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Bùi Viện

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bùi Viện (裴援; 1839–1878) was a Vietnamese reformer and diplomat of the late 19th century, served under the Nguyễn dynasty. He was considered the first person from Vietnam to travel to the United States.

Historical background

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Bùi Viện was born into an educated, but poor, family in Thái Bình Province in the Red River Delta. As a boy, he lived among fisherman and merchants, learning whatever he could from them. The knowledge he acquired at a young age proved to be quite impactful as it eventually led to an impressive career in the fine arts.