In the quiet highlands of Vietnam’s Đắk Lắk province, a community is mourning the tragic loss of a young student whose disappearance and subsequent death have shaken both her school and local residents. The story of N.H.V.A., a 17-year-old 12th-grade student at Lê Quý Đôn High School, has gripped the region since her sudden disappearance on October 24, 2025, and the heartbreaking discovery of her body two days later beneath the waters of the Serepok River.
According to reports from Dân trí, the sequence of events began when N.H.V.A. left her home on the morning of October 24, riding her electric motorbike as she usually did. However, as the day wore on, her family became increasingly alarmed when they were unable to contact her. Calls went unanswered, and messages were met with silence. The sense of dread grew when, by the following day, October 25, her electric motorbike was found abandoned near Bridge 14—a crossing over the Serepok River in Hòa Phú commune, Đắk Lắk province, bordering Lâm Đồng province.
The discovery of the motorbike, left unattended in such a location, immediately raised fears among her loved ones. Suspecting that something terrible had happened, N.H.V.A.’s family reached out for help. They alerted both the school administration and the local authorities, setting in motion a large-scale search and rescue operation. The firefighting and rescue police departments of both Đắk Lắk and Lâm Đồng provinces quickly mobilized their personnel and equipment, scouring the area for any sign of the missing student.
As Pháp Luật Online reported, the authorities suspected that N.H.V.A. may have jumped from Bridge 14, a theory that, while unconfirmed at the time, guided the search efforts. The river beneath the bridge is known for its strong currents and treacherous waters, making the search both urgent and perilous. Rescue teams, equipped with boats and specialized gear, worked tirelessly, combing the riverbanks and probing the depths of the Serepok River.
The search continued into the morning of October 26, 2025. At approximately 10:40 AM, rescue teams made a grim discovery: the body of N.H.V.A. was found submerged in the river, about three kilometers downstream from Bridge 14. The retrieval of her body marked the end of nearly two days of desperate searching by authorities, family, and community members alike.
As detailed by Tuổi Trẻ, the body was carefully recovered and handed over to her grieving family so that funeral arrangements could be made. The leadership and teachers of Lê Quý Đôn High School, where N.H.V.A. had been a student, promptly visited her family to offer their condolences and support during this unimaginably difficult time. The school community, shaken by the loss of one of its own, rallied around the victim’s family, providing both emotional and practical assistance.
The incident has left many questions lingering in the air. While authorities have not released a definitive conclusion regarding the circumstances leading to N.H.V.A.’s death, the prevailing suspicion, as reported by multiple outlets, is that she may have jumped from Bridge 14. The reason behind this suspected act remains unclear, and the lack of concrete answers has only deepened the sorrow felt by those who knew her.
“We received the report from the family and immediately coordinated with rescue teams from both Đắk Lắk and Lâm Đồng provinces to search for the missing student,” a leader from the Firefighting and Rescue Police Department of Lâm Đồng told Pháp Luật Online. The official emphasized the urgency and complexity of the operation, which required significant manpower and resources due to the challenging terrain and river conditions.
For the family of N.H.V.A., the past few days have been a blur of anxiety, hope, and ultimately, heartbreak. The suddenness of her disappearance and the tragic outcome have left them—and the wider community—grappling with grief. The outpouring of support from teachers, classmates, and neighbors has been a small comfort in the face of such an immense loss.
Stories like N.H.V.A.’s are, unfortunately, not unheard of in Vietnam and elsewhere. The pressures faced by high school students, especially those in their final year, can be immense. Academic expectations, social challenges, and personal struggles can weigh heavily on young shoulders. While there is no direct evidence linking N.H.V.A.’s death to any specific cause, the tragedy has sparked conversations within the local community about the importance of mental health support and open communication between students, families, and schools.
The case has also highlighted the effectiveness—and limitations—of local emergency response systems. The rapid mobilization of police and rescue forces from two provinces demonstrates the commitment of Vietnamese authorities to respond swiftly in crisis situations. Yet, as this incident painfully illustrates, not every story has a hopeful ending, despite the best efforts of all involved.
In the aftermath, Lê Quý Đôn High School has taken steps to support its students and staff, offering counseling and encouraging open dialogue about loss and coping. The school’s principal, speaking to Dân trí, noted the importance of community solidarity in times of tragedy, stating, “We are doing everything we can to support the family and our students as they process this loss.”
The broader community, too, has come together to mourn and reflect. Local officials and residents have expressed their condolences and called for greater attention to the well-being of young people. Parents are being urged to check in regularly with their children and to seek help if they notice signs of distress.
As the region lays N.H.V.A. to rest, her story serves as a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the need for compassion and vigilance within families, schools, and society at large. While the pain of her loss will linger, the hope among those left behind is that her memory will inspire greater care and connection for others who may be struggling in silence.
In the end, the tragedy on the banks of the Serepok River has left an indelible mark on Đắk Lắk province—a poignant call for empathy, awareness, and action in support of the region’s youth.
