Chu Cẩm Phong (1941 – 1971), whose real name was Trần Tiến, was born in what was formerly Hoi An Commune in the southern central province of Quảng Nam. His father was a municipal military officer during the French resistance. His mother was part of a secret communist cell also operating in Hoi An during the American resistance. In 1954, Chu Cẩm Phong accompanied his father to relocate to North Vietnam, studied at secondary schools for Southern students, and pursued a bachelor’s degree at the former University of Hanoi’s Department of Literature.