Korean man missing after paddle-boarding on Ho Chi Minh City lake

The missing man was identified as K.H.S., 65, a South Korean national and director of a company based in Ngai Giao Commune, according to officials in Kim Long Commune, which covers part of Da Den Lake.

Initial information showed that on Friday morning, the man and a Vietnamese friend identified as T. drove to the lake and left their car near the shore.

The two then used stand-up paddleboards to cross to the opposite bank for sightseeing and taking photos.

After resting for a while, they began paddling back to their starting point, but T. later realized K.H.S. was no longer in sight and reported the incident to authorities.

Local authorities deployed nearly 100 personnel, including police, militia, and rescue teams, to search for the missing man, but no results had been reported as of Saturday morning.

Da Den Lake spans hundreds of hectares across Kim Long and Ngai Giao Communes and Tan Thanh Ward, and is a popular site for camping, fishing, swimming, and water sports.

Authorities said the lake's large area and deep water have been associated with several drowning incidents in the past.