Henriette Bùi Quang Chiêu facts for kids

Henriette Bùi Quang Chiêu (born 1906, died 2012) was an amazing pioneer. She was the very first female doctor in Vietnam! She traveled all the way to France to study medicine and finished her degree in 1934. Henriette believed Vietnam should be a free country, not controlled by France. Her family arranged a marriage for her in 1935, but she later divorced. She married again later in her life. In the 1950s, she went to Japan to learn about acupuncture, a traditional healing method.

Early Life and Studies

Henriette Bùi Quang Chiêu was born in 1906 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Her family was well-known and lived in a part of Vietnam called Cochinchina, which was controlled by France at the time. Her father, Bui Quang Chieu, was a politician during this period.

When she was 15, Henriette went to France to study. After a year, she had to take a break because she was ill. In 1927, she began studying at Paris University. She was inspired by her brother, Louis Bui Quang Chieu, who was also a doctor in Saigon, Vietnam, and had graduated from the same university.

Becoming a Doctor

It was very unusual for a Vietnamese woman to attend a professional school in France during that time. Henriette's decision to study medicine was seen as a big step forward for education. She studied at Paris University for seven years, working hard to earn her degree.

In 1934, Henriette graduated from medical school. Her final project, called a thesis, was highly praised and even won awards. After graduating, Henriette Bùi Quang Chiêu returned to Vietnam in 1935. There, she was given an important job: she became the head of the Department of Midwifery at Cho Lon Hospital. This department focused on helping mothers and babies during childbirth.

Personal Journey

When Henriette returned home, her family arranged for her to marry Vuong Quang Nhuong. He was a respected lawyer in both Vietnam and France. Many people thought their marriage would be very successful because both Henriette and Vuong Quang Nhuong were highly educated and had important jobs.

However, Henriette was not keen on the marriage at first. Her father and family strongly encouraged her, and she eventually married in 1935. Later, she decided to divorce her husband because she was so dedicated to her medical work.

In 1957, Henriette traveled to Japan to learn about acupuncture. This is a traditional healing practice where thin needles are placed into specific points on the body. After her studies in Japan, she returned to Vietnam. She used her new knowledge to develop new ways of treating patients, especially in the field of obstetrics, which is the branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and the care of women during pregnancy.