Nguyễn Hoàng Tuấn. — Photo thanhnien.vn

Two good friends, Nguyễn Hoàng Tuấn and Lâm Văn Vui, from the southern Bạc Lieu Province, had to bring an awkward case to court to determine who deserved the lottery money they won.

While drinking alcohol with Vui, Tuấn bought five lottery tickets issued by Bạc Lieu Province Lottery Company and handed them to Vui, asking him to keep them. Tuấn hoped that his friend’s luck would bring him a prize.

Tuấn’s wish came true, and two of five tickets won a prize of VNĐ2.7 billion (US$120,000).

Vui considered the tickets a present from his friend and believed he was the rightful recipient of the money. The next day, Vui went to the lottery company to collect the cash and surprised Tuấn with an amount of shared money worth VNĐ200 million ($8,900). But shortly after that, Tuấn realised he deserved more.

The People’s Court of Bạc Liêu Province decided that the money must be shared and that each man should receive VNĐ1.35 billion ($60,000), Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper reported.

While both men walked away with a nice chunk of change, the lesson learned is to keep your lottery tickets tightly in your pocket.

Daredevil thief left hanging after failed heist

An online video featuring a female thief who was treated with kindness by the home owners she attempted to rob received some laughs.

The female thief took great pains to create a hole in the roof to sneak into the house. She had to cling to the roof and swing herself inside, but she couldn’t find a way to get down to the floor.

While dangling from the ceiling, she was discovered by the house owners.

The house owners and their neighbours had to help pull her down. Some witnesses were so surprised by the brave female that they kept asking her, “Is there anyone else or just you?” But she was too exhausted to say anything and only asked for water.

The house owners were kind enough to give her water before locking her hands and taking her to the police.

Local residents said she must have been the most well-treated thief.

Bad news travels fast with an official stamp

A death notice for the mother of the Customs Department head in the southern Đồng Nai Province was posted in local newspapers. But that was not the only way the news was spread.

The announcement containing the time and place of the funeral was delivered to local agencies via a document signed by Lê Thế Tử, the chief of the department office.

Tử confirmed his signing with Lao Động (Labour) newspaper, saying that Nguyễn Phúc Thọ, Customs Department deputy head, ordered the document to be sent.

Thọ told the media he just wanted to find the fastest way to announce the news to everyone so that they could go to the funeral.

When snail mail just isn’t quick enough, it pays to be creative.— VNS