Can Thi Theu and her two sons Trinh Ba Phuong (middle) and Trinh Ba Tu
To the Foreign Embassies in Vietnam
The United States Embassy
The United Kingdom Embassy
The German Embassy
The Australian Embassy
The French Embassy
The Netherlands Embassy
The Swiss Embassy
And other concerned diplomatic missions
Dear Ambassadors,
My name is Trinh Thi Thao. My family is among the victims of unlawful land confiscation in Duong Noi, Ha Dong, Hanoi, where local authorities seized our land for real estate projects. Because we stood up for land rights, democracy, and human rights in Vietnam, four of our five family members have been wrongfully imprisoned—serving a combined total of over 30 years in prison and 11 years of probation.
My mother, Can Thi Theu, has been imprisoned three times. In 2014, both my father Trinh Ba Khiem and my mother were sentenced to 15 months in prison. Two years later, my mother was sentenced again to 20 months. In 2020, she and my younger brother Trinh Ba Tu were each sentenced to eight years in prison and three years of probation. My older brother, Trinh Ba Phuong, received a 10-year prison sentence and five years of probation that same year. He is currently being investigated a second time under Article 117 of the Criminal Code for “conducting anti-state propaganda”—while already in prison.
On August 1, 2025, during a family visit to Thanh Hoa Prison No. 5, we learned that my mother was seriously ill. She had been hospitalized for three days, receiving two doses of antibiotics and two bottles of IV fluids daily. However, on July 31, she was abruptly transferred to Thanh Hoa Prison No. 5, where she has since been denied further medical care.
When my mother requested her medical report, prison officials provided inconsistent answers and ultimately refused to show her the results. She remains extremely fatigued, suffering from persistent pain in the right iliac region, and has lost her appetite. Alarming symptoms—including purple and black fingernails—have raised concerns within our family that she may have been poisoned.
We are gravely worried about her deteriorating health. Sadly, there have been numerous documented cases in Vietnam of prisoners dying from untreated illnesses due to medical neglect in detention facilities.
We respectfully and urgently appeal to you, as Ambassadors and representatives of democratic governments, to use your voices and influence:
To help ensure that my mother receives timely and appropriate medical treatment
To request the disclosure of her full medical records
To prevent further prosecution of my brother Trinh Ba Phuong while he is still in custody
Your attention and compassion could help protect their lives and dignity. We are deeply grateful for your time and concern, and we wish peace, prosperity, and continued development for your respective countries.
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August 4, 2025
Letter of Can Thi Theu’s family to foreign embassies in Vietnam regarding her heal problem
by Defend the Defenders • [Human Rights]
To the Foreign Embassies in Vietnam
The United States Embassy
The United Kingdom Embassy
The German Embassy
The Australian Embassy
The French Embassy
The Netherlands Embassy
The Swiss Embassy
And other concerned diplomatic missions
Dear Ambassadors,
My name is Trinh Thi Thao. My family is among the victims of unlawful land confiscation in Duong Noi, Ha Dong, Hanoi, where local authorities seized our land for real estate projects. Because we stood up for land rights, democracy, and human rights in Vietnam, four of our five family members have been wrongfully imprisoned—serving a combined total of over 30 years in prison and 11 years of probation.
My mother, Can Thi Theu, has been imprisoned three times. In 2014, both my father Trinh Ba Khiem and my mother were sentenced to 15 months in prison. Two years later, my mother was sentenced again to 20 months. In 2020, she and my younger brother Trinh Ba Tu were each sentenced to eight years in prison and three years of probation. My older brother, Trinh Ba Phuong, received a 10-year prison sentence and five years of probation that same year. He is currently being investigated a second time under Article 117 of the Criminal Code for “conducting anti-state propaganda”—while already in prison.
On August 1, 2025, during a family visit to Thanh Hoa Prison No. 5, we learned that my mother was seriously ill. She had been hospitalized for three days, receiving two doses of antibiotics and two bottles of IV fluids daily. However, on July 31, she was abruptly transferred to Thanh Hoa Prison No. 5, where she has since been denied further medical care.
When my mother requested her medical report, prison officials provided inconsistent answers and ultimately refused to show her the results. She remains extremely fatigued, suffering from persistent pain in the right iliac region, and has lost her appetite. Alarming symptoms—including purple and black fingernails—have raised concerns within our family that she may have been poisoned.
We are gravely worried about her deteriorating health. Sadly, there have been numerous documented cases in Vietnam of prisoners dying from untreated illnesses due to medical neglect in detention facilities.
We respectfully and urgently appeal to you, as Ambassadors and representatives of democratic governments, to use your voices and influence:
To help ensure that my mother receives timely and appropriate medical treatment
To request the disclosure of her full medical records
To prevent further prosecution of my brother Trinh Ba Phuong while he is still in custody
Your attention and compassion could help protect their lives and dignity. We are deeply grateful for your time and concern, and we wish peace, prosperity, and continued development for your respective countries.
With sincere respect and hope
Trinh Thi Thao