Nguyễn Văn Tâm (Vietnamese pronunciation: [ŋwiən˦ˀ˥ van˧˧ təm˧˧]; 16 October 1895[1][2] – 23 November 1990[3]) served as Prime Minister of the State of Vietnam, an associated country within the French Union.

Here in the Mekong Delta, he had already earned the nickname Tiger of Cai Lậy as a notorious torturer of peasants during the revolts of the 1930s.

After the August Revolution, following the Japanese surrender in 1945, Tâm was imprisoned by the new Viet Minh authorities for crimes against the people but was soon freed by the returning French military.

He was among the government ministers presented on June 1, 1946, at the proclamation of the "Republic of Cochinchina"—a first, abortive, attempt of the French to create a post-colonial client state.

In June 1952 he became Prime Minister while his son, Nguyễn Văn Hinh, was appointed Chief of Staff of the French auxiliary Vietnamese National Army.