The story of 4 sisters North - South - Thong - Nhat

This was the first quadruplets birth in Vietnam, considered a "shock" at that time...

Extraordinary mother

On April 30, 2025, we visited the family of Mrs. Bui Thi Huong (born in 1945) in Yen Ngu collective housing area, Thanh Tri district. Mrs. Huong once caused a stir across the country because she gave birth to the first 4 girls at the same time in Vietnam 48 years ago. Warmly welcoming us were Mrs. Huong and her 4 sisters Bac - Nam - Thong - Nhat.

The press at that time reported on the birth of quadruplets by Mrs. Bui Thi Huong. Photo: NVCC

Mr. Nguyen Van Tam and Mrs. Bui Thi Huong with their eldest daughter and four quadruplets. Photo: NVCC

Sharing about her life, Ms. Huong said that in 1969, she started a family with Mr. Nguyen Van Tam (born in 1936). At that time, she was working as a food trader at Hom market.

In 1970, Ms. Huong gave birth to her first daughter. In 1977, she became pregnant again and gave birth to four daughters at the same time at the Institute for the Protection of Mothers and Children (Hospital C), now the Central Maternity Hospital.

Talking about the time of pregnancy and giving birth to quadruplets, Ms. Huong said: “At that time, ultrasound machines were not as modern as they are today, and cases of giving birth to triplets or quadruplets were rare, so the doctors could not believe that I was pregnant with four children. The closer I got to the date of birth, the bigger my belly became, making it difficult for me to walk. By the 7th month, I had to quit work because my whole body was swollen.”

On April 17, 1977, at Hospital C, Mrs. Huong gave birth to four daughters. “I gave birth naturally at 7:30 am. Until I got on the delivery table, no one knew that I had given birth to four children. Then, one by one, each child was born 10 minutes apart. The youngest child was born 5 minutes later. The nurses thought it was all over and almost forgot about her. Because of that, the amniotic fluid flooded her eyes and caused cataracts from then on,” Mrs. Huong said, looking lovingly at her youngest daughter, Nguyen Thi Nhu Nhat.

The four sisters Bac - Nam - Thong - Nhat were named by the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and met and had meals together many times. Photo: NVCC

Because she was the first quadruplets in Vietnam, her family received attention from the Party and the State. “After giving birth, I was so tired that I fell asleep and woke up to see the whole hospital in an uproar. Journalists also came to report the news. That same day, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong called and sent officials to the hospital to visit. The Prime Minister’s secretary told me that when he heard that I had given birth to quadruplets, the Prime Minister had special feelings for them and named them Bac - Nam - Thong - Nhat, with the meaning of commemorating the 2nd anniversary of the country’s complete liberation, with the North and the South under one roof,” Ms. Huong continued.

Ms. Huong's four daughters were born weighing: Nguyen Thi Hoai Bac (1.6 kg), Nguyen Thi Anh Nam (1.7 kg), Nguyen Thi Truyen Thong (1.4 kg) and Nguyen Thi Nhu Nhat (1.3 kg). Due to poor health, all four had to stay in the hospital for nearly 2 months. Because the case of giving birth to quadruplets like hers was very rare at that time, the State provided her with a ^28m2 house in Trung Tu.

Mrs. Huong recalled the first time she met Prime Minister Pham Van Dong on the second day of Tet in 1978. The Prime Minister visited, which surprised her and her husband.

“I was deeply moved. I did not think that a Prime Minister would pay such special attention to his family. When the Prime Minister came in, he kindly asked about the children, asked if they lacked anything. I said, I lacked a refrigerator to store food. Then I received a refrigerator, a sweater and a savings book from the Prime Minister. At that time, I was so moved that I could only cry. I remember him saying: You are very good, as good as the heroic Vietnamese Mother. One mother raised 4 children,” Ms. Huong shared.

Ms. Bui Thi Huong shares about the time she met the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong. Clip: Bao Lam

Understanding that taking care of 4 children alone is very difficult, the State also gave her 2 salaries (one of which is for the children) and allowed her to take time off work to raise her children until they turned 6. In addition, the 4 sisters Bac, Nam, Thong, and Nhat received subsidies until they were 18 years old.

“Almost every year on holidays and New Year, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong asked his secretary to pick up his children and take them to the Prime Minister’s Office to play. When they were young, he fed them rice rolls, and when they were older, he fed them rice. If they couldn’t finish eating, he told them to pack it all up and bring it home for them to eat. He even asked his secretary to bring a half-liter bottle of fish oil for them to drink. He cared for them very much. I considered him my second father,” Ms. Huong said about her children’s godfather.

Four sisters Bac - Nam - Thong - Nhat performed Ca Tru for Prime Minister Pham Van Dong. Photo: NVCC

Ms. Nguyen Thi Truyen Thong shares memories with the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong. Clip: Bao Lam

Continuing her mother's words, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Nam said: "He is a very simple, close person, caring for everyone. He always asks us very carefully, like what we like to eat. After eating, he also talks to us and asks about our studies. When he comes back, he always gives us gifts and encourages us to study well."

Talking about her memories with the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, Ms. Nguyen Thi Truyen Thong shared: “What I remember most is the time I performed Ca Tru for him. At that time, we were about 10 years old. He listened very attentively and applauded us, saying that we were very good, and also asked us if we wanted to study at the Conservatory of Music. We were very happy and proud.”

On the day we received the news of Prime Minister Pham Van Dong’s death, Mrs. Huong’s family also came to take him to his final resting place. “During his lifetime, he cared for and loved his grandchildren. When we heard the news of his death, our whole family cried,” Mrs. Huong sadly shared.

The press reported on the North - South - Thong - Nhat sisters. Photo: NVCC

Mrs. Bui Thi Huong and her five daughters. Photo: NVCC

Not only did Mrs. Huong have to struggle more than others in the process of raising her four daughters. Thinking back on raising her four children, Mrs. Huong said it was very difficult. “That year, the country had just been unified, the economy was difficult. Every day, I had to cook two large pots of porridge, express eight bottles of milk for the children, and then use cow's milk to feed them. Because of their small weight, Bac, Nam, Thong, and Nhat often got sick. And when they got sick, it was at the same time. Both parents had passed away, and my husband was a teacher, so I had to take care of the children myself, so it was extremely difficult,” Mrs. Huong said, tears welling up as she recalled the difficult days that had passed.

According to Mrs. Huong, after giving birth, when her health was stable, she took advantage of growing vegetables, raising pigs and chickens, selling goods... to earn more income to raise her children. "During the subsidy period, my husband's teacher's salary plus my salary as a trader was not enough to feed 7 mouths. Even though I received two salaries, it was not enough. I cannot forget those hard days," Mrs. Huong said, feeling sorry for herself, wiping away tears.

It is understandable, a mother raising one child is very difficult, let alone Mrs. Huong having to raise four children at the same time, in a very poor situation. She always says that her children have today thanks to the care and support of the Party, the State, and Mr. Pham Van Dong.

In 1991, Mrs. Huong retired and took on childcare for neighbors to earn extra income to support her children's education. Flipping through the photos of her children, Mrs. Huong said: "I looked after more than 10 children at a time, and everyone trusted and entrusted me, because I took care of them like my own children. Now when I go back to the apartment complex, everyone asks about me. I also regret that because of my circumstances, I had to sell the house there."

Live worthy of love and trust

The four quadruplets Bac - Nam - Thong - Nhat with their mother on the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification. Photo: Bao Lam

All four sisters Bac - Nam - Thong - Nhat were born underweight, often sick, and their families did not have the means, so life was difficult. All four sisters only finished 12th grade and then went to work. They also spent more than 10 years opening a hair salon, then each got married, so they chose different freelance jobs to suit their circumstances.

Ms. Nhat is still working at the Thanh Tri District Blind Association. Currently, Ms. Nhat is living with Ms. Huong to help her. “The family is all girls, so every weekend we gather here to help her feel less lonely. At home, we don’t call each other “sisters”, we just call each other “you” and “me”. Only after we have children do we call each other “aunt” and “auntie” instead,” Ms. Nhat shared.

This year, at the age of 80, Mrs. Huong’s health has deteriorated significantly. She has heart disease and regularly has to take medication. Sharing with us, Mrs. Huong said that she still feels like a lucky woman because she has raised her children to adulthood. Her children and grandchildren care for and love each other, live happily, and the family’s finances have improved, which makes her feel warm in her old age…

On this grand occasion of April 30, the hard-working mother and her four quadruplet daughters, dressed in traditional ao dai, happily walked under the brilliant flags of the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification, sharing the joy of the entire nation. More than anyone, Mrs. Huong and her four daughters, named by the late Prime Minister, were aware that this was a very meaningful thing.

The late Prime Minister's entrustment to the names of Mrs. Huong's four children is also the entrustment of the Vietnamese people to a unified North-South country, a united country. "Not everyone has such an honor. I always remember his advice to raise my children well. In the 30 years I have worked in the food industry, I have never lied or had any bad reputation. That is why I always tell my children and grandchildren to live a decent life, to love those around them. Do not take anything from anyone as your own. Whoever is in more difficult circumstances, I will help them," Mrs. Huong smiled contentedly.

Mrs. Huong shares with her children memories of 48 years ago. Photo: Bao Lam

“We sisters are aware that the Party and State care for us and that the late Prime Minister gave us a name, which is very lucky and special. The name Bac - Nam - Thong - Nhat is like a reminder for us to live and work worthy of this trust and love,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai Bac shared.

Up to now, 48 years have passed, the sisters Bac - Nam - Thong - Nhat have also learned from their mother the hard work, perseverance, nurturing and educating their children to become good people. "I now have 12 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. The oldest grandchild has become a teacher. Bac's eldest daughter is working as a social worker at Bach Mai Hospital, her son is in high school. Thong's eldest daughter, after graduating from the Court Academy, is currently working at Dong Da District Court, her son is still young. Nhat's son is in first grade and is very good at Math," Ms. Huong proudly said about her children and grandchildren.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/chuyen-ve-4-chi-em-gai-bac-nam-thong-nhat-700974.html