On November 1, social media was abuzz with a clip titled “The child doesn’t acknowledge, the mother gets arrested by police,” bringing humor and surprise to many.

The video captures the bittersweet scene of a mother and son in Ho Chi Minh City. In the footage, the mother, visibly distressed, watches her son cling to a police officer, refusing to acknowledge her.

This unique incident was posted by the mother on TikTok and quickly garnered over 7 million views.

Tran Thi Khanh Trang (born 1991, from Xuyen Moc, Ba Ria – Vung Tau) confirmed to VietNamNet that she and her son, Tran Khanh Thanh Duy (nicknamed Ken, born 2020), were the main figures in the now-viral clip.

“The event was real and happened in the lunar month of November last year. I shared it on social media back then, but it didn’t gain much attention.

This year, I remembered the incident and decided to repost the clip on my personal page on November 1. It quickly went viral, receiving numerous comments,” Trang said.

She initially posted the clip as a way to reminisce about a unique family memory. While many users viewed and commented positively at first, Trang later faced some negative remarks accusing her of poor parenting and criticizing Ken’s behavior.

“I don’t mind if people speak ill of me, but when they criticize Ken, it makes me sad. My son has always been well-behaved. That day’s event was simply unexplainable,” Trang shared.

Due to their circumstances and work, Trang and her husband do not live together. Trang, a makeup artist, mostly resides in Xuyen Moc with her parents, while her husband works and lives in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Ken, who lives with his mother, only gets to see his father once a month. Despite the distance, he is very attached to his father.

Last year, Trang visited Ho Chi Minh City to attend a family memorial on her husband’s side. After the event, she asked her brother to help take her and Ken back to Xuyen Moc.

As Trang lifted Ken onto the motorbike, he burst into tears, desperately calling for his father. He cried throughout the journey, repeatedly shouting, “Daddy, where are you?” in distress.

Concerned, Trang mentioned to her brother, “Do you think people might think we’re abducting a child?” She noticed some onlookers staring intently.

At a red light on Hai Ba Trung Street (Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), passersby suddenly intervened, pulling Ken from Trang’s arms.

They pointed to Trang’s brother and asked Ken, “Is this your father?” When Ken replied “no,” the crowd grew agitated and escorted both siblings to a nearby police station.

“I was so worried I started to cry. I feared they might accuse us of kidnapping or even harm us. I tried to explain, but no one believed me,” Trang recounted.

At the station, Trang calmed herself and explained the situation, showing photos of Ken on her phone to verify her story.

However, Ken refused to acknowledge his mother and continued crying, preferring to stay with a police officer.

Out of options, Trang called her husband to come “rescue” them. About an hour later, he arrived, clarifying the situation.

The police asked Trang’s husband for his ID and requested additional details about Ken.

“The police were very responsible. I understand and didn’t mind waiting for them to resolve the matter,” Trang said.

Once the misunderstanding was cleared, Trang’s husband took them back to Xuyen Moc. On the way home, Trang gently talked to Ken, explaining the incident. She chose not to scold or punish him.

Today, Ken is well-behaved and no longer cries for his father as he once did. Trang’s husband also makes monthly visits to see his family.

Ngoc Lai