French tourist praised for carrying Vietnamese veteran to Lung Cu Flag Tower in northern Vietnam

Nguyen Viet Bac of Hagiang Trips told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that the photos were taken on July 25 during a trip by two French tourists to explore Ha Giang in Tuyen Quang Province.

After visiting and taking photos at the Lung Cu Flag Tower, the two tourists were walking down when they encountered a Vietnamese veteran holding a walking stick as he struggled to climb the stone steps.

Seeing that the veteran was having difficulty walking, one of the French tourists asked the tour guide to tell him that he wanted to carry the veteran the rest of the way to the flag tower.

“At that time, the two tourists were walking down while the veteran had climbed about two-thirds of the steps leading to the flag tower. Since the tourist did not speak Vietnamese, I spoke with the veteran, who agreed,” Bac said.

When they reached the flag tower, the veteran was delighted to see the panoramic view of Lung Cu below. He thanked and hugged the French tourist.

Although they did not speak the same language, their gesture showed that kindness could be understood without words.

The act also added to the two tourists’ excitement as they continued exploring Vietnam’s northernmost region.

“I was also very surprised by the tourist’s gesture, so I helped him and took out my phone to capture the beautiful moment,” Bac said.

“Not every good deed needs a camera. But sometimes, a moment is recorded not to show off, but to remind everyone that there is still a lot of kindness in life.

"And for us, accompanying guests who are willing to show such kindness is something we truly appreciate,” he said.

The incident took place on the second day of their trip. The group later continued to other destinations in Ha Giang, including the northernmost point of Vietnam and Ma Pi Leng Pass, before stopping in Du Gia.

Throughout the journey, the two French tourists repeatedly exclaimed “wow” at the spectacular scenery, particularly while traveling through Ma Pi Leng Pass.

The winding road, with a deep gorge on one side and steep cliffs on the other, left a lasting impression on them.

After the story was posted online, the tourist’s act received widespread praise from Vietnamese social media users.

“Thank you for helping the veteran. This is such a beautiful and heartwarming image. I hope you have a wonderful trip and many beautiful memories in Vietnam,” one reader commented.