Over the span of just a few days in October 2025, two harrowing incidents in Vietnam have thrust the issue of violence against children and students into the national spotlight. In Thanh Hóa province, a fatal stabbing between high school classmates has reignited concerns about the rise in school violence. Meanwhile, in Hà Tĩnh, the urgent arrest of a foster father accused of repeatedly abusing his fifth-grade stepdaughter has shocked the public and prompted renewed calls for child protection. Both cases underscore a deepening crisis in child safety and the urgent need for systemic change across families, schools, and communities.
According to Dân trí, the first tragedy unfolded on October 17, 2025, at Đặng Thai Mai High School in Quảng Bình commune, Thanh Hóa province. What began as a seemingly minor conflict during a physical education class between students L.Q.H. (class 12A8) and P.T.B.N. (class 11A9) escalated rapidly. After school, L.Q.H. and another student, L.Đ.A., blocked P.T.B.N.’s path. In the ensuing confrontation, P.T.B.N. produced a knife and stabbed L.Q.H., inflicting wounds so severe that L.Q.H. died at Quảng Xương General Hospital. The incident, now under investigation by the Thanh Hóa provincial police, has left the school community reeling and parents across the region deeply unsettled.
The Thanh Hóa police have noted a disturbing trend: school violence is not only increasing in frequency but also growing more severe and complex. The causes, they say, are often shockingly simple—petty disputes during play, personal disagreements, or even insults traded on social media. Yet the consequences can be devastating. Authorities point to deeper, systemic issues fueling this violence. As the police explained, “The root causes are insufficient management and education from schools and families, a lack of student maturity and psychological awareness, and inadequate life skills to control emotions and behavior.”
Many parents, the police say, have not paid enough attention to their children’s studies or daily lives, nor have they emphasized the moral values and life skills necessary for navigating social situations. Adolescents, caught in a whirlwind of physical and emotional development, are especially susceptible to outside influences. They often want to assert themselves but lack the tools to manage their feelings or actions. This volatile mix can lead to tragic outcomes, as seen in the Thanh Hóa stabbing.
In response, local authorities have ramped up efforts to combat school violence. The Thanh Hóa police have partnered with the Department of Education and Training to intensify communication campaigns and prevention programs. Regular inspections are now conducted to detect and prevent students from bringing weapons or prohibited items to school. The police also work closely with school officials to identify and address conflicts before they spiral out of control. These efforts, as Dân trí reports, have been broadly welcomed by schools, parents, and the wider public.
Yet, as the Thanh Hóa police caution, challenges remain. “A worrying trend is that some students are indifferent and unfeeling, failing to intervene during fights and even cheering on the violence, disrupting public order,” they warn. This culture of bystander apathy complicates efforts to maintain safety and discipline. To counteract this, authorities urge families and schools to work together more closely, especially in monitoring students’ relationships and activities outside of school hours. They recommend identifying and managing students who display problematic behaviors—such as excessive gaming, truancy, or possession of e-cigarettes and banned substances—before problems escalate.
Following the fatal stabbing, the Department of Education and Training of Thanh Hóa issued directives to Đặng Thai Mai High School. The school was told to closely monitor the situation, provide support to the victim’s family, and report back by October 25, 2025. The department emphasized the need for schools to reinforce discipline, increase anti-violence messaging, and restore a stable learning environment. “After the investigation concludes, the school will consider responsibilities and handle violations by students and related individuals according to regulations,” the department stated.
What’s perhaps most tragic is that, according to school officials, both the victim and the alleged perpetrator had previously demonstrated good academic performance and conduct, with no history of conflict. The violence, it seems, erupted from a sudden and unanticipated dispute, highlighting the unpredictable nature of such incidents and the urgent need for preventative strategies.
Just as Thanh Hóa was grappling with the aftermath of this school tragedy, another disturbing case emerged in Hà Tĩnh province. On the morning of October 20, 2025, Hà Tĩnh provincial police announced the urgent detention of Nguyễn Văn Nam, a 31-year-old resident of Phú Hòa village, Cổ Đạm commune. Nam stands accused of intentionally causing injury to his stepdaughter, HTNL, a fifth-grade student at Cổ Đạm Primary School. This case, reported by Pháp Luật Online, has stirred widespread outrage after images of the child’s bruised and bleeding wounds surfaced on social media on October 19, 2025.
According to the police, Nam’s wife had recently taken their two other children back to her hometown in Sơn La to care for her ailing parents, leaving HTNL in Nam’s care. The abuse reportedly occurred over an extended period, with HTNL confiding to teachers and relatives that she had been subjected to repeated violence. The school principal, Nguyễn Thị Hồng, and several teachers personally escorted HTNL to the hospital for emergency treatment. As the principal recounted, “We took her to the hospital to treat her injuries after learning what had happened.” The case remains under active investigation, with authorities conducting drug tests and interrogating Nam to determine the full extent of his actions.
The Hà Tĩnh incident has provoked a wave of public anger and calls for stronger child protection measures. Social media users and child welfare advocates have demanded swift action to ensure the safety of vulnerable children. The police, for their part, have responded quickly, collaborating with local agencies to investigate and pursue charges against the accused stepfather.
Both the Thanh Hóa and Hà Tĩnh cases share common threads: a breakdown in family oversight, gaps in institutional safeguards, and a broader societal struggle to protect children and young people from violence. The tragedies have exposed not only individual failings but also systemic weaknesses in the way Vietnamese society addresses the safety and well-being of its youngest members.
As investigations continue, the hope is that these painful episodes will serve as a catalyst for change. Authorities, educators, and families are being called upon to redouble their efforts—strengthening supervision, improving communication, and equipping children with the skills they need to navigate conflict and seek help when in danger. The challenge is immense, but the stakes could not be higher. The lives and futures of countless children depend on it.
