Rescuers hand over a missing seven-year-old girl to her family after finding her safe in a mountainous area in Lai Chau province, northern Vietnam, May 2, 2025. Photo: Police in Lai Chau Province
The girl, identified as Phung Xa X., was reported missing on Wednesday afternoon by her father, Phung Phi Du, a resident of U Ma Village in Pa U Commune, Muong Te District.
According to the family, the child had been left alone at home while her parents worked on a nearby farm.
When they returned around 1:00 pm, she was gone.
Despite searching the village and surrounding area, the family was unable to locate her and alerted local police.
Authorities, including the Pa U Commune police and border guards, launched a coordinated search across difficult terrain.
After two days of continuous efforts, the girl was found around 9:50 am on Friday in a forested area near Ha Xi Village, approximately three kilometers from where she was last seen.
She was discovered lying face down near a bush, visibly exhausted.
Rescuers provided water and food at the scene, and her condition has since stabilized following initial care.
