Vietnam Officially Recognizes War Martyr’s Girlfriend as Widow

Vàm Cỏ Commune People's Committee in Tây Ninh Province, Vietnam, officially acknowledged Nguyễn Thị Lệ as the wife of Huỳnh Văn Quên, a soldier who died in 1968 during the Tết Offensive. The Huỳnh family petitioned for the recognition, submitting a letter co-signed by all of Quên’s siblings, affirming their acceptance of Lệ as family.

For decades, Lệ maintained a faithful connection to Quên’s family, caring for his parents until their deaths, despite never formally marrying or living with Quên. Previous attempts to gain official recognition ten years ago were unsuccessful due to documentation requirements, specifically a parental letter of approval which was difficult to obtain given the circumstances of their relationship.

The recent decision allows Lệ to receive government compensation designated for the families of war martyrs, beginning August 1. The family continues to await DNA test results to confirm remains discovered in Hồ Chí Minh City belong to Quên, hoping to finally bring him home.