Sa Pa Ward People’s Committee Chairman Cao Ba Quy confirmed on Friday that authorities had found the body of 50-year-old Kuwaiti national Khalid Aldawoud.
Initial assessments suggest the tourist may have slipped and fallen into the waterfall while exploring the area.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of death.
Police found Aldawoud’s red-and-black Yamaha PG-1 motorcycle on Thursday in an area midway along O Quy Ho Pass but could not locate him.
The following morning, Sa Pa authorities dispatched around 250 people, including police officers, military personnel and support staff, to expand the search across Sin Chai, Silver Waterfall and areas bordering Ngu Chi Son Commune.
Aldawoud had checked into the Green Sapa Homestay on Nov. 5 and was scheduled to stay until Nov. 20.
On the morning of Nov. 7, he asked the homestay to arrange a motorcycle rental before leaving alone at around 10 a.m.
He never returned.
A homestay representative said the tourist had greeted staff as usual before leaving and did not disclose his destination.
All his personal belongings remained at the accommodation, while the phone number he had registered could not be reached.
O Quy Ho Pass runs along National Highway 4D, connecting Sa Pa with the Tam Duong area in Lai Chau Province.
The nearly 50-km pass sits at an elevation of around 2,000 m above sea level and features numerous bends, steep mountain slopes and deep ravines.
Fog and strong winds are common in the area.