Australian tourist reunited with lost diamond ring on Hoi An beach thanks to local officers

THE HANOI TIMES — Lein Riches, an Australian visitor, posted a desperate plea on a social media group for expats in Vietnam on July 31. His daughter had lost her diamond engagement ring while playing on Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An. 

The ring, valued at over US$2,000, held immense sentimental value, making its loss a devastating blow to the family’s vacation. Despite hours of searching under the scorching sun, Riches was on the verge of giving up hope.

The call for assistance reached Phan Thanh Trinh, a 41-year-old officer from the Management Board of Son Tra Peninsula and Danang’s Tourist Beaches. Driven by a desire to help, Trinh and his colleague, Pham Nhu Dong, volunteered to help, free of charge.

Armed with a specialized metal detector, the duo set out on a 30-kilometer journey from central Danang and reached Cua Dai Beach on August 1. However, the search was no easy feat. The family could not pinpoint the exact location where the ring was lost, and the vast beach, altered by tides overnight, posed a significant challenge.

Trinh found Riches's ring buried deep in the sand near the water’s edge after hours of searching. Video: Phinh Thanh Trang/Facebook

Undeterred, Trinh and Dong meticulously combed through the sand, from the shoreline to deeper inland areas, under the blazing summer heat.

After hours of persistent efforts, theirhard work paid off when the metal detector signaled the ring’s location, buried deep beneath the sand near the water’s edge.

The moment the ring was recovered was nothing short of magical. Riches, overwhelmed with emotion, burst into tears and immediately called his family to share the joyous news. He offered Trinh and Dong a reward for their efforts, but both men humbly declined, accepting only heartfelt hugs and tears of gratitude.

For Riches, the experience was transformative. In a heartfelt Facebook post, he described Trinh and Dong as “heroes” who turned despair into a  moment of triumph.

“This country and its people are just wonderful. Thank you, Phinh Thanh Trang (Trinh's Facebook name). Thank you Vietnam,” the Australian father wrote, expressing gratitude not only to the duo but to the nation as a whole for making his family’s trip unforgettable.

This act of kindness is no anomaly for Trinh, who has assisted numerous tourists in recovering lost items. Just on July 26, he helped retrieve two iPhones swept away by waves at My Khe Beach. 

His passion for using metal detectors, inspired by childhood adventures scavenging for scrap metal in his hometown, has turned into a mission to spread positivity and goodwill.

The story has resonated widely, reinforcing Danang’s reputation as a destination where natural beauty is matched by the compassion of its people. As Trinh humbly said: "Helping others brings me joy. It keeps me young at heart."

For Riches and his family, the experience turned a holiday mishap into an unforgettable testament to Vietnamese hospitality.