Coffin parade birthday stunt leads to arrests in Can Tho

Seven people have been arrested in Can Tho after a funeral-themed street performance involving a coffin carrying a living person sparked widespread public backlash.

On June 9, the Can Tho City Police Investigation Agency announced that it had formally initiated criminal proceedings, filed charges against the suspects and ordered their temporary detention while investigating allegations of disturbing public order.

The suspects were identified as Nguyen Hoang Nhat, 42, owner of Nhat Tam Coffin Workshop; Pham Van Loc, 48; Cao Van Ven, 25; Nguyen Quoc Khai, 28; Ly Thanh Liem, 19; Pham Quoc Em, 31; and Co Minh Duc, 32.

Authorities said the group was involved in carrying a coffin containing a living person through the streets while dancing and performing in public, an act that recently drew significant attention on social media.

According to the initial investigation, on June 4, Nguyen Hoang Nhat organized a birthday party at the Nhat Tam Coffin Workshop on Le Duan Street in Soc Trang Ward, Can Tho City. A stage, an altar and a coffin were set up as part of the event.

During the celebration, Pham Quoc Em, Ly Thanh Liem, Co Minh Duc and Cao Van Ven, dressed in costumes resembling those used for the deceased, carried the coffin from the stage onto Le Duan Street.

The group then placed Pham Van Loc inside the coffin. While inside, Loc performed movements including lying down, sitting up, standing and dancing to music. The group continued carrying the coffin along the street while Nguyen Quoc Khai walked ahead holding a mourning flag and dancing.

The entire incident was recorded by numerous bystanders and later uploaded to social media. The videos quickly went viral and attracted widespread criticism from viewers who described the performance as offensive and contrary to cultural traditions and social values.

After receiving information about the incident, Soc Trang Ward Police coordinated with relevant units to urgently verify and investigate the case.

According to investigators, the suspects' actions negatively affected public security and order, damaged cultural values and caused public outrage.

Based on the evidence collected, the Can Tho City Police Investigation Agency decided to prosecute the case, charge the seven suspects and place them in temporary detention to facilitate the investigation.

Police are continuing to examine the responsibilities of other individuals involved and will handle any violations in accordance with the law.