A Hanoi court has postponed the trial of a man accused of signaling an attack on a cafe employee after being reminded not to smoke, citing the absence of key witnesses.
On January 27, the People’s Court of Area 3 in Hanoi began hearings against Nguyen Van Thien, 27, and Nguyen Long Vu, 24, on charges of disturbing public order. The panel later decided to adjourn the case to protect the defendants’ legal rights. The trial is now scheduled to resume on the morning of January 30.
What prosecutors allege happened
According to the indictment, the incident occurred around 2.30 pm on September 17, 2025, at a cafe inside a residential urban area in Hanoi. Thien was smoking indoors when he was reminded several times by a staff member, Minh, 29, who is also the cafe owner’s son, to stop due to a no smoking rule.
After the third reminder, Thien allegedly raised his hand in a signaling gesture. Moments later, Vu stood up, walked to the counter, and punched Minh twice in the face while he was seated at the beverage station, knocking him to the floor.
Prosecutors say Thien then raised his hand again and shouted for Vu to stop. Vu returned to his seat and the group left the cafe shortly afterward.
Video sparks public anger
The entire incident was captured on the cafe’s security cameras. The footage was later shared online by the victim’s family and reported to police. The clip spread rapidly on social media, drawing thousands of comments condemning the violence and the apparent use of a gesture to command the attack.
Two days later, Thien and relatives reportedly went to the cafe to apologize, but the owner declined to meet them and asked them to leave.
Conflicting positions in court
During the investigation, Minh said the cafe is an enclosed space serving many customers and clearly displays no smoking signs. He stated he did not seek civil compensation and only requested that the defendants be handled according to the law.
Vu has admitted his actions during the investigation. Thien, often referred to online as the person who “gave the order,” has denied directing the assault.
Why the case matters
For international readers, the case reflects growing sensitivity in Vietnam around public behavior in shared spaces, especially cafes where smoking bans are increasingly enforced. It also shows how security camera footage and social media can rapidly turn a localized altercation into a national legal and reputational issue.
The court is expected to resume proceedings once witnesses are present to testify.
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Source: Vietnam Insider