In a quiet village in Vietnam’s Quang Nam province lives 81-year-old farmer Thai Ngoc, a man whose story has baffled scientists and astonished people worldwide. Ngoc claims he has not slept—not even for a second—since 1962. His unusual condition began when he was 20, after recovering from a severe fever during the Vietnam War. While the fever passed, his ability to sleep never returned.
Despite this, Ngoc continues to live a remarkably active life. Every day, he tends to his farm, lifts heavy loads, makes rice wine, and chats with neighbours. In a world that sees sleep as vital for survival and mental health, his story challenges everything science tells us about human biology.
How It All Began
Ngoc recalls that his sleeplessness started after that high fever more than six decades ago. As per News18, he said, “I took medicines, tried home remedies, even drank alcohol to sleep, but nothing worked.” His family and neighbours back up his claim, saying they have never seen him sleep in all these years.
According to reports by News18, doctors have examined Ngoc several times but found no significant health issues. His blood pressure, heart, and brain all function normally. This confounds medical experts, as scientific research says humans cannot survive for more than a few days without sleep due to the body’s dependence on rest for memory, immunity, and cognitive function.
A Night with Drew Binsky
In 2023, American travel YouTuber Drew Binsky visited Ngoc’s home to experience his daily life. Spending the night with him, Binsky observed Ngoc constantly engaged in activity—tending to his fields, preparing rice wine, or sitting quietly but fully awake.
In his YouTube video, Binsky mentioned that Ngoc might occasionally get one or two hours of rest when consuming large amounts of alcohol, though this has never been medically confirmed. Still, what stood out to Binsky was Ngoc’s energy and contentment despite decades of sleeplessness.
Ngoc’s daily habits are both fascinating and concerning. According to Drew Binsky’s video, he consumes about half a litre of rice wine and smokes roughly 70 cigarettes a day. Yet he remains physically active, continuing to farm and carry out demanding work.
Locals say Ngoc spends his nights either working or thinking. Unlike others in the village who rest after dusk, he simply carries on, seemingly unaffected by fatigue. His resilience has made him something of a local legend and a global curiosity.
Ngoc’s story, which has gone viral on social media, has sparked a mix of awe, admiration, and empathy. Some online users praise his strength and productivity, joking that he has taken the phrase “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” to another level. Others see his condition as a tragic reminder of the lasting effects of war trauma, speculating that post-traumatic stress from the Vietnam War could be linked to his sleeplessness.
Despite this, Ngoc continues to live a remarkably active life. Every day, he tends to his farm, lifts heavy loads, makes rice wine, and chats with neighbours. In a world that sees sleep as vital for survival and mental health, his story challenges everything science tells us about human biology.
How It All Began
Ngoc recalls that his sleeplessness started after that high fever more than six decades ago. As per News18, he said, “I took medicines, tried home remedies, even drank alcohol to sleep, but nothing worked.” His family and neighbours back up his claim, saying they have never seen him sleep in all these years.
According to reports by News18, doctors have examined Ngoc several times but found no significant health issues. His blood pressure, heart, and brain all function normally. This confounds medical experts, as scientific research says humans cannot survive for more than a few days without sleep due to the body’s dependence on rest for memory, immunity, and cognitive function.
A Night with Drew Binsky
In 2023, American travel YouTuber Drew Binsky visited Ngoc’s home to experience his daily life. Spending the night with him, Binsky observed Ngoc constantly engaged in activity—tending to his fields, preparing rice wine, or sitting quietly but fully awake.
In his YouTube video, Binsky mentioned that Ngoc might occasionally get one or two hours of rest when consuming large amounts of alcohol, though this has never been medically confirmed. Still, what stood out to Binsky was Ngoc’s energy and contentment despite decades of sleeplessness.
Ngoc’s daily habits are both fascinating and concerning. According to Drew Binsky’s video, he consumes about half a litre of rice wine and smokes roughly 70 cigarettes a day. Yet he remains physically active, continuing to farm and carry out demanding work.
Locals say Ngoc spends his nights either working or thinking. Unlike others in the village who rest after dusk, he simply carries on, seemingly unaffected by fatigue. His resilience has made him something of a local legend and a global curiosity.
Ngoc’s story, which has gone viral on social media, has sparked a mix of awe, admiration, and empathy. Some online users praise his strength and productivity, joking that he has taken the phrase “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” to another level. Others see his condition as a tragic reminder of the lasting effects of war trauma, speculating that post-traumatic stress from the Vietnam War could be linked to his sleeplessness.
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