An elderly foreign tourist was relieved when a local photographer waded into a lake at Hue Imperial City to retrieve his dropped phone, earning praise for his kindness and hospitality.
A heartwarming story about a photographer in Hue, central Vietnam, helping a foreign tourist retrieve a mobile phone from a lake at the Imperial City went viral on social media on October 20.
The photographer's act of kindness drew widespread praise, highlighting the friendliness and hospitality of people in Vietnam's former imperial capital.
Bui Ngoc Vinh, head of the Hue Heritage Photography Team, told VietNamNet that he was the person who shared the incident on social media.
Photographer Nguyen Duc Anh Dang retrieves a foreign tourist's mobile phone after searching Kim Thuy Lake at Hue Imperial City. Photo: Ngoc Vinh
According to Vinh, shortly after 8 a.m. on October 20, a group of international tourists arrived to explore the Hue Imperial City.
While stopping to take photographs near Ngo Mon Gate, an elderly male tourist accidentally dropped his mobile phone into Kim Thuy Lake.
The unexpected incident left the visitor distressed. He even considered jumping into the lake to retrieve the device himself.
The entire tour group had to stop while their guide searched for a way to handle the situation.
"The tourist was extremely worried and wanted to jump into the lake to find his phone. I asked the tour guide to reassure him and explain that our photography team would help retrieve it," Vinh recalled.
Nguyen Duc Anh Dang, a young member of the photography team, immediately volunteered to help.
Without hesitation, he waded into the lake and began searching through the murky water.
After more than five minutes of carefully feeling around underwater, Dang finally located the missing phone.
The moment he recovered the device, the tourist and other members of the group burst into applause.
The earlier tension quickly gave way to excitement and relief, while members of the photography team were equally delighted to have helped the visitor recover his belongings.
"We were all happy to see the tourist get back something so important to him. For us, helping visitors is one way to contribute to the positive image of Hue and its people," Vinh said.
He added that the phone was water-resistant and had not been damaged.
The foreign tourist expresses his joy and relief after getting back his lost phone. Photo: Ngoc Vinh
Dang said he entered the lake as soon as he learned that the tourist needed assistance, hoping to recover the phone as quickly as possible.
After receiving his device, the visitor repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
"I felt it was simply the right thing to do. These visitors have traveled from distant countries, so when they encounter difficulties, we should help them," Dang said. "Even a small gesture like this can contribute to promoting tourism and leaving visitors with a positive impression."
According to Vinh, the Hue Heritage Photography Team has more than 15 members.
During their work at the heritage site, team members have assisted tourists facing various unexpected difficulties on numerous occasions.
Such gestures, he said, help create lasting positive impressions among visitors exploring Hue's historic monuments.
"We always hope that tourists visiting Hue will not only enjoy its beautiful historical sites and scenery but also experience the warmth, sincerity and hospitality of local people," Vinh said.
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