An 81-year-old man from Vietnam has revealed that he has not slept for over 60 years, leaving both scientists and doctors puzzled. Thai Ngoc, residing in a small village in Quang Nam province, attributes his sleeplessness to a severe fever he suffered during the Vietnam War when he was around 20 years old.
Since that time, Ngoc claims he has not managed to sleep even for a moment. Despite trying various methods such as medication, traditional remedies, and alcohol to induce sleep, he remains wide awake. He expressed envy for those who can sleep, finding it unbearable to stay still.
Ngoc fills his sleepless nights by tending to fields, cultivating crops, and producing homemade rice wine. Remarkably, he appears to function normally on the surface despite his extraordinary condition. American YouTuber Drew Binsky, who spent a night with Ngoc in 2023, confirmed that Ngoc stayed awake and active throughout the night.
Ngoc’s daily routine is physically demanding as he works on his farm during the day, carries heavy loads of fertilizer, continues farming at night, and engages in regular smoking and drinking. Despite these habits that typically worsen the effects of sleep deprivation, local doctors note his apparent good health without a definitive explanation.
Some speculate that Ngoc’s insomnia may be linked to long-term trauma from his past, including experiences during the war and his fever illness. However, there has been no formal psychological diagnosis to confirm this theory. Others suggest it could be a rare neurological anomaly, but without controlled studies or hospital observation, the scientific verification of Ngoc’s claims remains uncertain.
Although Ngoc’s case defies conventional understanding of sleep disorders, chronic sleep deprivation usually results in significant physical and mental deterioration. If Ngoc indeed goes without sleep, it challenges the established biological necessity of sleep.
