The Hanoi Criminal Police Department has detained a suspect in connection with the case. As the investigation is ongoing, authorities have not released the suspect's identity or related information.

Nguyen Van Ngoc, 48, Yen Nhi's father, stated that he and his ex-wife had two children before their divorce. Nhi, their eldest, lived with her father. Due to financial difficulties, Nhi dropped out of school after 9th grade and had previously worked selling clothes in Hanoi.

This year, after the clothing store closed, Nhi began working at an electronics company in Bac Ninh. Two months ago, she quit her job to care for her ailing grandmother. She had plans to work as a factory worker at an industrial park in Quynh Mai ward, formerly part of Hoang Mai town, to be closer to her family.

Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi, 19, before her disappearance. *Photo: Family provided*

According to Ngoc, Nhi was cheerful and diligent, often completing all household chores. Recently, she had shown no unusual signs of distress. She often confided in her grandmother that she was not yet thinking of marriage but wanted to date someone from her hometown so relatives could easily visit.

Around 13:00 on 2/11, two people, a man and a woman, arrived at Ngoc's home in Phuong Hong block, Quynh Mai ward, but remained outside. Nhi met and spoke with her friends for about 30 minutes before they left. That evening, Nhi asked her family's permission to go to Hanoi to see a friend off who was going abroad. Nhi departed for Hanoi at 14:30 on 3/11, using a shared ride.

"When she left, my daughter only took one set of clothes and said she would stay for one or two days before returning. Her mood was completely normal," Ngoc said, adding that he did not suspect anything at the time because she had been away from home many times for work, and for longer trips, she would bring more luggage.

Nhi messaged her cousin late on 2/11. *Photo: Family provided*

One of Nhi's cousins stated that the last time he messaged Nhi via social media was on the evening of 2/11. Nhi shared that she would go to Hanoi the next day to see her friend off abroad, and then buy snails from a restaurant for the two cousins to eat. During their conversation, he found Nhi to be cheerful.

"Nhi suffered from a congenital illness since childhood and had to seek treatment in many places. Her life was also disrupted when her parents divorced," the cousin said.

Ngoc recounted that on 4/11, while in Hanoi, Nhi called her aunt/uncle and said, "I'll stay here one more day, I'll come home tomorrow." At that time, the person who heard Nhi's voice noticed nothing unusual.

Since 6/11, Nhi had not returned home, causing her family to become anxious. Family members took turns calling and messaging her via social media but could not connect. By the afternoon of 7/11, her younger sister called, and the phone rang, but no one answered. She then messaged, "Are you home yet? Dad is worried," and received the reply: "I'll be home this afternoon."

Nhi's phone immediately turned off, and no one could contact her again.

Nhi's relatives gathered by the riverbank in Duc Hop commune, Hung Yen, shortly after police announced the discovery of a female body, bound and placed in a nylon bag, found floating in the river. *Photo: Family provided*

"In previous conversations, Nhi's attitude was very friendly, but in the last conversation, she only said one abrupt sentence. I suspect that message was not written by my daughter," Ngoc said.

Worried that Nhi had met with misfortune, Ngoc's family reported her missing to authorities and posted search information on social media. On 11/11, the family received information from the police, announcing the discovery of a woman's body, bound with tape and placed in a nylon bag, recovered from a river flowing through Duc Hop commune, formerly part of Kim Dong district, Hung Yen province.

At the time, the body was in a state of decomposition, making identification difficult. It had a tattoo with the inscription "19-12-2006."

Members of Ngoc's family then took a bus to Hung Yen. Ms. Phan Thanh, Ngoc's ex-wife, had a DNA sample taken for testing. This serves as the legal basis for identifying the victim and assisting the investigation.

The tattoo on the victim's body found in Hung Yen matches Yen Nhi's birth date. *Photo: Family provided*

"Nhi was born on 19/12/2006, and comparing it with the tattoo on the victim's body, it matches my daughter," Thanh said, adding that through identification features, she confirmed it was her daughter's body.

Ngoc also believes the female victim found floating in the river was indeed Yen Nhi. According to him, the tattoo of her birth date on her neck and another tattoo on her hip matched his daughter. Additionally, other marks on the body, four other tattoos, and slightly brownish-yellow hair also resembled Nhi.

The father added that, according to legal regulations, the family must await DNA test results and the conclusion of the investigating agency before planning to bring Nhi home for burial. An altar for the 19-year-old has already been set up in her hometown.

Duc Hung