vietnam Women's Union officially launched the "Three Responsibilities" movement on March 22, 1965, urging women to take up production roles, manage households, and be prepared for combat roles if needed.

This call to action set off a fervor across the North, with millions of women joining the crusade.

HARD AT WORK: Women of the Hà Nội-Huế-Sài Gòn Cooperative actively cultivate duckweed to enhance fertiliser sources for rice and vegetable planting in 1968. - VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Văn Kính

On the production front, women tirelessly toiled, unrelenting even in the face of day and night bombings. Fueled by the mantra "Fields are the battlefields; hoes and ploughs are weapons," rural women transformed into formidable warriors with plough in hand, taking on heavy farmwork and overseeing cooperatives.

Working in factories and construction, countless women dented production targets, driving industries to record output. Mothers on the frontlines kept children safe and factories operational during relentless air raids.

Women on the Frontlines

CEO Hạú, a single parent with two children, maintained the highest daily fabric production rate in her factory for eight years while her husband fought bravely on the battlefield. Their exceptional determination paved the way for the factory to exceed its production goals by over 80,000 meters.

STUDY TIME: The Kiều Mai Agriculture Cooperative in Phú Diễn Commune, Từ Liêm District, Hà Nội, opened a class to enhance the cultural level for women in 1967. - VNA/VNS Photo Thế Trung

Healthcare and education were critical fronts as well, with women making up nearly 60% of healthcare workers. They built a nationwide network of clinics and maternity homes, cared for war victims, and upheld the ethos, "A medical worker is like a caring mother."

In education, women formed the majority of teachers, ensuring children continued to learn despite war. All the while, they maintained unwavering resolve in their roles as wives and mothers, tending to their homes and families.

By the end of May 1965, just two months after the movement's inception, more than 1.7 million women had registered to embody the "Three Responsibilities," demonstrating their unwavering commitment.

Reshaping the Landscape of War

HARVEST SEASON: Women of the Ngô Đồng Agriculture Cooperative in Gia Viễn District, Ninh Bình Province, take part in a rice transplanting contest to increase productivity in 1970. VNA/VNS Photo Thái Khải

Today, the spirit of the Three Responsibilities lives on, as women continue to make significant contributions to Vietnam's development, participating in politics, economics, and culture.

In politics, female representation in the National Assembly has steadily increased, with women accounting for over 30% of representatives during the 2021-2025 term, surpassing the global average and leading Southeast Asia.

Vietnam has achieved global recognition for its efforts in gender equality and female empowerment, an achievement cemented by its election to the Executive Board of UN Women for the 2025-2027 term.

In the economy, Vietnamese women are among the most active in the workforce, making up over 46.7% of the labor pool. They excel in diverse fields, from agriculture and manufacturing to services, finance, and technology.

MODERN ROLES: Women are increasingly participating in various production fields and playing important roles. - VNA/VNS Photo

Female leaders are emerging across these sectors, with about 30% of management positions held by women, placing Vietnam among the top six countries in this regard.

Vietnamese women embody resilience, intelligence, and creativity, safeguarding cultural traditions while accelerating Vietnam's modernization. Their contributions extend to the realm of science, driving groundbreaking research and innovation.

Moreover, our heroines continue to brave dangerous landscapes on global peacekeeping missions, reflecting the spirit of national unification that defined the Three Responsibilities movement.

In homage to President Hô Chí Minh's praise, "The beautiful landscape of Vietnam is woven and embroidered by the efforts of women," Vietnam's women continue to be essential in shaping a strong, thriving nation that remains deeply integrated with the world. VNS.

SOLDIERING ON: The female officers of Field Hospital 6 set out on a mission. - VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

Legacy of the three Responsibilities

During the Three Responsibilities (Ba Đảm Đang) movement in North Vietnam (1965–1975), women:

Strengthened Families: Managing the homefront during the war, women ensured that their families remained strong and stable, despite the hardships brought on by the conflict.
Powered the Economy: Women maintained critical agricultural and industrial production during the war, providing essential resources for soldiers and civilians alike.
Fought the War: Trained in civil defense and direct combat, women played crucial roles in Vietnam's war effort, particularly in areas heavily targeted by U.S. forces.

The Three Responsibilities movement stands as a testament to women's resilience, adaptability, and bravery in the face of adversity, playing a pivotal role in Vietnam's victory and eventual reunification.

During the Three Responsibilities movement in North Vietnam from 1965 to 1975, women bravely filled vital roles, maintaining production, managing homes, and standing ready to fight when necessary, all in the pursuit of national reunification.
In this charged atmosphere, women across the North responded to the North Vietnam rallying cry, "For the Beloved South," and submitted applications to their local governments and the Vietnam Women's Union to shoulder the responsibilities of their absent husbands and sons.
The Central Vietnam Women's Union officially launched the Three Responsibilities movement on March 22, 1965, urging women to take up production roles, manage households, and be prepared for combat roles if needed.
In response to heavy defeats suffered by the Saigon forces, women portered products, turned empty houses into workshops, and developed innovative techniques to conserve resources, ensuring the production continued during the war.
On the production front, women tirelessly toiled in factories and construction, denting production targets, driving industries to record output, and even working under the cover of darkness during bombings to avoid detection.
Mothers on the frontlines kept children safe and factories operational during relentless air raids, demonstrating a remarkable balance of caring for their families and contributing to the war effort.
Healthcare and education were critical fronts, with women making up nearly 60% of healthcare workers and forming the majority of teachers, ensuring children continued to learn despite the war and providing care to war victims.
Vietnam has achieved global recognition for its efforts in gender equality and female empowerment, maintaining over 30% female representation in the National Assembly during the 2021-2025 term and leading Southeast Asia in this regard.
Women's contributions extend to the realm of science, driving groundbreaking research and innovation, and serving as peacekeepers in global conflicts, embodying the spirit of national unification that defined the Three Responsibilities movement.