Nhậm was born in 1931. Nhậm's father was Thái and her mother was Cửu Nguyễn. Her paternal grandparents were Tại and Yên Nguyễn. She had five brothers and three sisters, named Hy, Hạnh, Tý, Thủy, An, Đỏ, Thư and Khuê. She is the youngest of the nine children.