Ca Van Liem was a figure who gained notoriety in a remote Vietnamese hamlet in the early 1990s. Blind and charismatic, he proclaimed himself a king and prophet, amassing a following among the local hill tribe villagers of Ta He, a community approximately 200 miles northwest of Hanoi. Liem’s influence grew as he presented himself as a spiritual leader and a conduit to paradise.
Using his self-proclaimed religious authority, Ca Van Liem began to solicit substantial financial donations from the villagers. He promised them a direct and speedy path to heaven in exchange for their money. This religious and financial scheme proved successful, with Liem reportedly accumulating around $10,000, a significant sum given the impoverished nature of the region. The villagers, viewing him as a genuine saint, complied with his demands, believing in the divine rewards he promised.
The culmination of Ca Van Liem’s influence occurred in October 1993. A group of 53 villagers, including 19 children, committed mass suicide. They used primitive weapons such as flintlock guns and knives, believing this act would transport them to the paradise Liem had described.
The events surrounding the mass suicide have been the subject of some debate. While the official narrative posits that the villagers were victims of a religious hoax, one source has alleged that the incident was not a suicide but a massacre carried out by the Vietnamese Army. This claim, however, lacks independent verification and is contradicted by other accounts and sources.
Key Source:
Reuters. (2023, April 26). Kenya starvation deaths latest in long list of cult tragedies.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 