Sanitation worker publicly hailed for returning $4,700 lost cash in Da Lat
Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 18:41 GMT+7
The People’s Committee of Da Lat City in Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region, held a public commendation ceremony on Monday to honor a sanitation worker who found and returned a backpack containing US$4,700 to a tourist.
According to police in Ward 1 of Da Lat City, Vu Thi Thu, a sanitation worker of Da Lat Urban Service JSC, was cleaning Nguyen Van Cu Street at 9:00 pm on October 11, when she discovered a black backpack near a tree on the sidewalk.
She then asked a coworker, Khieu Nu Thi Thanh Chuc, to help her turn it in to the local police station.
The backpack contained a Dell laptop and $4,700 in cash.
Police officers returned the cash and laptop to its owner, Vo Thanh Vuong, on the same day.
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| Tran Thi Vu Loan (L), deputy chairwoman of the Da Lat City People’s Committee in Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands region, awards Vu Thi Thu a certificate of commendation, October 16, 2023. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre |
Tran Thi Vu Loan, deputy chairwoman of the Da Lat People’s Committee, said that city officials were moved by Thu’s honesty and decided to hold a commendation ceremony on the street where she works.
“Thu has worked as a sanitation worker for nearly 30 years,” said Loan.
“She chose to return the money much higher than what she can earn in a month, which was a beautiful and inspirational action, deserving respect.
“Thu’s beautiful gesture inspires the people of this city to build an elegant, gentle, and hospitable Da Lat.”
Loan revealed that afterward, Vuong tried to offer Thu a sum of money as a thank you, but she turned it down.
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| Colleagues at Da Lat Urban Service JSC share in the joy with Vu Thi Thu (R, 2nd) during a commendation ceremony in Da Lat City of Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands region, October 16, 2023. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre |
The sanitation worker said the money she found belongs rightfully to Vuong and she had no reason to take any money or gifts from him, even in gratitude.
“I just found a lost item and turned it in,” Thu explained.
“Then I had to return to work, I did not know what was in the bag, and I did not think much of it.
“All this attention makes me feel happy and acknowledged, as well as assured that I have made the right decision.”
Thu told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that her 80-year-old mom was even happier than her when she knew that Thu made the headlines for her honorable gesture.
“I don’t know how, but when she found out, she called me over and told me ‘Good job my daughter,' and it was enough for me,” Thu said.
Thu’s family has been going through hard times after her child had a heart surgery two years ago.
They have yet to pay off the VND100 million ($4,081) debt incurred to cover surgery fees.
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