In early August, Trinh, a member of Working Group No.2 of the Da Nang Beach Tourism Order Management Team, suddenly gained wide attention after assisting an Australian tourist who had lost an engagement ring on Cua Dai Beach. The story, quickly spread across foreign tourists’ forums in Vietnam, earned him praise as a “hero” and cast Da Nang in a glowing light among foreign visitors.
The city’s Son Tra Peninsula and Tourist Beaches Management Board honored him for the deed. But to Trinh, this was only one of the countless times he has helped tourists recover their belongings in the 14 years he has served in this role. He no longer remembers how many people he has supported. The man only knows he has never once accepted money in return.
Trinh’s official job is to maintain security and order along Da Nang’s beaches, coordinating rescue efforts during emergencies. During peak tourism season, he and his colleagues often work overtime to assist with lost children, missing belongings, or unexpected incidents. Despite the long hours and lack of overtime pay, their guiding principle is as simple as “As long as tourists are still here, we keep working.”
One summer evening event illustrated this spirit vividly. Just as he was preparing to go home after his shift, Trinh noticed a young woman crying on the beach near Nguyen Van Thoai Street. She had dropped her phone in the sand during a team-building activity. Others had searched since the afternoon but eventually gave up, leaving her alone, desperately digging.
Trinh hurried home to fetch his metal detector. Because the phone battery was dead and the woman could not recall the exact spot, the search lasted nearly two hours. When he finally handed her the phone, it was already past midnight.
On another occasion, even while his family was holding a funeral for his nephew, he set aside personal grief to search for a lost phone on the beach, fearing that “someone dishonest might find it first.”
In 2022, while scanning underwater, he found a phone and wallet belonging to a Vietnamese tourist who had already given up hope. The owner was stunned when the items were returned.
Four years ago, he repaired a motorbike for a U.S. visitor, Britt Traynham, with his own money. When Traynham offered to pay, even just for the parts, Trinh refused. The two stayed in touch, and Traynham later wrote on social media, “He said he didn’t need anything, just my happiness. This city is truly beautiful and friendly.”
Unable to recall every case, Trinh often documents them on his personal page, turning it into a diary filled with photos of grateful tourists.
According to the man, finding lost items is never easy. Trinh must estimate the likely location based on time, place, and tide conditions. Searches can take hours or even a full day. Out of passion, he invested tens of millions of VND in a metal detector, which has since become his essential tool.
The items he has returned include gold necklaces worth nearly VND 100 million, phones, and engagement rings. Many foreign visitors have tried to give him USD 50–100, while Vietnamese guests often offered cash as well. He always declines.
“I’m proud to be from Da Nang. If I take money, people may forget. If I take nothing, they will remember for a long time and share the story,” said Trinh.
For him, the true reward is the joy on tourists’ faces when they are reunited with their belongings. He believes these small acts of kindness are the best way to promote Da Nang.
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Traynham and Trinh in a joint photo |
Nguyen Hong Van, head of the Tourism Order Management Team, praised Trinh as a role model. “Looking at Trinh, visitors can understand the spirit of our team. Every newcomer is told that each person is a small brick building the face of Da Nang tourism,” said Van.
Through his tireless dedication, Trinh has become more than just a beach security staff. Every lost item found and every smile he restores embody the warmth and generosity that define Da Nang as a welcoming city.
Translated by Tran Hoai