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Vietnamese authorities confirm former lawmaker drove car in fatal 2025 crash after online outcry

State media revealed that former politician Nguyen Sy Cuong was exempted from criminal liability following a family petition, prompting youth backlash and official warnings against unrest.

Updated Aug 24, 2026 · 00:17 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • State broadcaster VTV confirmed that former National Assembly deputy Nguyen Sy Cuong drove a car that fatally struck 18-year-old Do Ngoc Phuong Thuy in May 2025.
  • Authorities stated Cuong was cleared of criminal liability after confessing, offering remedies, and receiving an exemption petition from the victim's family.
  • A major youth-led social media campaign has challenged the lack of transparency, while officials and state media warn against alleged efforts by hostile actors to incite unrest.

Key facts

  • On May 30, 2025, former National Assembly deputy Nguyen Sy Cuong crossed into oncoming traffic in Hanoi, colliding with a motorcycle carrying Do Viet Hung and his 18-year-old daughter, Do Ngoc Phuong Thuy.[BBC News]
  • Do Ngoc Phuong Thuy died in the hospital 10 days after the collision, while her father survived with a broken leg.[BBC News]
  • State broadcaster VTV reported that Cuong was cleared of criminal liability because he sincerely confessed and remedied the consequences, leading the victim's family to petition for his exemption.[BBC News]
  • The government confirmation followed an early August online campaign by anonymous young social media users using hashtags like #NguyenSyCuong to demand accountability.[BBC News]
  • The victim's father stated on state television that the family was satisfied with the investigation's outcome, requested privacy, and cautioned against the influence of reactionary elements.[BBC News]
  • A senior official from the Ministry of Public Security warned that hostile and reactionary forces were attempting to exploit the fatal incident to incite unrest ahead of the September 2 national holiday.[BBC News]

What remains uncertain

  • State media reports did not disclose the specific remedies or compensation provided by Nguyen Sy Cuong to the victim's family.[BBC News]
  • User claims that social media platforms removed posts about the crash at the direct request of the Vietnamese government could not be independently verified.[BBC News]
  • Legal observers have questioned whether criminal due process standards were properly followed in the handling and resolution of the case.[BBC News]

Sources