When her three grandchildren reached school age, Mrs. Nguyen Thi The, residing in Phuoc An A hamlet, began her daily journey on her small boat, traveling nearly 6km along the river to transport them – one in first grade, one in second grade, and one who had just started preschool. Mrs. The even brought along her youngest child, just over 10 months old, to look after. “I wake up at 3 a.m. to cook rice, prepare things, and bring three hammocks for the children to nap in the boat. By the time school is over and I get home, the sun is already setting,” Mrs. The recounted. The children's parents work as factory workers in Ho Chi Minh City, leaving her to single-handedly take care of them, feeding them and ensuring they get enough sleep. She doesn't know how to ride a motorbike, so the small boat is her only means of transportation to school, rain or shine. “I'll endure any hardship, as long as my grandchildren learn to read and write. Seeing them go to school makes me feel so much better,” Mrs. The confided.
The students have lunch on the boat before continuing their classes in the afternoon.
Also persevering on that journey is Ms. Dang Thi My Tien from Phuoc An A hamlet. For more than four years, she has woken up at 4 a.m. every day to prepare lunch for her daughter. The two of them rest in hammocks right at the boat camp in front of the school gate. Every day, Ms. Tien spends about 30,000 dong on gasoline, hoping her daughter doesn't miss a single school day. For more than a year now, she has been battling breast cancer, but not a single day has passed without her illness preventing her from taking her daughter to school. Her daughter, Nguyen Thi Nha Ky, a fourth-grade student, has been an excellent student for three consecutive years. "I will try harder to study well so that I can help my parents and ease my mother's burden in the future," Ky said, her eyes shining with determination.
Not only Mrs. The's family or Ms. Tien, but also about 60 other students from My Phuoc A Primary School (Phuoc An B and Phuoc Ninh branches) cross the river to school every day. Among them, about 20 students from Phuoc An B branch, whose homes are along the canals and waterways, have to stay at the boat camp during lunchtime to continue their afternoon classes. Mr. Nguyen Van Hao, the 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 whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, with parents working far away and leaving their children with grandparents. Despite the long distance and crossing the river, the students still attend class regularly, and many achieve excellent and exemplary student status. Every year, the school mobilizes benefactors to support the needs of disadvantaged students with school supplies, but resources are limited, so they cannot meet all the needs.
The small boats that carry students across the river in their hometown are not just a means of getting to school, but also carry countless childhood dreams. To ensure those dreams don't waver amidst the waves, the children desperately need the support and assistance of compassionate hearts. Every act of sharing will become a source of encouragement, helping the students of this riverside region to have more confidence in nurturing their aspirations for a bright future.
The schoolyard of My Phuoc A Primary School, Phuoc An B branch, is partially flooded.
Located in a low-lying area, the playground of My Phuoc A Primary School, Phuoc An B branch, is frequently flooded during high tides or prolonged heavy rains. Teacher Nguyen Van Hao stated that some flooding periods lasted for more than two months, and despite the school's efforts to pump out the water, the situation did not improve significantly. This not only forced physical education classes to be held indoors but also hindered the movement of teachers and students. The biggest concern is that if students frequently wade through dirty water, they are very susceptible to skin diseases, affecting their health and their enjoyment of going to school. Therefore, the school earnestly hopes to receive support to help teachers and students have a safer and more spacious learning environment.
Text and photos: QUOC KHA
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/vuot-song-nuoc-den-truong-a192405.html
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