Khánh Trắng
Khánh Trắng, whose birth name was Dương Văn Khánh, was born in 1956 in Hanoi, Vietnam. He became infamous as the head of the Dong Xuan Labor Union, but this organization was actually a cover for his criminal gang that dominated Hanoi’s markets in the 1990s. He was known for his calm, elegant appearance and his cold, violent methods.
Khánh Trắng grew up poor as the youngest of 11 siblings. His family had a complicated history, with his father and mother each having multiple spouses. He left school after the fifth grade, worked at a rubber factory for a short time, and spent several years in prison for various offenses before 1989. In 1989 he bought pedicabs to move goods and formed a gang of about 30 young men to help transport items around the city.
In 1991 the Dong Xuan district allowed him to form a loading and unloading team, and he was named its leader. By 1992 he was elected chairman of the Dong Xuan Worker's Union, which had about 500 members. At first, officials praised the organization, but Khanh Trang used his power to force traders to pay taxes and to punish those who refused. He prevented other groups from loading goods in the area and kept the profits for himself, sometimes beating traders who resisted.
After a major fire in 1994, he expanded his control toward the bus station and Long Bien market, clashing with rival groups. He blockaded routes and merged unions to control more territory, continuing to punish traders and set fines, with the money going to him. He also performed charitable acts to improve his public image.
One well-known case involved a trader named Dat. Dat killed a rival and was killed in turn, a crime Khanh Trang helped cover up for a time, though the details later came back under scrutiny.
Khánh Trắng avoided paying taxes by underreporting his income. He was arrested on May 24, 1996, and charged with murder, robbery, tax evasion, and concealment of crime. He was sentenced to death and ordered to pay billions to the state.
He was executed by firing squad at the Cau Nga shooting range in Hanoi on October 13, 1998.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:23 (CET).