At a court held late last month in the central province of Nghe An, when the convicted 35-year-old Vo Viet Xuan was allowed to say the final words, he did not ask for a lenient sentence. Much to everybody’s surprise, Xuan expressed his sincere gratitude to the police officers who had arrested him.

Previously, Xuan intended to rob a local gold shop owned by Dau Huy Cuong and Duong Mai Hien.

On January 20, Xuan asked to buy some gold and said that he would take it in the evening, but when he came, the shop had been closed. Late in the afternoon of the following day, Xuan, secretly armed with a knife, returned and asked Cuong for the gold. Xuan soon tried to stab the owner. Fortunately, for Cuong, Xuan’s stab missed and Hien, Cuong’s wife, yelled for help.

Xuan tried his best to escape from the scene, but failed. It turned out to be disastrous to Xuan as the crowd poured out their wrath on him. He was then badly beaten. Fortunately, now it was Xuan’s turn, local police officers appeared on time to save him from the irate mob. Xuan was immediately hospitalized.

At the court, Xuan said he had been saved by the police. He was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, reported Dan Tri.

Family arranges to donate body

In Vietnam, body donation has yet to become more popular in society because descendants of the deceased want to keep remnants for posthumous worship. A family in HCMC has broken with tradition and is ready for body donation.

Duong Van Tai tells vnexpress.net that his father, Duong Tu Tin, was the first member who wanted to donate body. Tai says that when Tin was told that such donation also meant there would be nothing left from his body, Tin said the donation was good for society. His wish was fulfilled when he died in 2007.

Tai’s mother Phan Thi Man also wanted to give her body although she used to want to be buried. When she died, a simple funeral was held in Dong Thap Province.

Tai and other family members say they have registered for body donation and have also asked others to do the same. In total, more than 40 members have agreed to body donation because of their effort.

Concession and patience will facilitate faster traffic

Everyday, Huu Liem, a HCMC business owner, goes to work in District 1 from his home in District 5. On the way, he often confronts traffic jams. Liem has made up his mind to raise road-users’ awareness in his own way. On the back seat of his bike, Liem erects a board reading “Nhng + Nhn = Nhanh,” which means concession and patience will facilitate faster traffic.

The message is written in three lines: “Motorbikes should make concession, cars should be patient and all will be fast.”

In Liem’s opinion, the short and clear slogan aims at drivers who can read it quickly when they are driving past him or when they stop at red light, according to Thanh Nien newspaper.