Police in Vietnam’s Tay Ninh warn about students worshipping Kuman Thong dolls to boost academic performance

Authorities are urging schools and families to strengthen education programs to help students build confidence in their own abilities and raise awareness about the harmful effects of such practices.

Tay Ninh Police announced on Monday that they had sent a document to the provincial Department of Education and Training, requesting schools and educational institutions to strengthen life skills education on the issue.

The campaign aims to guide students toward healthy beliefs and explain the dangers of buying, raising, or worshipping Kuman Thong dolls, which authorities described as superstitious practices that violate legal regulations.

Kuman Thong dolls originate in Thailand and are widely believed to possess supernatural powers capable of bringing luck, wealth, and protection to their owners. This practice has gradually spread to Vietnam.

According to Tay Ninh police, several students in local elementary and middle schools have already participated in activities involving buying, using, and worshipping these dolls.

Authorities warned that such behavior in educational settings could negatively affect students by causing anxiety, encouraging dependence on spiritual beliefs, distracting them from their studies, and leading them to spend excessive time caring for the dolls.

Police asserted that the phenomenon is a form of superstition exploited by individuals seeking online attention, social media engagement, and financial gain, while also negatively influencing students, parents, and society.

Authorities advised residents and students to remain vigilant, avoid believing in or spreading such practices, and refuse participation in any form of superstitious activity.

They also encouraged the public to report cases of superstition-related propaganda on social media or in daily life to the authorities.