They brought life jackets, protective gear, and two large canoes. All are members of the 116 volunteer rescue team, originally from Thai Binh (now Hung Yen province). “I selected only the 34 fittest members, accustomed to the marine environment," said 42-year-old team leader Nham Quang Van.

After reporting to local authorities, the team launched their two canoes past 9 a.m. on 20/7. However, the search for the missing victims of the Vinh Xanh 58 had to be suspended after two hours due to Typhoon Wipha approaching the Gulf of Tonkin.

Seeing the rough seas preventing the canoes from launching, Van decided to shift focus. "If we can't search the sea, we'll search the shore first," he said.

During the two days of the typhoon, the 35 members split into small groups, walking dozens of kilometers along the coastline from Tuan Chau to Bai Chay. They walked through the night, using flashlights to search among the rocks, bushes, and sandy beaches.

After 24 hours, the team found one victim washed ashore near Bai Chay bridge. At that point, two victims remained missing.

Nham Quang Van, 42, team leader of the 116 volunteer rescue team, and members study a map of the bay, circling search areas in Quang Ninh on 23/7. Photo: Provided by the subject

Nham Quang Van, 42, team leader of the 116 volunteer rescue team, and members study a map of the bay, circling search areas in Quang Ninh on 23/7. Photo: Provided by the subject

On the morning of 23/7, as the storm subsided and dawn broke, Van's search team, along with 15 large tourist boats dispatched by the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association and the Quang Ninh Tourism Association, spread out across the bay. The search area expanded to 50-70 km.

A new challenge arose. The altered currents disoriented the search team, making it impossible to predict where the victims might have drifted. The team expanded the search to the entire area. This proved difficult, as larger vessels struggled to navigate the narrow crevices and limestone formations scattered throughout the bay.

Van changed tactics again.

He called on local fishermen with small canoes and boats to assist in searching the inlets and narrow gorges. Simultaneously, he used a map to divide the bay into smaller sectors. Over 1,000 islands, large and small, were numbered and assigned to individual canoes for a thorough search.

Small canoes weaved through damp caves, and team members climbed slippery limestone cliffs to search for anyone trapped.

Each day, 10 canoes set out at dawn, crisscrossing the bay until nightfall, working continuously for 12-13 hours. To save time, the 30+ members ate and drank on the water, supplied by local residents.

Whenever they received reports of "suspicious objects," the team would immediately set off, whether they were sleeping or eating.

Canoe team searches for missing persons from the area where the tourist boat sank to Tuan Chau, Quang Ninh, on the morning of 25/7. Source: Provided by the subject

On the afternoon of 25/7, after six days and nights of searching, the body of a female victim was found 8 km offshore by the authorities, the 116 rescue team, and the Ha Long Paragliding Club.

Bringing the victim ashore, Van faced the pleading eyes of the family of the only remaining missing victim. They urged him, "Please don't give up."

"At that moment, my team and I vowed to bring their loved one back, no matter what," Van recounted. One day later, the final victim of the capsized boat was found 15 km offshore.

Members of the 116 rescue team scour Ha Long Bay by canoe, hoping to find the two missing victims, on the morning of 25/7. Photo: 116 Volunteer Rescue Team

Members of the 116 rescue team scour Ha Long Bay by canoe, hoping to find the two missing victims, on the morning of 25/7. Photo: 116 Volunteer Rescue Team

The efforts of Van and his team were recognized by the authorities. Representatives from the Quang Ninh Provincial Police Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue visited to offer encouragement and moral support.

Before they could rest, on the morning of 27/7, while still packing their gear, the team received a report of a 37-year-old man missing at Hon Gai beach. The canoes were launched again, and working with the authorities, they found the drowned man after a day. Learning the victim was the family's breadwinner, leaving behind an elderly mother and a sick child, the 116 team collected a small sum of money to help the family with funeral expenses.

After nine days, their mission in Quang Ninh was complete. This trip was just a small part of the 116 team's five-year journey. The team consists of nearly 100 members, aged 20 to 72, from various professions, including directors, workers, and farmers, all united by a common ideal: contributing to the community.

The idea for the team originated with Nham Quang Van himself. In 2015, he survived the sinking of a barge in Con Vanh, Thai Binh. Rescued by a fishing boat, he felt a deep-seated need to save others to repay his debt. In 10/2020, he established the 116 team, initially conducting rescues alone. By mid-2022, more members joined him.

The team's core principle is to operate entirely free of charge, accepting no assistance from victims' families. After nine days in Quang Ninh, the team unexpectedly received 50 million VND from an anonymous donor with the message, "Thank you to the rescue team for working so hard to find our loved one." Van and the team immediately publicized the information and are currently trying to return the money.

"Families experiencing such loss are grieving; they need that money more than we do. For five years, the 116 team has never broken this principle. It's a matter of honor for all of us," Van shared.

Members of the 116 Hung Yen Volunteer Rescue Team (formerly Thai Binh province) before leaving Quang Ninh after completing their mission, on the afternoon of 28/7. Photo: 116 Volunteer Rescue Team

Members of the 116 Hung Yen Volunteer Rescue Team (formerly Thai Binh province) before leaving Quang Ninh after completing their mission, on the afternoon of 28/7. Photo: 116 Volunteer Rescue Team

Bui Cong Hoan, Vice President of the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, stated that upon receiving the call for assistance from the 116 team, they immediately notified all boats and ships in the association to help.

"The actions of Van and his team are truly commendable. Despite being from another province, they spared no effort, helping until all the victims were found. We are deeply grateful," Hoan said.

On social media, many have called the actions of the 116 team extraordinary, likening them to "heroes." However, Van rejects that title.

"As Vietnamese citizens, anyone with the ability would do the same. We can't stand idly by and leave all the responsibility to the authorities," the 42-year-old team leader stated.

Quynh Nguyen