Six Charged in Móng Cái Taxi Driver Assault Case

In Móng Cái City, Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam, six individuals have been charged with disturbing public order following an assault on a taxi driver who refused to exceed the vehicle's passenger limit. The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute after drinking. The incident occurred in the late hours of August 29, when a group of people, after drinking at the Lin Lounge79 nightclub in Móng Cái City, were leaving. According to the investigation, Hà Thúy Vân and her companions, including Đỗ Thanh Tùng, Hà Ngọc Ly, and Trang, hailed a taxi driven by Nguyễn Tiến Đạt, 28. As the car began to move, Vân demanded that the driver turn back to pick up more members of their group. However, Đạt refused, stating that the car's capacity was limited to four people. This refusal led to an argument. Authorities reported that while the car was in motion, Vân pulled the driver's hair, and along with Ly and Trang, repeatedly slapped his face. Tùng punched him in the head, and Trang hit him in the chest with her slipper. Attacked, the driver shouted "Robbery, robbery!" and opened the door, running towards the Lin Lounge79 to escape, but Vân's group pursued him. Simultaneously, Lê Trung Kiên and his wife Đặng Ngọc Loan, who were in a taxi behind them, saw their friends chasing and beating Đạt. They got out of their taxi to join the assault. Hearing someone claim the driver had made inappropriate advances, Kiên struck Đạt on the head with a leather-wrapped pipe, while Loan hit his neck with her phone and kicked him multiple times in the face, causing him to collapse on the street. Vân then allegedly pulled Đạt up for Kiên to kick him in the face again. Vân, Ly, and Trang then cornered the driver in the quán's corridor and continued to assault him. When locals and quán staff intervened, some members of the group are accused of attacking the interveners, and one person claimed to be Đạt's relative. The victim was taken to the Móng Cái Regional General Hospital for emergency treatment. On the morning of August 30, Đạt's father reported the incident to the Móng Cái 1 Ward Police. Following the incident, on September 9, the Quảng Ninh Provincial Police Investigation Agency initiated criminal proceedings against six individuals for disturbing public order under Article 318 of the Penal Code. Lê Trung Kiên is being detained for investigation under Clause 2 of Article 318. Hà Thúy Vân, Đỗ Thanh Tùng (Vân's husband), Nguyễn Thế Mạnh, and Hà Ngọc Ly are detained under Clause 1. Đặng Ngọc Loan, Kiên's wife, has been subjected to a travel ban from her place of residence and a temporary exit prohibition. Authorities are continuing to clarify the actions of other involved individuals. The rapid economic growth in Vietnam has led to the expansion of nightlife and entertainment industries, particularly in urban areas. However, incidents of post-drinking disputes and violence remain a social concern.