Tourism authorities in HCM City on Wednesday presented a return air ticket to a Japanese visitor who had money recently stolen by a local cyclo driver.
In a Wednesday meeting with Le Thuc Anh, a daughter-in-law of the elderly visitor Oki Toshiyukich, vice director of the city's Tourism Department, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said that they wanted to thank him for his love for Vietnam.
"We heard through local media that Oki loves Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City so we gave him the air ticket as a way to express our gratitude," the official said. We also wanted to thank him because his voice helped us realise more clearly our situation and what we need to improve."
The HCM City tourism representative also said she hoped the elderly visitor would consider this an accident and still love Vietnam.
Vice director of Ho Chi Minh City's Tourism Department, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa (third from right) speaks at a meeting with Le Thuc Anh (second from right) who is the daughter of Japanese visitor, Oki Toshiyukich on August 7
Speaking at the meeting, the visitor's daughter-in-law who is Vietnamese said that they were surprised to receive the present.
"My father-in-law left Vietnam two days ago and we'll inform him about this," she said. "He said only shared his story to warn other visitors. Yesterday after the police informed that they detained the driver, we called him to asked whether he wanted to get compensation from the driver but he said no. He said it was his fault because he did not ask about the prices before the trip.
On August 3, Oki Toshiyuki, 83, shared with the Thanh Nien Newspaper that he called a cylo and travelled from Me Linh Square to Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel in District 1.
Oki Toshiyukich (left) besides his family on Nguyen Hue Street in HCM City
The ride took only about five minutes and the elderly visitor paid VND500,000 (USD22) to the driver. However, the driver asked for some more and while the visitor was opening his wallet for payment, the driver reached his wallet and took VND2.4 million (USD104) more and left.
Oki told the Thanh Nien Newspaper that he was to blame because he had not asked about the prices for the trip. He said he just felt sad.
The visitor shared that he came to HCM City some days ago with his daughter and two grandchildren to visit his youngest son who is living and working here. This was his fifth visit to Vietnam and he loved the country and Ho Chi Minh City very much.
Driver Nguyen Van Dung
The driver, Pham Van Dung, 49, admitted that he stole the money from the Japanese passenger on August 3. He also wrote a letter to say sorry to the passenger.
Police are further investigating the case.
