In mid-October, Huyen deposited VND50 million ($2,500) for an abdominal liposuction and breast augmentation operation at the Cat Tuong beauty salon, ran by Nguyen Manh Tuong, 40, a doctor of Bach Mai - the country’s largest hospital.

At 10am on October 19, Tuong anaesthetized the patient and sucked 11 pipes of abdominal fat to inject into the woman’s breast.

The surgery lasted until 4pm. Some 30 minutes later, Huyen foamed and felt dizzy. Dr. Tuong gave first aid and left. A short time later, Tuong was informed by his staff that Huyen turned pale and foamed. Tuong returned but Huyen was dead.

Tuong immediately allowed his staff to leave the beauty salon. He and a guard named Khanh carried the body to Tuong’s car. Tuong drove the car, followed by Khanh, who drove Huyen’s motorcycle.

The two carried the body to Co Linh Road in Linh Thach Ban Ward, Long Bien District, where Khanh left the motorcycle along the street and got into Tuong’s car. After running for a while, until 11pm, the car ran to the middle of Thanh Tri Bridge and two men threw the corpse into the Red River.

That night, a young man found Huyen’s motorcycle, her bag with two cell phones and ID card inside. Seeing many missing calls on the phone, this man called back and met Huyen’s husband – Mr. Nguyen Huu Huy, 40.

Huy declared that his wife left the house at 8.45 am on October 19. After that, the family tried to find her. After detecting the Cat Tuong beauty salon’s receipt, Huy gave it to the police and an investigation focused on this direction.

The police and the family have been searching for the body along the Red River but the body has not been found.

Tuong, who graduated from Ha Noi Medical University in 1999, moved to Bach Mai Hospital in 2006. He had not previously violated any regulations during his seven-year tenure at the hospital.

Tuong’s colleagues said that he was a good one, with good record.