Vietnamese Police Colonel Returns VND 8.5 Million Found Near Bank

Colonel Pham Thi Lien, a female officer from the Ministry of Public Security, has been praised by the public for her honesty after finding VND 8.5 million (approximately USD 350) near a bank in Hanoi and returning it to its rightful owner. The incident occurred on the morning of September 21 in front of the Thanh Cong branch of the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development (BIDV) in Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi. Colonel Lien serves as the Deputy Head of the Department for the Construction of the National Security Movement under the Ministry of Public Security. Upon discovering a large sum of money believed to have been dropped by a customer after a transaction, Colonel Lien, driven by her sense of responsibility and the spirit of "serving the people," immediately handed the cash over to the bank's security guards and staff, requesting their cooperation in identifying and returning the money to the owner. The bank quickly identified the owner as Ms. Vu Thi Bong, a resident of Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam Ward in Hanoi. The full amount of VND 8.5 million was subsequently returned to Ms. Bong. This act is considered a concrete example of "being closest to the people," aligning with the competitive movement promoted by the Vietnamese police, which emphasizes "three bests" (closest, fastest, most effective). Colonel Lien's honest and exemplary conduct is expected to boost the morale of other police officers and further motivate them in fulfilling their duties of serving the public. In Vietnam, under the one-party system of the Communist Party, the integrity and service spirit of public officials are highly valued. Such positive stories are often reported and encouraged as social norms. Especially amidst continuous economic growth, ensuring fairness and transparency by public servants is crucial for maintaining public trust.