9-1-2025 (HANOI) In a quiet corner of Vietnam’s Na Trang valley, nestled within the forests of Quang Nam province, lives an 85-year-old man with an extraordinary condition that has baffled medical experts worldwide. Thai Ngoc, a resident of Que Trung commune, has reportedly not slept for over 53 years – enduring more than 19,300 sleepless nights whilst maintaining relatively good health.
Once listed among the world’s top 10 ‘supernatural’ cases, Ngoc’s peculiar condition has drawn international attention, with film crews and journalists from across the globe attempting to document his remarkable story. Despite numerous offers for medical treatment abroad, including a recent proposal from a Thai production company, Ngoc has consistently declined, maintaining his peaceful life in the Vietnamese countryside.
The origin of his condition dates back to 1971 when, at age 32, Ngoc experienced what would become a life-altering change. “After one sleepless night, the desire to sleep simply vanished,” he recounts. Having grown up during wartime, when irregular sleep patterns were commonplace, he initially dismissed the condition. However, as days turned into years, and years into decades, his inability to sleep became a permanent fixture of his existence.
Despite his advanced age, Ngoc maintains an active lifestyle, though he has scaled back from his previous farming activities. His nights are now spent watching television or lying awake in a separate room – a compromise reached with his wife, who struggled with his night-time television viewing habits. “The volume needed to be quite loud due to my hearing difficulties, which naturally disturbed her rest,” he explains.
Recent medical check-ups have shown surprisingly positive results, with doctors finding no significant health issues beyond mild anaemia. His daughter, now 41, corroborates his account, stating she has never witnessed her father sleeping throughout her lifetime, except for brief moments when inebriated.
The authenticity of Ngoc’s condition has been subject to extensive verification. International media outlets have conducted overnight surveillance, installing cameras throughout his property to document his sleepless state. Yet, despite the scientific curiosity surrounding his case, Ngoc maintains a remarkably humble perspective on his condition.
Perhaps most poignantly, Ngoc admits to yearning for sleep, expressing a touch of melancholy when observing others enjoying their natural rest. “It’s rather lonely when everyone else is sleeping,” he reflects, his bright eyes still capable of reading the clock during the quietest hours of the night.
