Vietnam: 'Miracle Doctor' with 7th-Grade Education Arrested for Defrauding Hundreds

Authorities in Bắc Ninh Province, Vietnam, have arrested a man identified as Nguyễn Văn Mạnh, who allegedly operated as a "miracle doctor" despite having only completed seventh grade. Mạnh is accused of defrauding hundreds of individuals, primarily those with serious or congenital conditions, and amassing roughly 1 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately $40,000 USD).

Mạnh, 49, reportedly had no formal medical training, certifications, or licenses. He previously worked various jobs, including construction and decorative arts, before claiming to possess the ability to cure incurable diseases. He established a facility called "Điện Đại Thành - Thiên Y Thánh Mẫu" where he conducted treatments and sold his self-made remedies.

According to the police, Mạnh began his spiritual healing activities around 2007 and started offering medical treatments around 2010. More recently, he focused on treating congenital deafness, autism, and hyperactivity. His methods involved treatments he devised himself, lacking any scientific basis or proven efficacy.

Victims were initially not charged for consultations, but Mạnh would then prescribe long-term treatment courses involving medications he sold. These medications were reportedly concocted from herbs purchased at local markets and from drug stores, with no registration, circulation permits, or scientifically validated claims of effectiveness.

To promote his services, Mạnh collaborated with Ma Văn Tân, 35, who allegedly helped film and post videos of Mạnh's consultations on Facebook. Tân also reportedly assisted Mạnh directly during treatments and in advising patients on purchasing medications. Together, they are accused of defrauding hundreds of people nationwide.