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VietNamNet Bridge - Binh Thuan authorities have decided to put an end to the search for 4,000 tons of gold at Mount Tau, after granting several extensions to Tran Van Tiep, 101, to look for the gold, according to the man’s family.
Mr. Tran Van Tiep (left).
Tiep was also asked to level the ground to resume the original state of Mount Tau where the gold is supposedly located.
The decision officially ended the 20-year search for the treasure.
The decision was made based on reports of local agencies, which said that there were no traces of the treasure, although modern exploration methods had been used.
From 1993 to October 2011, Tiep and his co-workers organized explorations on the mount, investing millions of US dollars in the search.
Tiep strongly believed in stories about 4,000 tonnes of gold buried on the mountain by a Japanese general in World War 2.
On October 10, 2011 Binh Thuan province approved Tiep’s nine-month exploration plan, from October 10, 2011 to October 7, 2012.
Tiep deposited VND500 million ($25,000) into the State Treasury of Binh Thuan to prepare for the leveling of the ground after the search.
Tiep also invited a telepath to locate the point of drilling. At the same time, he hired a geologist from Hanoi to use electromagnetic radiation meters to explore the mountain.
After the licence expired, Binh Thuan province extended the search to June 30, 2013.
After the third time, the search was extended until December 14, 2014. Tiep used mines for the exploration, with 1.889kg of explosives.
Tiep’s family asked for another extension but the authorities of Binh Thuan confirmed that was no treasure and refused to grant another extension.
Photos of the search:
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Mr. Le Van Hien (left) - former Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee Secretary, who worked closely with Mr. Tiep for dozens of years to find gold in the Tau Mount. The photo in 1993
The 10,000 yen banknote that Mr. Tiep believed to be left in the Tau Mount by the Japanese when they buried the treasure here.
Mr. Tiep and a scientist from Hanoi held metal detectors on the Tau Mountain, 1991.
The Japanese sword that Tiep believed to be the undeniable proof of the presence of Japanese in Tau Mountain.
A generator used in The Tau Mountain, 2009
Exploration in the Tau Mountain, 2010.
A corner of the exploratory area on the Tau Mountain.
Tiep and his son, Tran Phuong Hong, in the Tau Mountain, 2009.
Tiep and a Thanh Nien Newspaper's reporter in Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan, 2014.
Tiep showed the reporter all documents and evidences relating to the gold treasure in the Tau Mount at his house in Ho Chi Minh City, 2008.
Tiep and his son surveyed Tau Mount in 2010.
Tiep’s son Tran Phuong Hong was his father's driver.
Workers' camp on Tau Mount.
Tiep spent millions of USD for the search but for decades, he used this jeep to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Tau Mountain.
Tiep was born in 1915. |
Le Ha
Photo: Thanh Nien
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