Quang Ngai — Huynh Thanh Tan, 34, admits it was wrong to repeatedly strike his younger sister on the head with a plastic chair, but claims he only wanted to make her “wake up” and stop making mistakes.
On August 13, Tan said he was preparing to return from Ho Chi Minh City to his hometown in Quang Ngai and was ready to take legal responsibility for attacking his sister, Huynh Kim Tuyen, 30, at her rented room in Nghia Lo Ward.
The incident took place late on June 18 and continued until 3 a.m. on June 19. Tuyen later posted a video of the assault on social media, drawing hundreds of thousands of views and comments, most condemning her brother’s actions. In the video, their 56-year-old mother and two brothers came to Tuyen’s rented room to persuade her to return home. During the conversation, Tan repeatedly shouted at his sister.
The confrontation escalated when Tan asked, “Are you sure your choice will make you happy?” and Tuyen replied, “Yes, I’m sure.” Tan abruptly stood up, grabbed a plastic chair, and hit her three times on the head, saying, “Here’s your happiness,” as he struck her.
A history of personal turmoil and family strain
Tuyen is the youngest of three siblings. She married eight years ago but separated from her husband four years later, saying they were incompatible. Living about 20 km from her family, she borrowed hundreds of millions of dong from relatives to start a business, but suffered heavy losses.
In 2024, she became pregnant by a new partner but hid the pregnancy from her family. Early this year, she gave birth, but the child’s father refused to acknowledge paternity. Tuyen then gave the baby to an infertile couple for adoption.
After these events, her parents and brothers urged her to reconcile with her husband, who agreed to forgive the past. However, Tuyen chose to reunite with her former boyfriend and sought to reclaim the child she had given away.
According to Tan, Tuyen’s lifestyle over the years has caused their mother great distress. He left his job in Ho Chi Minh City to confront her, urging her either to reconcile with her husband, divorce formally and return home, or move on with someone else. But she either argued back or stayed silent when reminded of her mistakes.
“I hit her because I was desperate,” Tan said, admitting his actions were wrong and “anyone seeing a man beat a woman like that would be angry.”
The video also shows their mother briefly intervening before lying back in a hammock as the assault continued. Tan said she had faced harsh online criticism but insisted people did not understand how much she cared for her daughter. “She’s endured gossip in our hometown because of my sister’s lifestyle. She’s been so worried she’s become frail. When I hit Tuyen, she did nothing because she felt helpless,” he said.
Sister speaks out: ‘I wronged my husband, not my family’
Tuyen confirmed the details of her personal life as Tan described but maintained her husband “is a good man” and they simply could not get along.
“I have wronged my husband, but not my parents or brothers,” she said. “What my brother did is unacceptable, and it still haunts me. I had to be hospitalized with arm injuries. I want the law to address the assault and I want my child back.”
In response, Tan said: “I’m ready to face the law, I just hope she changes for the better. As for the baby, she gave the child away herself, so she will have to find a way to get the child back.”
Nghia Lo Ward police have taken up the case, interviewed Tuyen, and collected statements from those involved for further action.
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Source: Vietnam Insider