Car driver assaults amputee deliveryman in Hanoi, detained on criminal charges

Tay Ho District police announced on Tuesday afternoon that they had initiated a criminal case and detained Tong Anh Tuan, 43, on charges of intentionally causing injury.

Tong Anh Tuan at a police station in Hanoi, Feb. 11, 2025. Photo by police

The incident occurred around 12:20 p.m. on Monday when 31-year-old Hung, a delivery worker, had just finished picking up goods from a bakery. As he was maneuvering his motorbike in an alley on Nghi Tam Street, a Lexus pulled up in front of a house in the alley.

Hung later recounted that he was attempting to stop and make way when the car squeezed in. He tried to reverse to create more space, but his heavy load and an obstruction behind him made it impossible.

People in the Lexus began hurling insults at him. Tuan, the car driver, then exited the vehicle and launched a brutal attack, delivering multiple punches to Hung's head.

Security camera footage captured Tuan kicking Hung directly in the face and using Hung's own helmet to repeatedly strike his head until the helmet shattered. Throughout the assault, Hung did not fight back—he simply covered his head and repeatedly apologized.

A witness noted that Hung, who had lost a hand in a previous work accident and moved slowly, had tried to reverse but was unable to due to his load and a wall behind him. The bakery's accountant also came outside to apologize, explaining that Hung had been working since early morning and was exhausted.

A deliveryman is assaulted by a car driver in an alley in Hanoi on Feb. 10, 2025, as recorded by a security camera.

Despite this, the Lexus passengers continued shouting insults. When the assault occurred, two of them stepped out of the vehicle but did not intervene. Instead, they continued verbally abusing Hung. One person even offered him VND500,000 (US$20) to "buy a new helmet" and "celebrate the New Year," but Hung refused the money.

Following the attack, Hung suffered a bruised eye, a nosebleed, and a headache. A preliminary assessment from the Hanoi Forensic Center determined that he had sustained a concussion, with an overall injury severity rating of 3%.