BUON MA THUOT, DAK LAK, VIETNAM – JULY 2, 2026 In the city of Buon Ma Thuot, 47-year-old businessman Hứa Hồng Hải was shot dead in broad evening light while sitting in bar.
Hứa Hồng Hải
According to preliminary information, an unknown man arrived at the crime scene on a red-and-white motorcycle. He was wearing green clothing with the logo of Grab, making him appear to be a delivery or transport service driver. After stopping, he got off the motorcycle, walked directly to the victim, and without warning pulled out a firearm.
The attacker then fired five shots into the left side of Hồng Hai’s head. The wounds were fatal, and the man died at the scene. The perpetrator immediately fled afterward, and police launched a large-scale manhunt.
The victim was not an unknown name in Vietnam. Hứa Hồng Hải previously worked for the tax administration of Dak Lak Province, but in 2007 he was arrested in connection with a corruption case and later sentenced to three years in prison. After serving his sentence, he withdrew from public administration and began doing business in agricultural products, mainly in the lucrative durian trade. At the same time, he was involved in several companies focused on exporting and inspecting fresh fruit.
The exact motive for the murder remains unknown. Investigators are working with several theories, including a business dispute, personal revenge, and the possibility of a professionally planned contract killing. The way the attack was carried out – disguise as a Grab driver, rapid approach to the target, and precise shooting – suggests to many a carefully planned elimination.
