As one of Vietnam’s busiest airports, Noi Bai handles hundreds of thousands of passengers and nearly 600 flights daily during peak travel periods. With such high traffic, incidents of travelers forgetting valuable belongings are not uncommon.

According to representatives of Noi Bai International Airport, there have been multiple cases in which travelers left behind bags and wallets containing hundreds of millions - or even billions - of dong.

One such incident occurred on February 13, 2023. While on duty at the domestic terminal, Nguyen Duc Tue, a member of the airport’s Terminal 1 security team, spotted a black Tommy Hilfiger bag left unattended on the floor near baggage carousel No. 2 in the restricted arrival area, Terminal 1B.

He immediately reported the situation to the shift supervisor. The bag was checked for explosives and scanned via security protocols, and an inspection report was filed according to standard procedures.

Inside, officials found 2,390 banknotes, each with a denomination of VND 500,000 - totaling VND 1.195 billion (approximately USD 49,000) - along with several personal items.

About an hour later, a passenger contacted the airport and was assisted in recovering the lost property. The owner was identified as Tran Van A., who had flown on flight VN158 from Da Nang to Hanoi the same day.

According to Mr. A., at 10:22 AM after his flight landed, he and his family waited at baggage carousel No. 2 to collect checked luggage. During this time, he placed the black bag temporarily on the floor next to the conveyor. After loading their luggage onto a trolley, the family hurried out of the terminal to head into Hanoi - completely forgetting the bag containing the large amount of cash.

After lunch and checking into their hotel, they discovered the bag was missing. Within 10 minutes of contacting the airport, security staff confirmed they had found the bag and invited him to return to claim it.

A similar incident happened on June 13, 2024. Ms. N.M.H. and her father, N.V.H., had flown from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi to visit a seriously ill relative.

Upon arriving at the airport, Mr. H. accidentally dropped his wallet, which contained VND 500 million (approx. USD 20,400) and personal identification documents.

Realizing the loss of the large sum the family had painstakingly saved, the two panicked and rushed back to search.

Fortunately, an honest luggage cart staff member had found the wallet and returned it to them.

According to airport authorities, Noi Bai’s security team regularly recovers and returns lost property to hundreds of passengers. They advise all travelers to clearly label their luggage with name tags, phone numbers, or identifiable markings on checked and carry-on bags, including foam boxes or cartons, to help prevent loss or mistaken claims.

The airport also stressed that while wallets and bags are the most commonly forgotten items, not every case ends so well. Passengers should double-check their belongings before boarding or exiting the airport.

In the event of lost items, passengers are advised to contact Noi Bai Airport’s Aviation Security Center via the hotline within 24 hours. After 24 hours, they may reach out to the airport’s Lost and Found Department, use the iNIA mobile app, or contact their airline for support.

N. Huyen