An 81-year-old Vietnamese farmer named Thai Ngoc has sparked controversy after claiming he hasn't closed his eyes to sleep for more than six decades, despite enjoying good health and the ability to live his daily life normally. Ngoc lives in a small village in Quang Nam province. He says his struggle with insomnia began in 1962 after participating in the Vietnam War; doctors speculate his condition may stem from severe psychological trauma. Despite repeated attempts at treatment using medication, traditional therapies, and even alcohol, he has never been able to sleep, a fact confirmed by himself, his family, and neighbors who have not seen him asleep in decades. In 2023, he was visited by American YouTuber Drew Binsky to document his case, who observed that he spends his nights working in the fields and making rice wine with no signs of sleep.
His report indicated the possibility that he might sleep for very short periods after consuming alcohol, though without medical confirmation. Despite his long-term sleep deprivation, medical examinations showed that his heart, blood pressure, and brain are all functioning normally. Doctors believe this rare case challenges established scientific concepts about the importance of sleep and highlights the human capacity for adaptation under exceptionally extreme circumstances. Media reports also mentioned that he smokes about 70 cigarettes a day and drinks half a liter of rice wine, yet remains active and performs his work regularly. His case has garnered widespread attention on social media, where opinions are divided between admiration for his endurance and questions about the war's impact on his mental health.
