In a poignant recollection nearly 60 years after the Tet Offensive, Phùng Ngọc Anh, the sole survivor from that fateful night, shares her memories of the heroic sacrifices made by Lê Thị Riêng and Trần Văn Kiểu. On the night of January 31, 1968, during the early hours of the Lunar New Year, chaos erupted in Saigon as the Tet Offensive commenced. Ngọc Anh, then a revolutionary prisoner, found herself in a vehicle with two fellow prisoners, Lê Thị Riêng and Trần Văn Kiểu, as they faced a grim fate.

As gunfire erupted, Ngọc Anh recalled the chilling moment when Trần Văn Kiểu held her hand and assured her, "Ngọc Anh, don’t be afraid, you will survive...". However, the reality of their situation quickly became apparent as the vehicle was ambushed. Lê Thị Riêng, a prominent figure in the Southern Vietnam liberation movement, bravely shouted, "Long live Ho Chi Minh!" three times before succumbing to the gunfire.

In the confined space of the truck, Ngọc Anh and her companions were met with a hail of bullets. Despite the chaos, Trần Văn Kiểu rallied them with cries of defiance, but soon fell silent as he was struck. Ngọc Anh herself was wounded but remained determined. She vividly remembers Lê Thị Riêng’s courageous final moments, standing up to shout in defiance even as the enemy soldiers closed in.

After the gunfire ceased, Ngọc Anh was left in a state of shock, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of her comrades. A soldier eventually found her and arranged for her transfer to a hospital, where she received care. This act of kindness was a rare glimmer of humanity amidst the brutality of war.

Following the tragic events, the whereabouts of Lê Thị Riêng and Trần Văn Kiểu’s remains became a mystery. Years later, efforts to locate their burial site led to the discovery of a mass grave in Lê Thị Riêng Park, where they are believed to have been interred along with others. The search for their remains continues, with hopes that DNA testing will help identify them.

Ngọc Anh, now 86 years old, reflects on her experiences with deep emotion. She recalls the sacrifices made by her fellow revolutionaries and their unwavering spirit in the face of death. Their legacy lives on, inspiring future generations to remember the courage and resilience displayed during one of Vietnam's most tumultuous periods.