A woman made up a fictional story, passing it off as her real experiences, fooling millions of readers and television viewers.
The woman’s real name is Tran Thi Thuy Duong. She is 28 years old, living in Truong An Ward, Hue City in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.
"Luom" and her son in the television programme that attracted millions of viewers
Great actress, not so great a person
In 2010, a popular Vietnamese online publication launched a writing contest named “My First Love”. The organising board was impressed by one particular story about the destitute life of street girl called “Luom”.
After that, a television channel made a programme about her, which aired nationwide in late January.
In the made up story, “Luom” claims to have been orphaned, left on a stone bench in the park. An old beggar found and raised her. Her childhood was full of hardship, and she had to beg for a living. When she was at 8, the old beggar died and there was nobody left to take care of her. She had to resort to pick-pocketing, being a sex worker, and eventually ended up in jail for a few months.
According to the tale, one night when she was sleeping at a coffee shop, several young men broke in, wanting to rape her. She fled to the street and met a motorbike driver who saved her. After that incident, she claimed that she fell in love with the motorbike driver. However he went to the U.S., leaving the girl pregnant.
She decided to keep the baby.
Several years later, according to her account, she came to complete despair when the man she loved got into an accident in the United States, suffering serious injuries. She was forced to sell lottery tickets to earn a living, always hoping that her man would return, or that her parents would somehow find her.
With no home to go to, she and her son found shelter at her aunt’s dilapidated house in Huong Tra District, Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Tears welled up in her eyes telling of her “experiences” (Photo taken from the television programme)
The house where Luom and her son supposedly lived (Photo taken from the television programme)
In addition to selling lottery tickets, Luom also said she grew vegetables (Photo taken from the television programme)
The truth exposed
After the film about Luom was shown on the television, many people in Thuan An Town grew surprised when they recognised the woman as Tran Thi Thuy Duong, a local resident. Duong’s parents were also shocked to see their daughter on the screen crying and talking about a miserable life that they knew never happened.
On March 2, DTiNews came to the town of Thuan An, where Duong’s parents are live. Chairman of the town People’s Committee Nguyen Dang Tuan Anh said, “I have seen the television programme and the video about Luom online. Luom is actually named Tran Thi Thuy Duong, born in 1983, who is the oldest daughter of Tran Van Thanh and Le Thi Lieu in Minh Hai Village.” On February 2, 2009, she moved to Truong An Ward in Hue City to live with her husband.
She married a man named Phan Van Than and now sells gods at Thuan An Market, Anh said, wondering why the woman would make up such a story.
Her parents also denied what Duong had claimed on television to be her life story. They were unaware that Duong sent the story in, and was subsequently filmed by the television station. Duong finished the high school, now works a vendor. She has never been a sex worker. The family’s overall feeling is one of shame for a daughter who would lie in such a way in order to receive donations.
Mai Chanh Quan, a neighbourer, said Duong is good-nature, but sometimes acted strangely. Many people close to her are extremely shocked by the story.
On March 3, the online newspaper along with the television station, which made a programme about Luom, sent reporters to Thua Thien-Hue Province to investigate the new information.
After not being able to find “Luom”, who refused to meet under a variety of pretexts, DTiNews finally caught up to her at her house in Truong An Ward. Here, she confessed to everything.
She explained that after finding out that the television station would film her, she tried to play the role of the Luom that she had made up, despite her feelings of guilt. “I myself do not know how I could bring myself to do such a thing. My husband was extremely angry. I was also afraid of being found out and prosecuted. If that happened, who would take care of my children,” she said.
The aunt, named Le Thi Hue was persuaded by Duong, and allowed her to use the house for the filming. Hue herself also played the role of the aunt who’d sheltered Luom in the story.
Mrs. Hue said that she was persuaded to play along because Duong needed money for heart surgery for her child.
“One day before the filming, Duong came here and arranged everything according to how she’d written the story,” Hue recalled, regretting her support.
Duong said she has got donations totaling VND9 million (USD441,544) from benefactors. She said she has not yet spent it and is willing to give it back, if required. She feels very regretful now and hopes for forgiveness from her parents and other people.
Duong’s parents’ house
Duong runs a stall in Thuan An Market
Her real house in Truong An Ward, Hue, where she is now living with her husband and son
Hue admits to aiding her niece’s scam
The house that Duong borrowed for the filming
