Phạm VÃÂn Tham (èÂÂæÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ, ?–1789) or Phạm VÃÂn Sâm, was a general of Tây Sán dynasty, Vietnam.
Phạm VÃÂn Tham was an elder brother of Phạm Ngạn and Phạm Công Hðng. He also had a sister Phạm Thá» Liên, whom was Nguyá» n Huá»Â's wife.
Tham joined the Tây Sán army in early time. He was promoted to Thái bảo ("Grand Protector"), and participated in many battles against Nguyá» n lords. He killed Dðáng Công Trừng and Nguyá» n ÃÂÃÂng Vân in action, and defeated Tôn Thất Huy, Tôn Thất Há»Âi.
In 1787, Nguyá» n ÃÂnh returned to Vietnam and landed in Long Xuyên. Getting the information, Nguyá» n Lữ was afraid, and retreated to Biên Hòa, leaving Tham to defend Gia ÃÂá»Ânh. Nguyá» n ÃÂnh forged a letter from Nguyá» n Nhạc to Nguyá» n Lữ, and sent it to Tham. In the letter, Nhạc described Tham as an overbearing man, and ordered Lữ to kill Tham. After receiving the letter, Tham marched to Biên Hòa, with a white flag in front of the army, to justify his wrongful treatment. But the white flag was mistaken for his surrender to Nguyá» n lord, Nguyá» n Lữ abandoned his troops and fled to Quy Nhán.
Tham had to fight alone. He defeated Nguyá» n ÃÂnh in Gia ÃÂá»Ânh, and forced Nguyá» n ÃÂnh to retreat to Mỹ Tho. The next year, in 1788, Võ Tánh, a general of ÃÂông Sán army, decided to join Nguyá» n lord's side. The tables were turned; Tham was defeated and fled to Ba Thắc. In 1789, he decided to break through the encirclement and flee to Quy Nhán by ship, but was defeated and besieged by Lê VÃÂn Quân, Tôn Thất Há»Âi, Võ Tánh and Nguyá» n VÃÂn Trðáng. He had to surrender to Nguyá» n lord, which marked the end of Tây Sán rule in Gia ÃÂá»Ânh. Not long after, he colluded with Nguyá» n Huá»Â, and planned to revolt against Nguyá» n lord. The plot was uncovered, and he was executed.