In Cold Blood: Analyzing Recent Murder Statistics in Vietnam

Trần Phương wrote this article in Vietnamese, which was published in Luat Khoa Magazine on December 31, 2024. Thúc Kháng translated it into English for The Vietnamese Magazine.

A Vietnamese insurance company estimates that the cost of raising a child through university ranges from 1 billion to 1.4 billion VND. However, parenting extends far beyond financial concerns. It requires ample time, tender care, and proper education to nurture a child into a well-rounded individual capable of integrating into society and making meaningful contributions. Raising a child is more than an investment; it is about forging strong emotional bonds and creating a source of support for others.

The opposite of life is death, which comes in many forms — illness, sudden medical conditions, pandemics, or accidents. To protect human life, people take every possible measure to delay an untimely end. However, there is one form of death that cannot be entirely prevented: murder. 

Murder is among the most brutal and shocking ways a life can be taken. It can happen anywhere — at a bar, on the street, in a hotel, at work, or even in the safety of one’s own home. The perpetrator could be anyone: a stranger, an acquaintance, a relative, or even a close family member. 

In December 2024, a man set fire to a cafe in Hanoi. This horrendous act of arson claimed the lives of 11 people. 

Few ever imagine themselves as potential victims of these heinous crimes. Yet, in 2023 alone, 857 people were killed. Murder cases in Vietnam are alarming. 

According to Vietnamese authorities, the number of murders declined in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the nature of these crimes has become increasingly brutal. In 2022, cases surged by 26%, and by 2023, Vietnam recorded its highest number of murders in recent years.

Data for 2014, 2016, and 2017, remains incomplete. However, the available information can lead to an estimate of around 1,000 cases for each of these years. In the first nine months of 2016, the number of murders increased by 10% compared to 2015. 

The motives behind the murder are often vast and complex. In Vietnam, they can be seen as reflections of deeper societal shifts that expose the underlying tension within the country.

The Effect of Social Distancing and the Pandemic on Murder Rates

Since September 2019, the Ministry of Public Security has regularly published the percentage of murder cases relative to total criminal offenses on its official website. These figures are calculated based on data from the middle of the previous month to the middle of the reporting month. When converted into actual murder numbers, the data reveals a significant surge in cases during 2022 and 2023.

The most significant disruption during this period was the COVID-19 pandemic, which began affecting Vietnam in 2020.  According to the General Statistics Office, economic growth in the first half of 2020 was the lowest for the same period in the past decade. One of the most impactful public health measures — social distancing and lockdowns — took a toll on people’s physical and mental well-being and economic stability. In May and June 2020, the number of murder cases surged by over 50%, jumping from 80 to 121. 

In 2021, the government enforced even stricter lockdowns. Major cities like Ho Chi Minh City endured three months of social distancing, while Hanoi experienced four separate lockdowns, alongside restrictions in more than 60 other provinces. As a result, murder rates dropped significantly as movement between major areas of the country was severely limited. 

Following prolonged pandemic-related stress and mounting frustration with the government's inadequate response, murder rates surged once again in 2022 and 2023. 

In 2020, only the month of June saw murder cases breach 100. Similarly, in 2021, only May recorded more than 100 cases. However, in 2022, this number surged, with nine months exceeding the 100-case mark. Eight months in 2023, the data recorded over 100 murders. While the total number of murder cases declined in 2024, it is worth noting that April and October saw notably high figures, with 102 and 100 recorded murders, respectively.

Murders Cases in the Provinces

A rare statistical report on murder cases, released in 2024 by the Government's Steering Committee for Crime Prevention and Control (Steering Committee 138/CP), revealed that in the past three years, murder cases increased in 10 provinces while decreasing in another 10.

Comparing the periods of 2021-2023 and 2018-2020, the number of murders in Ho Chi Minh City slightly decreased, while Hanoi only recorded a marginal increase of two cases. However, the overall rise in cases in 2021-2023 indicates that murders are occurring more frequently in the provinces. 

Annual data from provinces and cities suggests that certain areas, like Thanh Hoa and Gia Lai, saw an increase in murder cases from 2021-2023. Although, in other areas, a rise in murders was observed in 2021 and 2022, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Victims 

From 2021 to 2023, the number of murder victims rose by 1,120, reaching a total of 4,291 — an increase from the 3,171 victims recorded between 2018 and 2020. 

State-run media reports have provided information on Bac Giang and Kon Tum—two provinces where Vietnamese authorities have occasionally issued alerts about a spike in murders within a short time frame. Analyzing this data offers valuable insights into the causes of these crimes, the profiles of the victims and perpetrators, the methods used, and the consequences faced by the offenders. 

Bac Giang and Kon Tum: Notable Cases of Domestic Murders

In 2023, Bac Giang, a province with a population of 2 million, recorded 6 murder cases in a single month and a total of 19 over the course of the year. 

Meanwhile, Kon Tum, which had a population just over 200,000 in 2021, reported 24 murders — an average of 2 per month — three times higher than in 2020. 

Below is the number of murder cases reported in Bac Giang and Kon Tum from 2021 to 2024, gathered from online reports. Consistent with the broader trend, both provinces saw increased cases following the social distancing period. 

Bac Giang reported a total of 37 victims, while Kon Tum recorded 30. Notably, Bac Giang also experienced multiple cases where several victims were killed in a single event. In 2021, a man killed three members of his own family— his sister, mother, and father. Another case involved two individuals who perished under unclear circumstances. In contrast, Kon Tum reported only one case with two victims: a suspected gang-related execution. 

In both provinces, a significant portion of the murders involved people being killed by their own family members. 

The graph below highlights the various relationships between murderers and their victims in Bac Giang and Kon Tum.

Of the 37 murders in Bac Giang, 17 were done by friends or acquaintances (Người quen biết), while 13 involved family members (Người trong gia đình) committing the crime. Three cases were carried out by the victim’s romantic partners (Thân mật), and another three by strangers (Không quen biết). In one case, the perpetrator remains unknown (Chưa xác định). 

Among the 30 murders in Kon Tum, 13 victims were killed by their friends or acquaintances, while members of their families killed another 15. No murders committed by romantic partners were reported. However, a single murder was committed by a stranger, and in another, the perpetrator is still unidentified.

The data in Bac Giang and Kom Tum reveals various motives and underlying causes behind the murders. 

Alcohol (Mâu thuẫn khi nhậu) was a significant factor in 9 of the 67 total cases between each province, while 18 instances of jealousy and family-related conflicts (Ghen tuông, mâu thuẫn gia đình) also occurred. Bac Giang had two cases linked to financial issues (Vì tiền) and another two where the motive remained unknown (Không rõ động cơ). In contrast, Kon Tum only had one reported murder with an unidentified motive. 

In 24 of the 67 total cases in both provinces, other reasons (Mâu thuẫn khác) were provided for the murders, while two instances were due to romantic rivalries (Giết tình địch). Revenge was the primary motive behind 2 murders in Bac Giang and 5 in Kom Tum. Both provinces also reported 1 murder each where the suspect remained unidentified (Chưa rõ nghi phạm).

Methods of Execution 

More than 80% of the victims (29 and 23) in Bac Giang and Kon Tum were killed with knives (Dùng dao đâm). Other methods include strangling (Siết cổ) — wherein the suspect, the victim’s husband, also committed suicide at the crime scene — electric traps, and pushing victims from buildings, all of which occurred in Bac Giang. In Kon Tum, one case involved a victim being deliberately run over by a vehicle. 

Murder cases arise from a variety of issues. Some have personal origins, such as unresolved problems, pent-up frustration, or individual tensions. Others are driven by broader factors like societal instability or economic uncertainty, which can amplify stress and intensify existing personal struggles. 

Conflicts are inevitable. However, conflicts that escalate to the point of murder are avoidable. Addressing negative influences at both personal and societal levels could help reduce the number of murders in Vietnam.

In many murder cases, the perpetrator may have believed that violence was their only situation. However, if alternative solutions were more accessible, their actions might have been prevented. Support systems such as psychological counselling, job opportunities, and timely intervention in domestic violence cases could provide crucial support and potentially avert such tragedies.

Unfortunately, these resources remain scarce in Vietnamese society. Instead, the government relies on severe and punitive measures — such as the death penalty — to deter violent crimes like murder.