Nguyễn Thị Bình is a Vietnamese politician known as the chief diplomat for the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. She was the only woman to sign the 1973 Paris Peace Accords and later served as the Minister of Education. From 1992 to 2002, she held the position of Vice President of Vietnam.
The Paris Peace Accords, signed in 1973 to conclude the American intervention in the Vietnam War, bore the signature of only one woman: Nguyễn Thị Bình. Known internationally as Madame Bình, she served as the chief diplomat for the Viet Cong and led their delegation during the prolonged negotiations that aimed to restore peace to the country.
Early Activism and Imprisonment
Born Nguyễn Thị Châu Sa on 26 May 1927 in An Tịch village, Sa Đéc province, she is the granddaughter of the nationalist leader Phan Chu Trinh. During the French colonization of Vietnam, she attended Lycée Sisowath in Cambodia. She joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1948, participating in intellectual movements against French colonial rule between 1945 and 1951. This activity led to her arrest and imprisonment at Chí Hòa Prison in Saigon from 1951 to 1953.
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During the conflict, she served on the Central Committee of the Viet Cong and acted as vice-chairperson of the South Vietnamese Women's Liberation Association. In 1969, she was appointed foreign minister of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam. Her command of French and her public profile established her as a primary international representative for the organization.
Government and Legislative Career
Following the reunification of Vietnam, she became the first woman in the nation's history to serve as a cabinet minister, holding the post of Minister of Education. Her career in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam included a tenure as a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party from 1987 to 1992, as well as roles on the Party's Central Foreign Affairs Commission and as chair of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee. She served as a member of the National Assembly from 1976 to 2002 and was twice elected Vice President, serving from 1992 to 2002.
Awards and Recognition
Her record has been marked by several state honors, including the Order of Ho Chi Minh, the Resistance Order (First Class), and the 75-year Party Membership Commemorative Medal presented by Nguyễn Xuân Phúc in 2021. In 2025, General Secretary Tô Lâm conferred the title of Hero of Labour upon her. In May 2026, the Palestinian ambassador to Vietnam, Saadi Salama, awarded her the Palestinian Order of the Star of Merit for her work with the Russell Tribunal on Palestine.
Fast facts
- Born: 26 May 1927, An Tịch village, Sa Đéc province
- Education: Lycée Sisowath
- Party Membership: 1948
- Minister of Education: First female cabinet minister in Vietnamese history
- Vice President of Vietnam: 1992–2002
- Paris Peace Accords: Only female signatory (1973)
- Hero of Labour: Awarded 2025
Questions readers ask
What was her role in the Paris Peace Accords?
She served as the chief diplomat and leading delegate for the Viet Cong (NLF) and was the only woman to sign the 1973 peace agreements.
Did she hold positions in the government after the war?
Yes. She served as Minister of Education, a member of the National Assembly, and Vice President of Vietnam from 1992 to 2002.
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