Volunteers Recover Lost Gold From Huong River Drama

On a chilly January night in Hue, Vietnam, a story unfolded along the banks of the famed Huong River that would grip the city and send ripples across social media. It wasn’t a tale of crime or calamity, but rather one of unexpected loss, community spirit, and the quiet heroism of volunteers. By noon on January 20, 2026, the city’s Team 0 Dong - SOS75 Hue had completed a dramatic search and recovery operation, returning two pieces of precious gold lost to the river’s depths to their rightful owner.

The saga began on the evening of January 19, 2026, when a local woman and her husband took a leisurely stroll on the Lim wooden pedestrian bridge, a well-known spot in Thuan Hoa ward, Hue city. According to Bao CAND and Dan Tri, the couple’s outing took a nerve-wracking turn when, by a stroke of misfortune, two pieces of SJC and Thuy Sy gold—worth over 300 million VND (about $12,000 USD)—slipped from their possession and plummeted into the dark waters of the Huong River below.

News of the incident spread quickly. By nightfall, social media in Hue was abuzz with posts and photos about the loss, with many online commentators expressing skepticism about the veracity of the story. Was it really possible, people wondered, for someone to drop such a treasure into the river? But for the woman and her family, the loss was all too real—and the clock was ticking.

Enter Team 0 Dong - SOS75 Hue, a local volunteer group renowned for their tireless community service. As reported by Bao CAND and Tuoi Tre, the team wasted no time after being notified. They arrived at the scene armed with specialized diving equipment and air tanks, ready to brave the cold, murky waters despite the late hour. Their mission: recover the lost gold and restore hope to a distraught citizen.

The search was anything but easy. According to Dan Tri, the divers—professional volunteers from the team—plunged into the river under the cover of darkness, using their equipment to scour the riverbed. After a tense and methodical search, they surfaced with one piece of gold, which was promptly handed back to the grateful owner that very night. However, the second piece remained elusive, and the team faced an unexpected setback: their oxygen tanks were depleted, and a malfunction in their pump forced them to temporarily halt operations.

Undeterred, the volunteers regrouped at dawn. On the morning of January 20, 2026, Team SOS75 Hue returned to the scene, this time equipped with underwater cameras to aid their search. As the sun climbed higher, the pressure mounted—not just from the anxious family, but from the growing crowd of onlookers and the wider online community, all eager for updates on this unusual rescue mission.

After more than an hour of careful diving and scanning the riverbed, the team’s perseverance paid off. At 11:30 AM, they triumphantly surfaced with the second piece of gold in hand. According to Dan Tri, the recovery was met with cheers and relief from those gathered nearby. By noon, both pieces of gold had been safely returned to the owner, a local woman—dispelling earlier rumors that the victim was a tourist.

Throughout the ordeal, Team 0 Dong - SOS75 Hue demonstrated the kind of selflessness and professionalism that has made them a pillar of the local community. As detailed by Bao CAND, the group is no stranger to acts of service. Their members regularly engage in a wide range of volunteer activities, from providing free patient transport across several provinces, to conducting rescue operations on rivers, streams, and even the sea. They’ve been known to rescue stranded motorbikes at night, offer medical examinations for disadvantaged people, assist with disaster and traffic accident relief, and even run humble bakery shops selling bread for just 1,000 VND.

The gold recovery operation was just one example of the team’s commitment to helping others, often at personal risk and with little fanfare. The group’s leader, Nguyen Ngoc Nhat Hoang, expressed pride in his team’s efforts, stating, "Our members always try our best to support people in need, regardless of the time or the challenges we face." (Bao CAND)

The incident also highlighted the unique way Hue’s community comes together in moments of crisis. As noted by Bao CAND and Dan Tri, this wasn’t the first time locals had rallied to help someone recover lost valuables along the Huong River. In July 2025, after reports surfaced of a foreign tourist couple losing a necklace at 3 Thang 2 Park in Thuan Hoa ward, residents flocked to the park, searching with flashlights and combing the grass in hopes of assisting the visitors.

The rapid spread of information—and speculation—on social media played a double-edged role in the gold recovery story. On one hand, it mobilized public attention and may have helped speed up the response from volunteers. On the other, it fueled skepticism and debate about whether the story was genuine. But as the facts emerged and the gold was returned, any doubts were put to rest. Photos of the recovered gold and the beaming owner circulated widely, serving as tangible proof of the team’s success and the community’s capacity for empathy.

For the woman who lost the gold, the ordeal ended with a mix of relief and gratitude. The quick action and determination of Team 0 Dong - SOS75 Hue not only restored her lost property but also reaffirmed the city’s reputation for solidarity and kindness. As the story faded from headlines and social feeds, it left behind a powerful reminder: even in moments of unexpected misfortune, the spirit of community can shine brightest.

In a city where the Huong River has witnessed centuries of history, this January’s gold recovery may not seem like a grand event. But for everyone involved—from the divers braving the cold, to the bystanders cheering on the riverbank—it was a testament to the best of Hue: resilience, generosity, and a willingness to help, no matter how deep the challenge.