Shivangi Sinha
The Napalm Girl photograph, officially titled The Terror of War, became one of the most significant images in history, symbolizing the brutality of the Vietnam War and fueling powerful anti-war sentiment worldwide. Netflix’s ‘The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo’ revisits the picture’s legacy while raising a long-standing question of who actually captured it. Although Kim Phúc herself does not appear in the film, her story remains central, as the image of her running in agony continues to define global memory of the conflict.
Kim Phúc’s Picture During the Vietnamese War Became a Symbol of Resistance
Phan Thị Kim Phúc spent her childhood in Trảng Bàng, a small community in South Vietnam that had long been caught in the chaos of the war. Air raids, sudden bursts of gunfire, and constant fear were part of daily life for families living near contested areas. On June 8, 1972, that fear turned into catastrophe when South Vietnamese pilots, believing enemy troops were hiding in the village, mistakenly dropped napalm on civilians. The explosions engulfed homes and people instantly, forcing residents, including nine-year-old Kim, to flee in fear. As she ran with burns and screaming down the road, a photographer captured the moment that would travel the world and come to symbolize the human toll of the conflict.
The powerful image, later credited to Nick Út, was published globally and became known as The Terror of War. After photographing her, Út rushed Kim to a hospital, where she underwent extensive treatment and ultimately survived. The picture later returned to public debate when questions emerged over who had actually taken the iconic frame, with some investigations suggesting another Vietnamese photographer may have been involved. Regardless of the controversy, Kim Phúc’s rescue and recovery remain at the heart of the story, and stand as a testament to both the horrors of war and her endurance in the face of it.
Kim Phúc’s Life After Surviving the Bombing Was Far From Easy
After Kim Phúc was taken to the hospital, doctors confirmed that nearly 65% of her body had been burned. The attack had also taken the lives of two of her cousins. Her recovery required years of medical care, including 17 surgeries and an initial two-week stay in emergency treatment. Finnish surgeon Aarne Rintala played an important role in helping her heal, and in 1982, she was sent to a specialist hospital in Ludwigshafen, West Germany, where another major surgery finally allowed her to regain greater movement. Still, the years that followed were far from easy.
In 1982, the Vietnamese communist authorities removed her from medical research programs and began promoting her as a propaganda symbol. Kim later revealed that this period was emotionally draining. She lived with chronic pain, intense pressure, and even moments of suicidal despair. It was during these darkest years that she began reading the New Testament and eventually found solace in her Christian faith. In 1986, Kim Phúc returned to Cuba to pursue her education and began training to become a pharmacist. During this time, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng continued to maintain contact with her, and in 1989 she reunited with photographer Nick Ut for the first time since he had left for the United States in 1975.
Life in Cuba also brought an unexpected new chapter. Kim met fellow Vietnamese student Bùi Huy Toàn, and the two quickly fell in love. They married in 1992. A year later, while traveling to Moscow for their honeymoon, their plane made a refueling stop in Gander, Newfoundland. Seeing an opportunity for a safer and freer future, the couple requested political asylum in Canada, and it was granted. Kim later settled in Ajax, Ontario, where she began rebuilding her life on her own terms.
Kim Phúc is Helping Marginalized Communities Through Her Non-Profit Organization Today
In 1994, Kim Phúc became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, marking the beginning of her lifelong commitment to peacebuilding and humanitarian advocacy. Two years later, she resumed medical treatments for her burn injuries, and in 1997, she officially became a Canadian citizen. That same year, she established the Kim Phúc Foundation International, an organization dedicated to supporting child victims of war through medical care, emotional healing, and educational opportunities. Over the years, the foundation has carried out several meaningful projects across the world.
In 2012, it helped establish the Ongutoi Health Centre in Uganda, bringing essential healthcare services to a community deeply affected by conflict. It also supported refugee assistance efforts at Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, offering medical aid to families displaced by violence. In 2019, the foundation funded the development of a public library at Đức Tân Primary School in Vietnam. One of its ongoing initiatives is in India, where it partners with Emmanuel Orphanage to provide financial support and resources for orphaned children. Through these global efforts, Kim Phúc continues to transform her painful past into a powerful force for healing and hope.
Kim Phúc has spent much of her life as a public speaker and global advocate for peace and reconciliation. In 1996, she delivered a powerful address at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, emphasizing forgiveness, an ethos she has carried with her ever since. Over the years, she has shared her story on major platforms, including National Public Radio and BBC Radio 4. On October 22, 2004, she was appointed to the Order of Ontario, followed by numerous honorary awards for her humanitarian work. In 2017, she released her memoir, ‘Fire Road: The Napalm Girl’s Journey through the Horrors of War to Faith, Forgiveness, & Peace,’ offering an intimate account of her life and spiritual healing. In 2019, Kim Phúc was honored with the Dresden Peace Prize as well.
Kim Phúc is Raising Two Sons With Her Husband
Kim Phúc has long spoken out against war crimes and human suffering, using her platform to support victims of conflict wherever possible. In 2003, during the Iraq invasion, her foundation helped arrange medical care in Canada for Ali Abbas, a young boy who lost both arms in a rocket attack in Baghdad. She later voiced strong support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, and in July 2022, personally welcomed 236 Ukrainian refugees and their children who arrived on a special flight to Canada. Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end, in April 2025, she urged people not to look away from the harsh truths of war. Later that year, in September 2025, she was honored with Randolph College’s 2025–2026 Pearl S. Buck Award for her continued humanitarian efforts.
Kim Phúc has often spoken about the emotional wounds she carries from the war, emphasizing that she is far more than the “napalm girl” the world remembers from the photograph. Over the years, she has reclaimed her identity and focused on healing and advocacy. At home in Ajax, Ontario, she and her husband have built a quiet, loving life with their two sons, Thomas and Stephen, whom she lovingly calls her “miracles.” In 2022, she underwent laser treatment in Miami to reduce the lingering pain and scarring from her burns. The procedures have significantly improved her comfort and mobility and it is another step forward in her long journey of recovery.
