Bùi Viện (裴援; 1839–1878) was a Vietnamese reformer and diplomat of the late 19th century, served under the Nguyễn dynasty.[1] He was considered the first person from Vietnam to travel to the United States.[2] He was sent by the Vietnamese government in 1873, in hopes of obtaining American support against France's invasion of Tonkin.[3]
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.