The Kroong River in Hong Thuy commune, central province of Thua Thien – Hue city, is at the heart of a Vietnamese gold rush after recent typhoons.

After several recent storms devastated the central region, many families were left with nothing. Floods wiped out farmers’ crops leaving them to face extreme hardship and suffering. Most now rely on cooking aid from local government.

With no crops left to cultivate, desperate locals began looking for other ways to eke out a living.

A rumor began circulating of gold found in A Luoi District’s Kroong River, and soon crowds started sifting through the muddy waters.

An eight-year-old boy named Tran Van Quy said he needs to earn money to help his mother and sister, and yesterday found VND25,000 worth of gold in the river.

Ho Van Nguyen, 13, said since the last typhoon, Mirinae, he has found over one tenth of a tael of gold and he gave the gold to his mother to sell for food.

Many children the same age as Quy have also dropped out of school to search for gold, as their desperate families have no food or income.

A Mon, 12, who has searched for gold for over one week, earning nearly 200,000 dong, said: “Sifting for gold is a hard work but I’m used to it. I hope I can earn money to purchase books”.

Mua Thi Sen, eight years old, said her school is located far from her house and the road there was destroyed by flooding. She has had to drop out of school to help her parents sift for gold as the family has run out of rice and has nothing left to eat but corn and cassava.

“Many teachers from local schools have been to visit children and ask them to return, but most only return briefly before stopping altogether,” said teacher Tran Minh Can from Hong Thuy Secondary school.

According to the chairman of Hong Thuy Commune People’s Committee, Ho Ba Binh, local authorities have asked residents to stop searching for gold and return to farming, but most have refused saying it’s not feasible.

Thirty-two-year-old Mua A Xinh said the food provided by the local government was not enough to feed his family, so he must try to search for gold.

Chairman of A Luoi District People’s Committee Ho Chi Thoi said district authorities are trying to raise money to help residents and encouraging them to start rebuilding their farms.

Searching for gold in Kroong River is very dangerous because landslides can occur at any time.

However, along the two banks, dozens of kids are busy with this hard job.

VietNamNet/SGGP/Tuoi Tre