Woman killed in Hougang knife attack was a Vietnamese mother of three

The woman killed in a vicious knife attack in Hougang on Dec 10 has been identified as Viet national Dao Thi Hong, a 34-year-old mother of three young children.

- Christine Tan

Her friend Sally, who is in her 40s, told The Straits Times on Dec 11 that Ms Hong had moved here from Hanoi about five years ago.

The victim, who worked at the Quan Long Nippon Paint hardware shop at Block 210 Hougang Street 21, was stabbed repeatedly by a 42-year-old man who is said to be employed by the same store.

The incident happened at about 11am before shocked onlookers. Witnesses said they heard a woman screaming and saw the suspect brandishing a knife.

A 26-year-old man another worker at the store tried to intervene and was wounded.

Sally, who is also from Hanoi, took leave on Dec 11 to pay her respects to the victim at a makeshift altar set up behind the shop, which was shuttered.

After lighting candles and joss sticks and saying a prayer for Ms Hong, she told ST in Mandarin: "I came to light a candle and pay respects to her.

"I wanted to stay here and accompany her for a while. It's better for her."