A worrying number of Vietnamese people, particularly youths, now do not think twice about the use of violence to straighten out disputes, even nonsensical trifles, which leaves behind tragic, fatal consequences.

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The frequency of brawls, some of which deadly, is particularly high during holidays in Vietnam.

More than 6,200 people were hospitalized nationwide from February 15 to 22, the first eight days of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday that technically ended on Monday, for treatment of injuries caused by fights, the Ministry of Health reported the same day.

This figure is higher than that during the two previous Tet holidays. Of this year's victims, 15 died due to their critical condition, the ministry said.

There are several different reasons, including nonsensical ones, behind such clashes.

The culprits and even the victims are typically prone to letting violence and “demons” get the better of themselves during the vocal fights, which quickly escalate into bloody, fatal brawls.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper has launched a forum for its readers to share their opinions on the alarming plague.

Below are some upsetting incidents that took place during this year’s Tet, which began on February 19.

Hassles for nothing

According to Nguyen Van Ut, head of communal police in Hon Dat District in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, around 7:00 pm on February 17, two days before Tet, Tran Thanh Vu, 16, and seven of his friends rode past the home of Le Ngoc Hai, 22, after leaving a year-end drinking party.

Hai invited Vu for a drink, but Vu turned him down.

Feeling offended, Hai got into a row with Vu’s group, and the latter stabbed him, causing the former to die instantly.

Ut said Hai’s and Vu’s parents, who are all poor working people and are not attentive enough toward their children, did not know about the tragic incident until the following day.

According to Dr. Truong Cong Thanh, deputy head of Kien Giang General Hospital, more young locals, mostly around the age of 20, have been involved in fist fights in the past few years.

During this Tet holiday, the hospital’s emergency room saw two lingering scuffles, forcing the medical staff to flee and seek help from local police.

Out of the almost 30 emergency cases the Ho Chi Minh City-based 175 Hospital received during six Tet days, 10 assault victims were seriously injured, with two remaining in critical condition.

Such fights were triggered by different causes, including conflicts after traffic collisions, assaults under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and quarrels while gambling, Dr. Tran Van Thanh, an official at the hospital, explained.

All of the assault victims have asked for premature discharge for fear of being interrogated by local police, he noted.

This young man (center) was assaulted after shouting at the thugs who crashed their bike into his father (left) shortly before the 2015 Tet. Photo: Tuoi Tre

T.V.T., who resides in District 12 in Ho Chi Minh City, was rushed to the hospital three days ahead of Tet after being stabbed by his drunk brother-in-law while T. was trying to stop the man from assaulting his wife, or T.’s younger sister.

T.V.T. (lying) is seen receiving treatment at a local hospital after being stabbed by his drunk brother-in-law three days ahead of the 2015 Tet. Photo: Tuoi Tre

T.N.B., who lives in the outlying district of Hoc Mon in the same city, suffered severe head trauma and remained in a deep coma for several days starting February 16, or three days from Tet.

Pham Thi Gai, B.’s wife, recalled that on that day, a man who was being chased by a gang hid in their home.

The man’s pursuers slashed repeatedly at B., thinking the man was B.’s acquaintance. B. and Gai’s son-in-law also got cut in their hands while trying to protect B.

A mother is shown burning incense on the altar of her son, who was killed in an assault during the 2015 Tet holiday. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to Dr. Truong The Hiep, deputy head of the emergency department of Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, on Sunday, or the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, his department admitted a 50-year-old father and his two sons for their serious stab wounds caused by drinking companions, who chased them to their home in Binh Tan District.

Dong Thap General Hospital in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap reported 53 hospitalizations from assaults during the nine-day Tet holiday.

Dong Nai, Dong Thap, An Giang and Kien Giang Provinces in the southern region are among the localities that had the most people hospitalized after fighting during the period.          The Hue Central Hospital’s Trauma and Orthopedics Center, located in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, reported that it received 35 patients who were victims of fights from February 15 to 22.

Dr. Bui Van Te, director of the An Giang Province Central General Hospital, also said his infirmary admitted more than 10 patients who fell victim to fights that resulted from feuds erupting among drinking companions or among gamblers.

A total of 284 such patients were taken to many hospitals in the province from February 15 to 22, local health authorities reported.

Mayhem at the Giong Temple Festival in Soc Son District, Hanoi, which is scheduled to close on February 26, 2015. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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