Prosecutors in Hanoi have charged a 67-year-old man with attempted murder after a violent confrontation tied to an 11 billion VND (about $430,000) debt linked to a well-known figure in Vietnam’s criminal underworld.
The case—centered on a dispute involving money borrowed from a woman known as “Hanh Su”—has drawn attention because of its connections to organized crime networks that were prominent in Vietnam during the early 2000s.
Authorities say the confrontation escalated into a daylight shooting outside a beer restaurant in central Hanoi, leaving one man seriously injured.
A Debt That Sparked a Violent Feud
According to the Hanoi People’s Procuracy, Vu Quang Chien, 67, has been formally indicted for attempted murder.
Investigators say Chien had a long relationship with Nguyen Thi Hanh, also known as “Hanh Su,” a notorious figure in Vietnam’s criminal circles.
The two reportedly knew each other for more than 30 years.
In 2015, Chien introduced a friend from the port city of Hai Phong who wanted to borrow money from Hanh. Because Hanh only trusted Chien, he agreed to guarantee the loan.
Years later, the arrangement unraveled.
By mid-2022, Hanh told Chien that the borrower still owed 11 billion VND. The borrower reportedly acknowledged the debt but later disappeared without repaying it, leaving Chien caught in the middle.
The Confrontation Outside a Beer Restaurant
Part of the disputed money—800 million VND—belonged to another man named Sang.
On May 15, 2023, Sang arranged to meet Chien at a beer restaurant on Doi Can Street in Hanoi to discuss the debt.
Before the meeting, investigators say Chien went home, retrieved a handgun loaded with six bullets, hid it in his pocket, and returned to the restaurant.
Sang arrived with three acquaintances.
During the discussion, Sang reportedly told Chien that if he owed Hanh money, he should arrange to repay it.
According to prosecutors, Chien became enraged, stood up, pulled out the gun, and pointed it at Sang while shouting insults.
Gunfire and Street Violence
When one of Sang’s companions attempted to restrain Chien, the situation spiraled into violence.
Two men accompanying Chien rushed in:
Prosecutors say Chien shouted “kill them” during the struggle.
Amid the chaos, Chien allegedly fired a shot that struck the man restraining him in the abdomen.
The victim was then reportedly beaten with a metal baton, suffering injuries later assessed at 28% bodily harm.
The group fled the scene immediately after the attack.
Arrest After Two Years on the Run
Chien remained at large for more than two years before police arrested him in Thai Binh Province.
During questioning, he told investigators the firearm had been purchased in 2017 near the Tay Ninh–Cambodia border for about 35 million VND (roughly $1,400).
Authorities say one accomplice, Nguyen Van Loi, is still on the run, while another suspect has yet to be identified.
The case is expected to be heard by the Hanoi People’s Court in the coming months.
The Shadow of a Notorious Crime Figure
The dispute also brings renewed attention to Nguyen Thi Hanh (“Hanh Su”), a long-time figure in Vietnam’s criminal underworld.
She was once associated with the notorious crime boss Nam Cam, whose network dominated parts of Vietnam’s organized crime scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In July 2025, Hanh and several accomplices were arrested in a separate case involving alleged extortion.
Authorities have not indicated whether the current shooting case is directly connected to that investigation.
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Source: Vietnam Insider