A photo of Dao Thi Hong shown to members of the media by her flatmate Nguyen Trong Vinh, who called her "Ah Hong". - Photo: ST
SINGAPORE: The woman killed in a vicious knife attack in Hougang on Tuesday (Dec 10) has been identified as Vietnamese national Dao Thi Hong, a 34-year-old mother of three young children.
Her friend Sally, who is in her 40s, told The Straits Times on Dec 11 that Ms Hong had moved here from Hanoi about five years ago.
The victim, who worked at the Quan Long Nippon Paint hardware shop at Block 210 Hougang Street 21, was stabbed repeatedly by a 42-year-old man who is said to be employed by the same store.
The incident happened at about 11am before shocked onlookers. Witnesses said they heard a woman screaming and saw the suspect brandishing a knife.
A 26-year-old man – another worker at the store – tried to intervene and was wounded.
Sally, who is also from Hanoi, took leave on Dec 11 to pay her respects to the victim at a makeshift altar set up behind the shop, which was shuttered.
After lighting candles and joss sticks and saying a prayer for Hong, she told ST in Mandarin: “I came to light a candle and pay respects to her.
“I wanted to stay here and accompany her for a while. It’s better for her.”
The victim’s sister, who had travelled from her home in Vietnam, arrived at the makeshift altar at about 7.20pm as heavy rain pelted the area.
She looked visibly distraught and had to be supported by two friends who lit joss sticks for Hong’s sister and handed them to her.
With her head bowed, Hong’s sister sobbed loudly as she paid her respects in Vietnamese.
After about 10 minutes, she left with some friends in a car.
According to Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, Hong’s husband had intended to travel to Singapore as well, but could not secure a passport in time.
A man who identified himself as a friend of the victim said Hong had moved to Singapore to provide for her family, including her parents.
The Vietnamese national, who gave his name as Ah Zai, is a fruit seller. He works for a company that has a shop located next to the hardware store.
Speaking in Mandarin, Ah Zai said: “We would sometimes chat over meals in the area. She was a good person and was nice to us.”
Both Ah Zai and Sally said they did not know the suspect.
Gifts for children
Hong had shared a Housing Board flat, located one floor above the hardware store, with three flatmates.
Flatmate Nguyen Trong Vinh, 32, said he was out when he received calls that somebody had attacked Hong, who he referred to as “Ah Hong”.
He said friends who rushed to the hospital to see Hong told him she was initially conscious despite being badly hurt.
Vinh, who works as a cook in the Kovan Market and Food Centre located near the hardware store, said about 20 Vietnamese nationals turned up at the flat after Hong died.
They helped set up the altar and also packed her belongings. They found biscuits, gifts and clothes that she had bought for her children.
“She would video call her children, while in the kitchen, every day,” said Vinh, adding that Hong had planned to return home in 2025 for a visit.
When the friends realised none of them knew how to contact Hong’s family, they posted on Facebook an appeal which was then shared.
It eventually reached her relatives in Hanoi.
The attacker suffered injuries in the incident. The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it took two people to Changi General Hospital and one person to Sengkang General Hospital.
The suspect is expected to be charged with murder on Thursday (Dec 12), and if found guilty, faces the death penalty. - The Straits Times/ANN
