On February 15, Ms. N.V.K.N (a resident of Ho Chi Minh City) posted a video on Facebook detailing her harrowing experience of being brutally attacked by a man at a café in Ho Chi Minh City. According to the post, Ms. N. was emotionally deceived and then physically assaulted by Tran Minh Hoang (born in 1990, from Hanoi), who has since been prosecuted by the police.
In an interview with Dân trí, Ms. N.V.K.N shared that the incident occurred in March 2024. However, she only recently decided to share her story online after opting to seek legal intervention.
A Violent Confrontation After Discovering Deceit
Ms. N., who divorced at a young age and has a daughter, met Tran Minh Hoang in mid-February 2024 while they were working at the same company.
During this time, Hoang claimed he had previously lived with a woman without formal marriage ties but had since ended the relationship and was single.
“Though cautious about love, I eventually trusted Hoang because he seemed serious and even met my family with good intentions. He regularly visited me and my relatives on weekends, which made me feel comfortable pursuing a relationship with him,” Ms. N. expressed.
However, on March 23, 2024, Ms. N. discovered that Hoang was still involved with his ex and had relationships with multiple women during their time together. She decided to meet with all parties involved to clarify that she wasn’t interfering in anyone’s relationship and to end things with Hoang.
Ms. N. being violently attacked by Hoang at a café in Ho Chi Minh City (Image: Security camera footage).
Three days later, Ms. N. met Hoang and his ex-partner, L.H.U.P., at a café on Street 9A in Binh Hung, Binh Chanh District. During their discussion, Hoang became aggressive and verbally abusive toward Ms. N.
Out of frustration, Ms. N. threw a glass of water at Hoang. In response, Hoang punched and kneed her repeatedly in the face. As Ms. N. lost consciousness and collapsed, Hoang continued stomping on her head and face, causing severe bleeding.
“When I reviewed the café’s security footage later, I saw that after knocking me unconscious, he dragged me by my hair and kept stomping on my head and face. Thankfully, other customers intervened, and a colleague rushed me to the hospital,” Ms. N. recounted.
Broken Eye Socket, 23% Disability
After the attack, Ms. N. was taken to Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital for emergency treatment. Doctors diagnosed her with blood clots and fluid accumulation in her left maxillary and ethmoid sinuses, along with a fractured orbital floor.
Later that day, after receiving initial treatment, Ms. N. filed a report with the Binh Hung Commune Police Station in Binh Chanh District. On March 27, 2024, she visited Cho Ray Hospital for further examination.
Two days later, despite medication, Ms. N. experienced headaches, ear ringing, and vomiting, prompting another visit to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital. There, doctors confirmed ongoing internal bleeding, sinus fractures, nasal septum deviation, and a broken inner orbital wall.
On April 1, 2024, Ms. N. visited the Eye Hospital, where she was diagnosed with reduced vision, sinus fractures, and a shattered orbital floor. Surgery was urgently recommended to prevent permanent blindness in one eye.
By mid-April 2024, Ms. N. underwent surgery at the Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital to stabilize her orbital bones as advised by her doctors.
Subsequently, authorities took Ms. N. for a medical evaluation at the Ho Chi Minh City Forensic Center. On September 23, 2024, the Binh Chanh District Police Department informed her that her injuries amounted to 23% disability.
Ms. N.’s severe eye injury following the attack (Image: Provided by the victim).
In February, after celebrating the Lunar New Year, Ms. N. received an official notice from the Binh Chanh District Police regarding the criminal investigation.
According to the notice, the Investigative Police Department of Binh Chanh District had formally charged Tran Minh Hoang with intentional infliction of injury under Article 134 of the Penal Code on December 13, 2024.
Ms. N. stated that her health remains unstable, with blurred vision affecting her work as a designer. Her medical expenses have been substantial, including $1,700 for eye surgery, nearly $4,300 for medication, and additional costs for rhinoplasty and future corrective surgeries.
“I now suffer from chronic sinus issues due to a deviated nasal septum, and half of my face still hasn’t regained normal movement, requiring regular acupuncture,” Ms. N. shared.
In her criminal complaint against Hoang, Ms. N. demanded compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, emotional damages, and other losses as stipulated by law.
“Now, I’m just waiting for the day we meet again—not at an altar but in criminal court. There, he’ll stand as the defendant, and I’ll be the victim. Between us won’t be a priest but a panel of judges, and instead of my father walking me down the aisle, I’ll have my lawyer by my side,” Ms. N. concluded.
