French Tourists Return $770 Left at Vietnam ATM by Delivery Worker

Two French tourists returned VND20 million (US$770) to a delivery worker in Hoi An after finding the cash he had accidentally left at an ATM, bringing the money back to him just a few hours after he realised it was missing. Tuoi tre news

Nguyen Ngoc Thinh, a shipping worker based in Dien Ban Ward, had stopped at an ATM on Hai Ba Trung Street at around 7:30pm on Tuesday to deposit money he had collected for his company during the day.

He placed the cash in the ATM tray but left without completing the transaction. He only realised what had happened after returning home.

Worker searches for the missing money

Thinh said the VND20 million was a large amount for him and that he became extremely worried after discovering it was gone.

Security camera footage later showed two French tourists arriving at the ATM with a Vietnamese tour guide shortly after Thinh had left.

Thinh posted the footage on social media in an attempt to identify the visitors.

An employee at a Hoi An spa eventually contacted him and provided the name and phone number of the tour guide accompanying the tourists.

Tourists return the full amount

At around 10pm, the guide helped Thinh contact the tourists at their hotel.

The two French visitors returned the entire VND20 million. They reportedly said they had been confused about where the money had come from after finding it at the ATM.

Thinh expressed his thanks after receiving the money back and praised the tourists for returning it.

The incident ended only a few hours after the cash had been left behind, with the delivery worker recovering the full amount.

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

The incident is a reminder for tourists using ATMs in Vietnam to check that their transaction has been completed before leaving the machine.

If you find cash or another valuable item at an ATM, handing it to the bank or trying to identify the owner can help return it safely. Tuoi tre news

17.09.2026