Arts & Culture
Meet Man Who Has Gone Almost 80 Years Without Shaving, Combing Or Washing His Hair

DONG HOA, Vietnam (Reuters) – While coronavirus lockdowns caused many men across the world to grow their hair longer than usual, none compare with Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Chien who has gone almost 80 years without a trim.
The 92-year-old from the southern Mekong Delta region is the proud owner of five-metre long dreadlocks, owing to his belief in a faith that prescribes leaving untouched what a person is born with.
“I believe if I cut my hair I will die. I dare not to change anything, not even combing it,” Chien told Reuters in his village about 80km (50 miles) west of Ho Chi Minh City.
“I only nurture it, cover it in a scarf to keep it dry and clean and looking nice.”
Chien, who worships nine powers and seven gods, believes it was his calling to grow his hair, which he bundles up under an orange turban.

Nguyen Van Chien, 92, sits for a portrait to show his 5-meter long hair which according to him, has not been cut for nearly 80 years, at his home in Tien Giang province, Vietnam, August 21, 2020.
REUTERS/YEN DOUNG
He was required to trim it when at school, but left after third grade and decided never to cut, comb or wash it again.
“I remembered my hair was black, thick and strong. I combed it, untangled it to make it smooth. But when I heard the calling from the divine power, I knew immediately that I was chosen,” he said.
“I touched my hair and overnight it has became really hard. It has attached to my head and became a thing of its own.”
Chien follows a near-obsolete faith known as “Dua”, the coconut religion, named after its founder who claimed he survived only on coconuts to retain his vitality. Dua is banned in Vietnam and categorised as a false belief.
Chien’s fifth son, Luom, helps him to manage his giant locks.
He too believes in the connection between hair and mortality, having seen a man pass away after trying to re-attach his hair with string.
“These things look simple but they are sacred,” said 62-year-old Luom.
Kenya Insights allows guest blogging, if you want to be published on Kenya’s most authoritative and accurate blog, have an expose, news TIPS, story angles, human interest stories, drop us an email on [email protected] or via Telegram
-
News6 days ago
Plane Carrying Raila Odinga Becomes World’s Most Tracked Flight as Kenya Airways Honors Him With Special Call Sign ‘RAO001’
-
News2 weeks ago
Former Nairobi CEC Newton Munene Found Dead as Sonko Alleges Cartel Involvement
-
News6 days ago
I Used To Sleep Hungry, But Today I Employ The Same People Who Once Laughed At My Poverty
-
Investigations6 days ago
Kwale Sugar Faces Liquidation Guillotine as Supreme Court Slams Door on Last-Ditch Rescue Bid
-
Business19 hours ago
Safaricom’s Sh115 Trillion Data Breach Scandal: How Kenya’s Telecom Giant Sold Out 11.5 Million Customers
-
News4 days ago
Maurice Ogeta, Raila’s Bodyguard: The Shadow Who Became The Story
-
News1 week ago
Inside 17 Minutes: CCTV Footage Reveals Murdered State House Guard Was Well Known to The Killer
-
News2 weeks ago
Four Arrested In JKIA Cocaine Cartel Crackdown