On 3/10, Barry Mattacott, a 63-year-old British national, began a motorbike journey on his Kawasaki W650 from Quy Nhon towards Da Nang. Following Google Maps directions, he entered an unpaved road through mountains and forests in Dang Thuy Tram Commune, Quang Ngai.

The road quickly deteriorated, featuring steep inclines, rough rocks, and deep mud that submerged his wheels in places. On a particularly rocky stretch, his motorbike suffered a flat tire.

Mattacott pushed his motorbike for over three hours, searching for a way out. Around 2:30 PM, local residents in Kon Doc hamlet found him and alerted the commune police.

Barry and Lieutenant Colonel Phan Tien Dung, Chief of Dang Thuy Tram Commune Police (right), with Captain Pham Trung Tien beside the motorbike with a flat rear tire. Photo: Dang Thuy Tram Commune Police

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Tien Dung, Chief of Dang Thuy Tram Commune Police, and Captain Pham Trung Tien responded with a specialized vehicle. They loaded Mattacott and his motorbike into the car, transporting them nearly 20 km to Duc Pho to find a repair shop.

After the tire was repaired, police guided Mattacott back to a main road, allowing him to continue his journey.

Mattacott later expressed his gratitude in an English thank-you letter to the police force. He recounted getting lost on difficult mountain roads and feeling anxious when his motorbike broke down, unsure if he would find help.

"Some kind local residents called the police to help me," he wrote. "The officers were very friendly and enthusiastic."

A British marketing expert, Mattacott has traveled to 34 countries worldwide. He arrived in Vietnam in late 2019 and has since explored extensively by motorbike, visiting Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and many other areas.

The road where Barry got lost. Photo: Contributed

According to Lieutenant Colonel Dung, the unpaved road connecting An Lao, Gia Lai, through Dang Thuy Tram Commune primarily serves local residents and forestry activities. Its steep sections and rough terrain make it easy for unfamiliar travelers to get lost.

Mattacott is not the first tourist to encounter this issue; previously, visitors from Canada, China, South Korea, and the US were also directed onto this road by Google Maps while traveling between Quy Nhon and Da Nang.

Dang Thuy Tram Commune Police advise tourists against using this route unless they are familiar with the terrain, especially during the rainy season when the road becomes muddy and poses a high risk of landslides and isolation.

Pham Linh