Imprisoned Norwegian is not getting insulin: – Very concerned

Behind the walls of a notorious prison:

The Norwegian embassy in Vietnam has finally been allowed inside the notorious B34 prison, where a Norwegian is being held and charged with terrorism.

TAKEN: Thuan Duc Nguyen (52) disappeared in Cambodia in September and turned up in Vietnamese custody. Nineteen days later, Norwegian authorities learned where he is being held.

Published 16.10.2026 19:52

It is almost a month since the Norwegian Thuan Duc Nguyen vanished without a trace in Cambodia on 18 September this year.

On Friday it became known that the Norwegian embassy has visited him in the notorious B34 prison in Vietnam. There he is being held, charged with terrorism, after working for democracy through the opposition organisation Viet Tan.

TV 2 has obtained access to the report the embassy wrote after its visit to the prison. It states that Thuan, who has diabetes, has not been given access to insulin injections.

"Physically Thuan looks OK. He spoke clearly and distinctly, and had a clear and focused gaze. He maintained eye contact with the undersigned during large parts of the visit, and it was evident that he understood everything that was communicated," the report states.

This weekend a Norwegian delegation is in Vietnam to sign a free trade agreement between the countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promises that State Secretary Astrid Bergmål (Labour) will raise the case with the authorities.

– The Norwegian side has expressed, among other things, a clear expectation that the embassy receives regular consular access, that he receives legal assistance and adequate medical follow-up, the ministry writes in an email to NTB on Friday.

Reacts to detail

He sleeps poorly and little, the embassy writes further. Nevertheless, he feels "generally better physically after starting on various medications," they write.

Among other things, he is given diabetes medication in tablet form, although he does not get the injections he actually needs.

– I am very concerned about his state of health, even though they write that he seems OK, says Thuan Duc Nguyen's wife in a statement shared with TV 2.

She points out that the embassy notes that he has somewhat elevated blood sugar, and that her husband has a documented need for insulin injections.

– He says himself that he sleeps little and poorly. That in itself can lead to mental illness. I know my husband. He is a good sleeper, so when he says he sleeps poorly, that is a bad sign, says his wife.

The imprisoned Norwegian's brother, Thien Duc Nguyen, is also worried about the information on insulin.

– We are deeply concerned that Thuan is not getting the insulin he needs, says his brother, who himself works as a healthcare professional and is trained as a pharmacist.

– When he does not get insulin daily, which is the most important medicine for regulating his sugar level, this will cause him to sleep little and poorly, he explains further.

Receives no assistance

The report states that the imprisoned Norwegian is served two meals a day, and that he has the opportunity to pay for extra food, drink and fruit.

The embassy has handed over money to the prison to top up his account.

At the same time, Thuan has not received any legal assistance, and will not receive any until the investigation is over. Vietnamese police can extend the investigation in periods of four months at a time, for up to two years.

In the report, the embassy says it is the first time they have heard that the man will not be offered a lawyer.

– The embassy has not previously been sent this information, they write.

The information worries the family:

– How is he supposed to defend himself without legal assistance? asks his brother Thien Duc Nguyen.

– The embassy's visit gives some hope, but the fear is still there. We expect Norway to act, not just watch, he says.

Notorious prison

B34 has for many years been used to hold political prisoners, and is located on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City.

The prison is run by the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security. It is part of a larger complex of buildings, which also houses the offices of Vietnamese police and intelligence agencies.

According to the organisation "Campaign to Abolish Torture in Vietnam", B34 is one of the largest centres for political and religious prisoners in the country. They warn of widespread physical and psychological torture of political prisoners in the country.

The article has been updated