Security staff at southern Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport discovered the tiny corpse Friday when checking the luggage of a man about to fly to the northern port city of Hai Phong, the official said, refusing to be named or to provide other details.

According to the Thanh Nien newspaper, Vu Van Tho, 36, was trying to carry home for burial the body of his son, who died when his mother gave birth prematurely.

A similar case was reported last year when a passenger was discovered carrying the body of a relative's daughter. She died a day after birth and was being returned to the family's native province for burial.

According to Vietnamese tradition, a dead body can rest in peace only if buried in its native homeland.

Agence France Presse - April 19, 2009