A group of young artists from the Vietnamese Soldier's Heart organization created the portraits after collecting images from various sources. Colonel Dang Vuong Hung, founder and chairman of the organization, said that due to the confidential nature of personal information within the public security sector, photos are scarce. This made the restoration process challenging. According to Hung, the portraits serve as symbolic reminders of the nation's tradition of resistance against foreign invaders.

Colorized portraits of the four female martyrs. Photo: Provided by the organizers

Colorized portraits of the four female martyrs. Photo: Provided by the organizers

Martyr Vo Thi Sau was born in 1933 in Dat Do district (formerly Ba Ria - Vung Tau). At 14, she joined the District Public Security Unit as a scout, undertaking missions to "destroy the puppet regime and eliminate traitors." From 1948-1949, she participated in several battles, including throwing grenades at a rally in Dat Do market and eliminating Cai Tong Tong. In February 1950, she was captured during a grenade attack. Despite being brutally tortured for a month at Dat Do prison and later transferred to Chi Hoa prison, she refused to divulge any information. In 1951, she was sentenced to death by the French colonialists and sent to Con Dao, where she was executed on the morning of 23/1/1952.

Besides Vo Thi Sau, portraits of three other martyrs were also restored: Nguyen Thi Loi (real name Tran Thi Loi, 1911-1950), Cao Ky Van (real name Nguyen Thi Duoc, 1925-1950), and Bui Thi Cuc (real name Tran Thi Lan, 1930-1951).

The organization also presented four portraits to the Vietnam Women's Museum, including one of Duong Quang Tri (1914-1983), who directly participated in organizing the special broadcast at Bach Mai Radio Station, introducing President Ho Chi Minh's Declaration of Independence in September 1945. The other martyrs honored were Nguyen Van Giang (1930-1953), Nguyen Chi Cuong (1947-1969), and Duong Van Cam (1951-1974).

The Vietnamese Soldier's Heart organization was officially launched in 2020, after operating as an online forum for veterans. In recent years, the organization has expanded to various regions, establishing local clubs and engaging in activities to honor soldiers, promote positive values, and inspire future generations.

In April 2024, the organization collaborated with several units to introduce a program to restore portraits of martyrs, artists, and intellectuals from the resistance wars against the French and Americans, such as Be Van Dan, Phan Dinh Giot, To Ngoc Van, and Tham Tam.