Bạch Hải Đường (1950–1983), whose real name was Nguyễn Ngọc Truyện, was known as the phantom thief (Vietnamese: siêu trộm) in southern Vietnam from 1970 to 1982.
Bạch Hải Đường was believed to have never killed anyone and that he had only actually used his gun once in a gold robbery, which was also the reason the police started to use lethal force on him.
[1] Captain Nguyễn Văn Triệu, Deputy Commander of Long Xuyên Town Police Forces, issued an arrest warrant for Nguyễn Ngọc Truyện under the name Bạch Hải Đường (literally means "White Malus"), calling him "general of robbers" (Vietnamese: tướng cướp).
Triệu was even awarded with the "Third Class Hero" medal (huân chương "Anh dũng hạng Ba") by Brigadier General Trần Văn Hai.
Two days later, wanted posters were issued, stating that "Nguyễn Ngọc Truyện aka Bạch Hải Đường is a particularly dangerous robber who has committed many crimes and harmed the security of the National Government."
A wife of Bạch Hải Đường's friend said that he had a gentle manner and a gander face, he spoke politely and knew how to behave in front of his elders.
[8] Some described Bạch Hải Đường as "a gallant giang hồ" who "robbed the rich to give to the poor",[1][3] while others believed he was just "a petty thief" that Captain Triệu couldn't catch and the story about "general of robbers" was created to prevent humiliation.