Lâm was born in the Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province and moved to the North in 1946 to join the revolution.
Lâm notably also photographed the Cu Chi tunnels and the Tet Offensive, where he was blinded by M-79 grenade.
[2] Lâm critiques the wartime photography (or Ảnh Chiến Tranh) during this era as "having missed its golden moment" by glossing over the violence of the conflict to record beautiful sights and subjects.
"[3] Lâm was appointed the first general chairman of the Việt Nam Photographers Association.
Lâm used a small East German-made camera, that he purchased while studying in Moscow.