A Vietnamese volunteer (L) from Da Nang, central Vietnam, poses for a photo with a Portuguese couple in Phu Quoc, southern Vietnam, as he returns their wedding ring, which they had lost at sea. Photo: Facebook
After two days of searching for a wedding ring lost in the waters off My Khe Beach in Da Nang City, located in central Vietnam, Phan Thanh Trinh, 42, a volunteer who helps tourists recover lost belongings, travelled to Phu Quoc Special Zone, southern Vietnam, to personally return the ring to the newlyweds on Thursday.
One of the Portuguese shared a heartfelt post on his personal Facebook page, thanking Trinh for his extraordinary kindness and generosity.
The foreign tourist lost the ring at sea on Monday.
“Three weeks ago, Mariana and I got married, and we are currently on our honeymoon in Vietnam,” read the post.
They were absolutely loving the trip until they had the misfortune of losing the wedding ring on My Khe Beach in Da Nang.
Phan Thanh Trinh's returning the ring to the tourists in this video posted on his personal Facebook account.
The tourist shared that they spent two hours searching for the ring in the water, but with no success.
The waves were quite strong, and they were standing in water about 1.30 meters deep.
They eventually gave up searching and started asking for help.
“We approached everyone we could, from beach workers to surfers.
“One of them knew a man named Phan Thanh Trinh, who is known on that beach for voluntarily finding lost items using his own equipment.”
Trinh came down to the beach, asked them to point out the exact spot where they had lost the ring.
Due to the strong waves and high tides, he told them that he would return the following day at 10:00 am for searching, with his metal detector and all the necessary equipment.
“We asked him how much he would charge for his service, and he told us it would be completely free of charge.
“He gave us a little hope that finding the ring might still be possible.”
As planned, the couple had to fly to Phu Quoc, an island more than 1,000 kilometers away from Da Nang.
After two days of searching, the Vietnamese man found the ring on Wednesday.
He contacted the Portuguese on a video call, and showed them the ring.
A still image taken from a clip posted on Facebook by Phan Thanh Trinh shows Trinh handing the wedding ring to the Portuguese couple in Phu Quoc Special Zone, southern Vietnam.
“The only thing left to figure out was how he would get the ring back to us, given the enormous distance between us.”
Fortunately, Trinh was willing to fly to Phu Quoc on Thursday morning and return to Da Nang in the afternoon to bring them their ring.
“We were more than happy to pay for his return flights.
“We also took the opportunity to visit Sunset Town with him, and we had a fantastic lunch together, sharing stories and learning about each other's cultures.”
The tourist shared that he doesn't usually make posts like that, but the man truly deserves special recognition.
“His dedication and perseverance are worthy of the highest praise.
“We find it hard to believe that many people would do what he did for us, and what he continues to do for all the tourists and locals who need his help, expecting absolutely nothing in return.”
The foreigner wrote that he also has to admit that he doesn't always believe in the goodness of people as much as he should.
However, the Vietnamese man has made him and his spouse believe that humanity can transcend any culture or country.
“That friendship can be born out of a loss, and that personal fulfilment doesn't always come from a job, a house, or money.
“Sometimes, it comes from seeing the happiness on another person's face, even when that person is a complete stranger.”
The post attracted numerous congratulatory messages and expressions of admiration.
Many Facebook users praised the heartwarming story and the happy ending to the couple's ordeal.
The Portuguese couple poses a photo with their ring. Photo: Facebook
In late July last year, Trinh also helped an Australian tourist recover belongings lost at a beach in Da Nang, local media reported.
For the past 15 years, he has volunteered his time to help tourists and local residents find lost items along Da Nang's beaches, spreading kindness in a city widely regarded as one of Vietnam's most liveable destinations.
As a member of the Da Nang beach tourism order management team, he maintains security and public order on the beaches, as well as joins search-and-rescue efforts in emergencies.
During peak tourist seasons, he and his colleagues frequently work overtime to assist visitors who have lost their children, misplaced their belongings or encountered other difficulties.
Driven by his interest in exploring the underwater world, Trinh bought a metal detector.
The device has since become an indispensable tool in his efforts to recover lost possessions.
Over the years, he has helped numerous beachgoers retrieve items they accidentally dropped into the sea, including rings, necklaces and smartphones.
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