Photo courtesy of VN Express

 

In a dramatic turn of events, Ho Chi Minh City police have apprehended the owner of a bar on Bui Vien Street for allegedly orchestrating the sale of nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, generating substantial profits.

 

Huynh Van Luc, a 20-year-old entrepreneur behind S Pub in Ben Thanh Ward, was arrested alongside seven others. Their alleged offence: "trading in banned goods," a charge that has sparked significant law enforcement activity in the city's bustling nightlife district.

 

Following a detailed surveillance operation, authorities conducted a raid on S Pub, uncovering staff distributing nitrous oxide balloons for customers to use on-site. The police confiscated numerous gas canisters, rubber balloons, and related paraphernalia, unveiling the scale of the operation.

 

Initially launched in May 2022 as a venue offering food and music in the heart of the backpacker's paradise, the business reportedly ran into financial trouble. In an attempt to recover from mounting losses, Luc and his associates allegedly turned to selling laughing gas—disguising sales on receipts as "Cocktail BL" or "Combo Cocktail BL."

 

From September 2024 onwards, this illicit venture purportedly raked in hundreds of billions of dong, equivalent to billions of Thai Baht, if the allegations hold true. Luc allegedly coordinated specific roles within the team, from gas management to tracking the finances.

 

Authorities are widening their investigation to uncover the full extent of this underground nitrous oxide trade and identify further suspects potentially involved.

 

Nitrous oxide is a powerful substance that affects the central nervous system, inducing euphoria and hallucinations, but also posing severe health risks such as suffocation and brain damage. This has led Vietnam to ban its recreational use.

 

This arrest is part of a broader crackdown by Ho Chi Minh City police, who are scrutinising bars and restaurants across the city for controlled substance violations. In the past month alone, numerous individuals have been apprehended for nitrous oxide trafficking.

 

As the investigation unfolds, bar owners and patrons alike are feeling the pressure of increased scrutiny in a city renowned for its lively, albeit sometimes unchecked, nightlife.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-08-04

 

 

 

Bet they were laughing all the way to the cop shop.

Nitrous Oxide is not banned nor illegal in Vietnam. 

Balloons are available in 20% of bars in Da Nang and cost 100 k vnd (75 thb). 

Highly addictive and the buzz appears to last just a few minutes. 

I've watched people turn from normal into a mong like state hanging off their chairs, no conversation, falling asleep and to me it looks like their night is ruined....but they like it. So hey ho. 

The last time I was in Saigon's tourist area, I thought the laughing gas balloon thing got a bit out of control rampant, so I guess this crackdown was only a question of time.