She was influential on government policy and, since her brother-in-law leader, Ngo Dinh Diem was unmarried, was regarded as the "First Lady" of Vietnam.
Madame Nhu was said to be called the "Dragon Lady" because she said she would "clap hands at seeing another monk barbecue show." (She was referring to the Buddhist monks who poured flammable liquids over themselves and meditated calmly while burning themselves to death).