Nguyen Van HaTruong Van TrungNaval Squadron 129129th Naval Squadron

Vietnam fisherman Truong Van Trung survives 96 hours adrift at sea; 'I thought of my 2 children' kept him going.

Vietnamese fisherman Truong Van Trung survived 96 hours adrift at sea, relying on thoughts of his two children for motivation. Rescued by Naval Squadron 129, Trung expressed gratitude, stating, "I kept going from one day to the next because my two children gave me the motivation to hold on."

Vietnam.vn+1 source18 August 2026 · 15:18 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story

Vietnamese fisherman Truong Van Trung was rescued after drifting at sea for 96 hours, having fallen overboard from a fishing vessel on August 12. He was brought ashore by Naval Squadron 129 on August 18, in poor health and mentally distressed.15

"I drifted aimlessly at sea for four days and nights. I managed to get through each day thanks to my two children, who gave me the motivation to keep going," Trung recounted, emphasizing that thoughts of his children were his lifeline.2

During his ordeal, Trung focused on surviving one day at a time, stating, "I didn't know how long I had been at sea. I could only watch the sun rise and set. I thought about my two children at home, so I kept telling myself to hold on, keep going, and wait for someone to rescue me."3

Captain Nguyen Van Ha, a political officer aboard Ship 743, noted Trung's dire condition upon rescue, highlighting the lack of food and water during his time adrift. Trung expressed his relief, saying, "Luckily, I came across Naval Ship 743. The crew rescued me and helped me through the danger."4

Truong's story is a testament to the power of hope and familial love in the face of adversity.

Key Insight
“Truong Van Trung was rescued by Naval Ship 743 after drifting without food or water, leaving him in poor health and mentally distressed. He recounted, 'I just tried to survive one day at a time,' emphasizing that thoughts of his children were his primary motivation to endure the ordeal.”
CuriousCats studied:
1
Vietnam.vn
“On the morning of August 18th, ship 743 of the 129th Naval Squadron (Navy) brought Mr. Truong Van Trung, a fisherman who had drifted at sea for 96 hours, to the squadron's port in Phuoc Thang ward, Ho Chi Minh City.”
Vietnam.vn →
2
Tuoi Tre News | The News Gateway to VietnamTuoi Tre News | The News Gateway to Vietnam
“Vietnamese fisherman Truong Van Trung, who survived 96 hours adrift at sea, was brought ashore by Naval Squadron 129’s Ship 743 on Tuesday morning, after being rescued at sea.”
Tuoi Tre News | The News Gateway to Vietnam →
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