Background
She was born on February 20, 1934 in the Thai Hiep Thanh commune in the province of Tay Ninh.
She was born on February 20, 1934 in the Thai Hiep Thanh commune in the province of Tay Ninh.
In 1956 she graduated from the National Teacher"s School.
She became an elementary school teacher at Tan Dinh in Saigon after graduation. While in Saigon, she actively participated in the group "Youth Serving Society" and taught within various orphanages. On May 16, 1967 at 7:20 a.m., in District 10 of Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City in front of the Tu Nghiem Pagoda, Nhat Chi Mai lit herself on fire using a petrol accelerant.
She was 33 years old when she died from her burns.
Prior to her self-immolation she wrote ten messages outlining her anti-war beliefs and calling for an end to the Vietnam War.