Top 6 Tallest People in Vietnam

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1. Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh

2. Mr. Ho Van Trung

3. Doan Nhut Nam

4. Mr. Tran Thanh Pho

5. Ms. Le Thi Anh Hong

6. Mr. Duong Tien Dat

1. Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh

Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh, born in 1955 in Quang Phuong, Quang Trach, Quang Binh, grew up as the only son in a farming family. His childhood was as ordinary as any other child’s. In 1972, instead of joining the army, his family allowed him to attend a three-year electrical engineering course in Dong Hoi city. By the time he was 20, his height and weight grew rapidly, eventually exceeding 2 meters, which alarmed him. When he tried to find work, he was repeatedly rejected due to his unusually tall stature. In an interview with Zing, he recalled an incident where, one night, when he stepped outside, a group of young men mistook him for a large creature and threw stones at him in panic, despite his not chasing or threatening them. Unable to find a job, he returned home to work as a laborer carrying bricks nearby. When the brick kiln closed down, he worked on his parents’ farm to make a living. His towering figure led to constant teasing from others, and on one occasion, someone even chased him with a stick. At 25, a mutual acquaintance introduced him to Hanh, a girl from a neighboring village. Although initially surprised by his size, she grew fond of him through their interactions, and eventually agreed to marry him. Their love story became a topic of much gossip in their rural village, but their sincerity gradually overcame the public’s curiosity. Though the couple had no children of their own, they adopted a daughter in 1987 to care for them in their old age. Despite his enormous size, Mr. Chinh’s health has been poor in recent years, and he suffers from a neurological condition that causes his spine to curve, leaving him physically weakened.

Despite his hunched back, Mr. Chinh still stands tall at 2 meters.

2. Mr. Ho Van Trung

Mr. Ho Van Trung, 35 years old, from Vien An Dong village, Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau, was born healthy and developed normally. However, at the age of 18, he suffered from a prolonged fever, and his family took him to several nearby private clinics for treatment. After the fever subsided, about a year later, his body began to grow abnormally, with significant increases in both height and weight. Doctors in Ho Chi Minh City diagnosed him with a pituitary gland disorder, explaining his unusual growth. Around five years ago, Mr. Trung was measured at over 2.35 meters tall and weighed more than 110 kg. Despite his extraordinary height, Mr. Trung shared that he hoped to have the financial means to treat his kidney disease and to heal his legs so he could walk and live normally, without burdening his family. Due to his family owning a small plot of land in Vien An Dong, he withdrew from public life and lived there in seclusion. His towering figure made him self-conscious, and for more than 17 years, he avoided crowded places. When he fell ill, he would purchase over-the-counter medicine but was too embarrassed to see a doctor due to concerns about people commenting on his height. Initially, the villagers were curious and would stare whenever they saw him, but his poor health meant he was often unable to do heavy tasks, and his family allowed him to only perform light duties at home. In November 2019, Mr. Ho Van Trung passed away after battling kidney disease and several chronic conditions. At the time of his death, his height had reached 2.57 meters, 7 cm taller than when he had entered the hospital for treatment.

Mr. Ho Van Trung with a height of 2.35 meters

3. Doan Nhut Nam

On the morning of July 5, 2014, after finishing his chemistry exam at Tam Phu High School in Thu Duc District, the sight of 18-year-old Doan Nhut Nam from Go Cong Dong, Tien Giang, leaving the school captured many curious gazes due to his impressive height of 2 meters.

Doan Nhut Nam, from Go Cong Dong in Tien Giang, stands out because of his extraordinary height of 2 meters. His mother, Bui Thu Ha, explained that Nam suffers from a pituitary condition and has undergone two surgeries, which caused his unusual growth. Despite his height, which can sometimes be awkward, Nam has never felt self-conscious. Throughout his 12 years of school, he worked diligently and focused on his upcoming university entrance exams.

Nam's story is a powerful example of overcoming personal challenges. Despite his distinctive height, he has remained confident and continues to push forward in life. He is an inspiration to those facing similar challenges, offering hope and strength to those fighting their own battles and helping others to focus on self-improvement in all aspects of life.

Doan Nhut Nam

4. Mr. Tran Thanh Pho

Mr. Tran Thanh Pho (1947–2020, from Bac Giang) stood at 2.28 meters tall and was a war hero with a 2nd-class injury. He once held the record for the tallest man in Vietnam, but passed away in 2020. His rapid growth was due to a pituitary condition. At 1.68 meters and 68 kg, he continued to grow, eventually reaching over 2.3 meters and weighing 115 kg. Doctors diagnosed him with acromegaly, a condition caused by an overactive pituitary gland.

The remarkable story of this man began 27 years ago. In 1965, at 18 years old, Tran Quang (his birth name) enlisted in the military. During the war, he served on the frontlines in Quang Tri. In 1972, a bomb explosion during battle left him seriously injured, and he was hospitalized. During two years of recovery, he nearly lost his memory, but his height and weight grew dramatically. From 1.68 meters and 68 kg, Tran Quang grew to 2.28 meters and 115 kg. Doctors concluded that he had acromegaly, and medical treatments were used to try and halt his growth.

By 1974, after recovering, Tran Quang realized he had become a giant. Reflecting on his unique condition, he decided to change his name to Tran Thanh Pho. Despite being told he would only survive a year, Tran Thanh Pho defied the odds, married, and had two children. After his first wife passed away, he remarried a nurse and had two more children, all of whom grew up healthy. Despite his unusual size, he never became negative. His humorous and cheerful personality always lifted the spirits of those around him.

He shared with a joyful smile: “In my youth, I dedicated my strength to the revolution. After peace was restored, I focused on raising my children with the remaining energy I had. Now that the big tasks are behind me, I consider my current life a bonus. Every time I visit my home in Bac Giang and see my children and grandchildren sitting around three tables for a meal, I feel satisfied with my life’s journey.”

Photo of Mr. Tran Thanh Pho.

5. Ms. Le Thi Anh Hong

Ms. Le Thi Anh Hong lives in Vinh Hau A commune, Hoa Binh district, Bac Lieu province. Born into a family of giants, with 5 out of 10 family members known for their extraordinary height, Ms. Hong inherited her tall stature from her mother, Tran Thi Lang (64 years old), who stands at 1.96 meters. As a result, Ms. Hong has reached a remarkable height of 2.1 meters, towering over her husband by 40 cm.

When she was born, her unusually long limbs and face led the midwife to predict she would need to be given away. Due to financial hardship and the fear of not being able to provide for her, her mother decided to give her to a relative. After finishing third grade, Ms. Hong reconnected with her biological parents and grew up to marry a man much shorter than her. Despite the height difference, they have a happy marriage. Ms. Hong rarely goes out in public with her husband due to feeling self-conscious about her size. Instead, she prefers to stay near the outskirts of the village or the coast to make a living, avoiding public exposure because of her giant frame.

When asked about her height and life situation, she quickly avoids the question and often leaves the house. Her husband explains that Ms. Hong feels embarrassed by her height and fears being ridiculed for her unusual body. The family is still living in poverty, and they often receive help from generous donors who come to their aid.

Photo of Ms. Hong and her husband.

6. Mr. Duong Tien Dat

Mr. Duong Tien Dat, from Bao Quang commune, Long Khanh, Dong Nai, reached a height of 2.03 meters at the age of 31. Despite his towering height, Dat weighs only 75 kg. After several medical tests, doctors diagnosed him with gigantism, caused by a pituitary tumor that produces excess growth hormone before puberty (in males, this happens before the age of 11). The tumor in his brain was responsible for his unexpected growth spurt. After undergoing surgery, Dat's height stabilized at 2.03 meters, allowing him to overcome his previous insecurities about his unusual height. However, doctors recommended ongoing monitoring to manage any complex health issues that might arise due to this condition.

Dat is the youngest of three siblings, all of whom are tall, but none share his extraordinary stature. His father is 1.75 meters, his mother 1.6 meters, his brother 1.8 meters, and his sister 1.6 meters.

“My mother says I weighed 3.9 kg at birth. I grew up normally, taller than most kids, but nothing extraordinary. It wasn't until middle school at Hoai Huong Secondary School in Long Khanh that I started growing rapidly, outpacing my classmates by a head. No matter how much I ate, I just kept getting taller without gaining much weight. By 19, I was already nearing 1.9 meters, and I kept growing. I’m not sure when it will stop, but if it keeps going like this, it’s going to be a challenge,” Dat said.

In school, his friends nicknamed him “Vietnam’s Peter Crouch,” after the tallest English footballer, who stood at 2.01 meters—still shorter than Dat by 2 cm. His daily life requires specially sized accommodations. All the doors in his home are 2.5 meters high, and his bed is 2 meters long, forcing him to sleep diagonally. Shopping for clothes and shoes is a real struggle. Dat’s feet are 30 cm long, and while regular pants are about 1 to 1.1 meters long, his pants must be custom-made at 1.5 meters.

Mr. Duong Tien Dat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cause of unusual height growth in Mr. Ho Van Trung?

Mr. Ho Van Trung's unusual height growth was caused by a pituitary gland disorder, which led to abnormal growth in both height and weight during his late teens.

How did Mr. Tran Thanh Pho manage his condition of acromegaly?

Mr. Tran Thanh Pho lived with acromegaly, a condition caused by an overactive pituitary gland. Despite this, he maintained a cheerful personality and focused on raising his children and family.

How did Ms. Le Thi Anh Hong's height affect her life?

Ms. Le Thi Anh Hong, standing at 2.1 meters, often avoided public exposure due to her self-consciousness about her height. Her family’s poverty and generosity from donors have supported her lifestyle.

What medical condition did Mr. Duong Tien Dat have and how was it treated?

Mr. Duong Tien Dat had gigantism caused by a pituitary tumor. After surgery, his height stabilized, but ongoing monitoring is required to manage any health complications related to this condition.

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