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On the morning of November 15th, representatives from the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam visited Mr. Tran Hoang Phuong's home in Phu Quoc, An Giang province, to express their gratitude and present him with a certificate of commendation for his commendable act of helping a lost Korean tourist.
The incident, which took place on the evening of November 2nd, 2025, quickly spread across South Korean media and social networks. Many South Koreans expressed their emotion at Mr. Phuong's enthusiastic help, as he did not hesitate to assist a stranger in need.
The incident began around 6 PM on November 2nd, when a South Korean tourist, along with his sister, frantically searched for their mother – a 70-year-old woman suffering from dementia who had suddenly disappeared while shopping at a nearby supermarket. In their confusion, they approached Mr. Tran Hoang Phuong's fruit shop in Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone (An Giang province) to ask for security camera footage.
The shop owner, Mr. Phuong, acted immediately. Within just 15 minutes of checking the security camera footage, he discovered an image of an elderly woman walking past his shop with a cane. Realizing the tourist was unfamiliar with the area, had no transportation, and was extremely worried, Mr. Phuong didn't hesitate. He posted a request for help on local social media groups and immediately took his son on his motorbike to search for her.
After more than an hour and a half of searching along the main roads, finally, thanks to community support and Mr. Phuong's perseverance, they found the elderly woman walking with a cane on the road, about 4 km from the shop. The reunion at Mr. Phuong's fruit shop brought immense emotion to the entire tourist family. This beautiful act was even more meaningful when Mr. Phuong frankly refused the $500 that the tourist offered as a token of gratitude.
KTO Vietnam presents gifts and a certificate of merit to Mr. Tran Hoang Phuong.
Immediately afterward, the incident quickly spread and attracted significant attention from the South Korean media. The major news agency Yonhap published details, quoting tourists recounting their emotions ranging from panic to emotion. Subsequently, other major television stations and newspapers such as JTBC News, SBS News, and Chosun Daily also reported on the event. Many South Koreans expressed deep emotion at the kindness and hospitality of the Vietnamese people.
To express their official gratitude, on the morning of November 15th, Ms. Park Eun Jung, Chief Representative of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam, personally visited Mr. Tran Hoang Phuong's home to present him with gifts and a certificate of merit, as a symbol of friendship and sincere thanks from Korea. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, was also present to commend Mr. Phuong. Prior to this, the local authorities had visited and presented him with a certificate of merit for this humane act.
Ms. Park Eun Jung, Chief Representative of KTO in Vietnam, shared: “We are deeply grateful for the noble gesture of Mr. Tran Hoang Phuong – a testament to the kindness and hospitality of the Vietnamese people. This meaningful story vividly portrays the close relationship between the people of the two countries, not only in tourism but also in daily life. Conversely, KTO will continue to strive to ensure that Vietnamese people visiting Korea also experience such joy and friendliness.”
Vietnam is currently one of the favorite destinations for South Korean tourists, and conversely, South Korea is also a top choice for Vietnamese tourists. KTO believes that humane actions like Mr. Phuong's are a sustainable foundation for promoting tourism and cultural relations between the two countries, contributing to building an image of two friendly, kind, and close-knit nations.
