The arduous journey to school by boat of students in the West

Every day, children in My Phuoc commune, Can Tho city (formerly My Phuoc commune, My Tu district, Soc Trang) go to school by boat. Despite the hardships, they still persistently pursue their dream of learning.

The three grandchildren went to school with... three hammocks.

Every morning, Mrs. Nguyen Thi The (60 years old, residing in Phuoc An A hamlet, My Phuoc commune) wakes up early to prepare meals and pack things for her three grandchildren, then takes them down to the small boat docked in front of her house to take them to school. Among the essential items are three hammocks, which she considers her "mobile homes" for the children to rest after school. One is in preschool, one is in first grade, and one is in second grade.

The boat camp by the riverbank is where students in My Phuoc commune rest after school.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Ms. The said that the distance from her home to My Phuoc A Primary School is nearly 6 km by river. Each round trip takes more than 2 hours. At noon, the children eat lunch on the boat, sleep in hammocks under the shade of trees, and wait until the afternoon to continue their studies. By the time they return, the sun has already set behind the coconut trees.

"The children's parents work as factory workers in Ho Chi Minh City, so I take them to and from school every day. No matter how hard it is, I try my best, as long as the children can get a proper education," Mrs. The said.

Many students live about 6 km away from the school by river, so parents have to cook and bring lunch for them to eat while waiting for afternoon classes.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

On that same river, Ms. Dang Thi My Tien (38 years old, residing in Phuoc An A hamlet) has been working in her small boat for over four years. Every day, she wakes up at 4 a.m. to cook rice, prepare lunch, and then takes her child to school. The two of them eat and rest together on the boat, waiting for the afternoon to start class.

Gasoline costs only about 30,000 VND per day, but for Ms. Tien, that's a significant expense. For over a year now, she has been battling breast cancer. "Some days I'm completely exhausted, but seeing my child so eager to learn, I keep going. I just hope she studies hard so she won't suffer as much as I did," Ms. Tien shared.

After school, the children have lunch and rest right on the boat.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Ms. Tien's daughter, Nguyen Thi Nha Ky, is in the 4th grade at My Phuoc A Primary School and has consistently achieved the title of outstanding student for many years. The petite, gentle girl softly said, "I want to be a teacher when I grow up, to teach the children in my neighborhood how to read and write."

Eating and resting at the boat camp.

My Phuoc A Primary School has two campuses in Phuoc An B and Phuoc Ninh hamlets. Every day, more than 60 students have to travel to school by boat, canoe, or ferry. At the Phuoc An B campus alone, 20 students live far away and have to eat lunch and rest right at the boat camp before attending afternoon classes.

Ms. The drives a small boat to take her grandchild to and from school.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

Mr. Nguyen Van Hao, Principal of My Phuoc A Primary School, said that in the 2025-2026 school year, Phuoc An B branch will have 146 students. Many of them come from poor families, with parents working far away and leaving their children with their grandparents. "The children are very studious; despite the long distance and the rain and wind, they still come to class regularly," Mr. Hao shared.

Besides the difficulties in transportation, Phuoc An B school is also frequently flooded during high tides. Some periods of flooding last for a whole month, forcing the school to continuously use pumps, but even that is insufficient. Whenever the school floods, students have to wade through the water to get to class, and teachers have to teach physical education in the classrooms.

The grounds of Phuoc An B school - My Phuoc A Primary School, are frequently flooded during high tides.

PHOTO: DUY TAN

"We only hope for more compassionate hearts to share and contribute, so that teachers and students can have a safer and cleaner learning environment. Every act of support, no matter how small, is a great source of encouragement to help the children confidently continue their education," said teacher Nguyen Van Hao.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/gian-nan-duong-den-truong-bang-vo-lai-cua-hoc-sinh-mien-tay-18525102409092448.htm