Video of kids swimming to school sparks criticism in Vietnam

Sep 23, 2011, 6:39 GMT

Hanoi - A video of children swimming across a river to school in Central Vietnam because there is no bridge has sparked criticism, media reports said Friday.

The clip, aired by Vietnam Television on Tuesday, showed several children in Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh province, clinging onto sealed plastic bags filled with their belongings while they were swept down a portion of the fast-flowing river.

Around 30 children have to swim more than 20 metres twice a day to get to school. The water is between 1 and 3 metres deep but can become much deeper during the rainy season. Students have been making the crossing for 10 years.

More than 100 adults also have to swim across the river regularly. Local woman Ho Thi Thanh said many people had been swept away but they had all been rescued.

Minh Hoa authorities said their budget could not cover the cost of building a bridge.

A report in Dan Tri newspaper triggered a wave of angry comments from readers, criticizing local authorities.

One commenter, Pham The Cuong, asked how local authorities could let it happen. 'The more we admire these students, the angrier we feel at the actions of local authorities.'

Duy Manh, wrote, 'It's too high a price to pay to learn how to write. Students are gambling with their lives.'

According to the report, one villager tried running a boat across the river but it was not big enough and many chose to continue swimming. The boat was reportedly washed away during floods last year.