Võ Thị Viên was born in Huế, was the daughter of Deputy's Bodyguard Võ Hữu Linh. Not known about her birth's year as well as her death's year. She served as a concubine for Thiệu Trị when he hadn't yet been crowned. Although her inferior position, She still received the special love from the Emperor Thiệu Trị much more than the other primary wifes of him. It can be seen that his fondness for this concubine was not because of his family background.