Hundreds of people mobilized to search for missing Kuwaiti in Vietnam’s Sa Pa

An official from Sa Pa Ward told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper on Friday that a large-scale search operation was underway to find the missing 51-year-old man, identified as Khalid A., a Kuwaiti national.

According to initial information, the foreigner checked into Green Sapa Homestay on November 5 and was scheduled to stay until November 20.

His health appeared normal during his stay.

At around 10:00 am on November 7, he asked the homestay to arrange a motorbike rental and subsequently left the accommodation on the vehicle.

On the evening of November 10, police in the ward received a request for assistance from staff at the Kuwaiti Embassy after the tourist’s family had been unable to contact him for several days.

Following the report, police verified information with the accommodation provider, establishing the man’s identity, registration details, physical characteristics, the vehicle he was using and the time he had left the premises.

Sa Pa police subsequently reported the case to provincial police leadership and requested assistance from relevant investigative units and police in neighboring communes and wards.

Authorities were instructed to review his possible travel routes, check accommodation records, and examine locations he might have visited.

Police also circulated missing-person information on social media, appealing to local residents, tourists, accommodation providers, and tourism businesses to help locate him.

On Thursday evening, officers found the motorbike the foreigner had been riding in the O Quy Ho area.

Sa Pa’s civil defense command convened a meeting on Friday morning to coordinate and deploy search teams.

Participants assessed the situation and identified key areas for the operation, particularly Thac Bac Lake and neighboring areas bordering Ngu Chi Son Commune.

Following the meeting, some 250 people were mobilized to search locations where the tourist was suspected to have gone missing, including the Sin Chai and Thac Bac areas.

According to Sa Pa police, the tourist is approximately 1.7 meters tall and has a slim build.

When he left the homestay, he was wearing a brown-orange, long-sleeved top extending to his thighs, grey trousers and a blue helmet with a visor.

He was also frequently seen carrying a smoking pipe.

The motorbike he had rented was a red-and-black Yamaha PG-1.

The vehicle has since been recovered.

Sa Pa police have urged accommodation establishments, restaurants, tourist attractions, local residents, and visitors to assist with the search and provide any information that could help establish the missing man’s whereabouts.