Online Romance Turns Violent: Man Attacks Ex-Girlfriend in Rage

A man, after his online relationship ended, traveled to Hanoi to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend. When she refused to rekindle their romance, he attacked her, causing severe injuries. He then attempted suicide. The incident highlights the dangers of online relationships in Vietnam. According to reports, the perpetrator, Luu Minh Chien, 25, from Lam Dong province, met Ms. Nguyet, 33, who runs a beauty salon in Hanoi, through Facebook in June 2025. Despite being married with children, Ms. Nguyet falsely claimed to be separated. The two developed a relationship, and Chien visited Hanoi twice. However, in October 2025, Ms. Nguyet decided to end the relationship and blocked Chien. Determined to reconcile, Chien traveled from Lam Dong to Hanoi on the night of October 26, 2025. On the day of the incident, Chien prepared for the attack near Ms. Nguyet's home. He purchased two bottles of pesticide, two sharp knives, and a pepper spray he had bought online. His plan was to kill Ms. Nguyet if she refused to reconcile, and then commit suicide by drinking the pesticide. Around 7 AM, Chien arrived at Ms. Nguyet's house and was led to the bedroom by the housekeeper. Ms. Nguyet's 15-year-old daughter, upon realizing her mother had a visitor, left the room. Chien then locked the door. When Ms. Nguyet refused to talk, stating her husband was home and demanding Chien leave, the suspect became enraged and attacked her with a knife. Despite her resistance and pleas, Chien inflicted 11 wounds on her body. Witnessing the event through the glass, Ms. Nguyet's husband and neighbors broke the glass to rescue her. Chien attempted to ward them off with pepper spray, but was eventually subdued. Following the attack, Chien ingested the prepared pesticide in an apparent suicide attempt, but vomited it out. Ms. Nguyet was hospitalized for nearly two months and is now seeking 1 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately $40,000 USD) in compensation from Chien. This incident underscores the potential dangers of online relationships, especially when emotions are involved and communication breaks down. It highlights the critical need for careful vetting and emotional regulation in the digital age. Source: VnExpress