Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
On the afternoon of December 3, the Ministry of Public Security announced that the Investigation Police Agency of Lang Son Provincial Police had officially initiated a criminal case, prosecuted the suspect, and temporarily detained Doan Van Sang (born 1968, residing at 195 Nguyen Phi Khanh Street, Tam Thanh Ward, Lang Son Province) on charges of murder.
Sang was the former deputy head of Market Management Team No. 4 in Lang Son. He has been charged with killing Nguyen Xuan Dat (born 1989, originally from Tien Hung Commune, Hung Yen), who had reportedly been missing from his hometown for over a decade.
According to the investigation, Sang and Dat first connected via social media in 2020. On January 25, 2025, Sang invited Dat to the office of the Market Management Team in Huu Lung, where the murder occurred. Authorities report that Sang made calculated efforts to clean the crime scene, destroy evidence, and dispose of the body in a failed attempt to conceal the crime.
The case began drawing intense public attention on the evening of November 29, when dozens of police officers, accompanied by official government vehicles, cordoned off Market Management Team No. 4’s headquarters in Huu Lung, Lang Son.
Roads near the facility were blocked, and security forces restricted access to authorized personnel only. Witnesses described a sudden and heavy police presence, creating traffic congestion and public speculation.
Inside the compound, multiple rooms were reportedly sealed, and authorities remained tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation at the time. Local leaders later confirmed the operation was linked to allegations circulating online.
Police vehicles at the Market Management Team No. 4 headquarters.
88-page PDF file stokes public panic
Amid the unfolding investigation, a highly graphic document began circulating on social media, allegedly describing the crime in lurid detail and promoting violence. Authorities say the file contained unverified, harmful content and violated multiple Vietnamese laws on information security.
On November 28, police in Tien Hung Commune, Hung Yen — where the victim's family lives — issued an urgent warning. Police urged residents to:
Immediately delete and refrain from sharing the document.
Report any accounts that disseminate the material.
Supervise children’s online activity to avoid exposure to toxic content.
Law enforcement warns against misinformation and vigilante behavior
Colonel Ha Manh Ha, Chief of Police in Tien Hung, emphasized that citizens must not assume the role of investigators or circulate unconfirmed reports. He explained that public speculation and defamation can result in serious legal consequences.
Legal expert Dr. Dang Van Cuong, head of Chinh Phap Law Office, added that posting gruesome or false content online may lead to administrative penalties or even criminal prosecution.
“The law prohibits individuals from spreading information that incites violence or impersonates the judicial authority of the state,” Cuong said. “Such behavior can damage reputations, disrupt investigations, and harm victims' families.”
Ministry of Public Security issues national media directive
The Ministry of Public Security has since urged all press outlets and social media users to exercise extreme caution when commenting on the case.
“Do not share or comment on violent images or videos related to this crime,” the ministry stated. “Those who violate this will be dealt with severely under the law.”
Police also called on the public to help maintain social order and report any signs of violence or suspicious activity. The Ministry emphasized that accurate, responsible communication is vital to public safety and national unity.
Dinh Hieu & Bao Khanh
.svg){kind=icon}
