Noi Bai Airport staff member Nguyen Thi Tam discovers a black bundle on a trolley on June 12.
The incident took place at around 11 pm on June 12 at Terminal 2 of Noi Bai Airport, when staff member Nguyen Thi Tam discovered a black bundle on a trolley.
Tam immediately alerted airport security. Upon inspection at the security office, the bundle was found to contain 100 banknotes of 50,000 won, totalling 5 million won (approximately USD 3,600).
At the same time, a South Korean passenger, Kim Hyuna, was checking in when she realised her money was missing. In a state of panic, she ran around the terminal searching for it.
Guided by airport security, Kim quickly arrived at the security office, where she was reunited with her money following standard procedures.
The money left by a South Korean passenger at Noi Bai Airport.
Visibly emotional, Kim expressed her deep gratitude to the airport staff before rushing back to the check-in counter to make her late-night flight to South Korea.
According to Noi Bai International Airport, Nguyen Thi Tam has worked on the luggage trolley team since 2003. She has returned many lost items in the past, but this was among the most valuable amounts she had ever handled.
"The money was left unattended on a trolley in a secluded corner. I can only imagine how frantic I’d be if I were the one who lost it. I’m glad it found its way back to the rightful owner," Tam said.