Residents in an alley on Tran Xuan Soan Street gasped when they saw the head of a man lying on the ground Sunday afternoon. The rest of his body was found not too far away.

The alleged murderer held a sword-like weapon, barricading himself inside a house near the scene.

Dozens of police officers later showed up, and the man was apprehended about an hour later. He was not entirely conscious, but quick drug and alcohol tests all returned negative.

The suspect has been identified as Tran Huy, 34, the victim's neighbor.

Huy said he and the victim had quarrelled due to a small conflict, that he had stabbed the victim many times before beheading the latter, according to the police.

"He seemed confused, saying he did not know why he had acted like that," a source from the police said.

The decapitated man is a 45-year-old husband and father of two children. He rented a place to run a convenient store and raised a flock of chicken on a nearby plot of land.