Rapper tests positive for drugs after viral high-speed stunt on Vietnam highway

Vietnamese rapper Binh Gold, whose real name is Vu Xuan Binh and is 28 years old, was hospitalized after inhaling over 50 balloons of laughing gas (nitrous oxide, N2O) three or four times a week. He is experiencing numbness, weakness in his limbs, and a rapid heartbeat. Tests at Medlatec Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City revealed dangerously low vitamin B12 levels and signs of nerve damage in all four limbs, with doctors suspecting acute myelin damage. MRI images further confirmed damage to his cervical spinal cord, consistent with prolonged N2O abuse, which deactivates vitamin B12 and can lead to severe neurological issues. Doctors noted that early diagnosis provides a good prognosis for his recovery if he strictly adheres to the treatment plan.

This health crisis comes after Binh Gold was involved in a reckless driving incident that went viral online. Dashcam footage from July 23, around 6 p.m., showed him swerving through traffic and cutting off other drivers at high speed on the Noi Bai–Lao Cai expressway in northern Vietnam. The footage sparked widespread public backlash and prompted a police manhunt. By 10 p.m. on the same day, traffic officers apprehended Binh's vehicle in Lao Cai, where he subsequently tested positive for cannabis.

The Noi Bai–Lao Cai expressway, a 265-kilometer route connecting Hanoi, Phu Tho, and Lao Cai, has two to four lanes with speed limits ranging from 60 to 100 kph (or up to 100 kph on four-lane sections and 80 kph on two-lane sections).

It's important to note that, as of January 1, 2025, laughing gas, shisha, and e-cigarettes are banned substances in Vietnam. Individuals found using or selling them face administrative or criminal penalties depending on the severity of the violation. Additionally, cannabis is illegal in Vietnam for both medical and recreational use, with strict laws against its purchase, sale, possession, and cultivation. Reckless driving and driving under the influence carry significant fines and penalties in Vietnam, which have been sharply increased from January 1, 2025.