Vietnam assists US search for missing American man last seen in Da Nang

The administration of Dak Bla Ward in Quang Ngai on Saturday issued a notice asking local agencies, neighborhood groups, and residents to assist in locating Gabriel Elias Jones, a 47-year-old American reported missing at the request of relevant authorities.

According to the notice, the Quang Ngai Department of External Relations on May 5 sent a document requesting local authorities to support the search for Jones, who was born on September 16, 1979.

The request followed an appeal from the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

The consulate general said Jones arrived in Vietnam in 2025 and had previously lived in Da Nang, which borders Quang Ngai to the south.

He last contacted his family on November 13, 2025, after which all communication ceased.

Jones’ family said he showed signs of unusual behavioral changes while staying in Da Nang and may have experienced mental health-related issues requiring support.

The consulate general asked Vietnamese authorities to help verify his condition and determine his whereabouts in several localities, including Quang Ngai.

The Dak Bla administration has directed local police units and neighborhood groups to review information in the area and report any relevant findings to the authorities.

After the search notice was issued, several residents reported seeing a foreign man riding a motorcycle with a Da Nang license plate and sitting near the embankment of the Dak Bla River in Quang Ngai on March 15.