Special “classrooms” across the province

The pale afternoon sun does not diminish the excitement of dozens of children at Hoàng Gia Swimming Pool in Điện Biên Phủ ward. For many years, the Physical Training and Sports Training Center under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has maintained a free swimming class for children being raised at the Provincial Social Protection Center. For 79 young children, mostly belonging to ethnic minority communities, the summer begins with their very first lessons getting accustomed to the aquatic environment.

Participating in the class for the first time, 11-year-old Giàng A Sàng could not hide his nervousness. From initial fear, his arm strokes and leg kicks, along with those of many other children, grew increasingly proficient. Though quite shy in conversation, Sàng exudes confidence whenever entering the pool, sharing that he was initially scared, but under the guidance of instructors on taking breaths, arm strokes, and leg kicks, he gradually grew accustomed, and now can dive independently and swim a lap around the pool.

Every session represents a combination of play and training. Through underwater exercises, the children are equipped with drowning prevention skills and techniques to handle dangerous situations. According to Director of the Provincial Social Protection Center Trần Thị Tươi, the greatest wish is to bring children a safe summer, helping disadvantaged children gain conditions for physical development, accumulate life skills, and feel more confident on their journey to adulthood.

While the swimming class equips children with self-protection skills, the “Military Semester” at Infantry Battalion 1 under Regiment 741 brings a comprehensive training environment to 85 students from various localities across the province. Eating, sleeping, and living together in the barracks, the children undergo a schedule of 11 daily routines within a military environment. Starting at 5:00 AM and concluding at 9:30 PM, these young soldiers get accustomed to everything from folding blankets into neat squares and learning the 10 honor oaths to sweating through field marches on the drill grounds.

A fresh highlight of this year’s program is the “Elite Digital Soldier” thematic module. The children gain access to artificial intelligence knowledge and learn how to leverage technology for learning and daily life. This fusion of traditional education with digital skills creates a distinctive identity for the “Military Semester,” aiming to build a resilient young generation capable of adapting swiftly to societal changes.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union and Head of the Program Organizing Committee Lò Xuân Hạnh affirmed that through the training process, the children cultivate resilience and a sense of discipline. The program also contributes to educating revolutionary traditions, nurturing gratitude toward past generations, while helping children supplement necessary skills amidst today’s rapidly evolving digital transformation context.

The shift in organizing summer activities in Điện Biên stems from the practical needs of children in both urban and rural areas. In urban areas, many children face academic pressure or spend excessive time on smartphones and tablets, whereas highland children lack safe playgrounds and conditions for experiential activities. To make summers more meaningful, numerous localities and units have expanded skill education programs, creating more spaces for children to move, explore, and mature. Beside community classes, semi-boarding models such as “SSPORT Summer Camp 2026” featuring professional basketball or “4T Summer Camp” by Tâm Tuệ Center carry the message of self-reliance, self-awareness, autonomy, and maturity. Each program carries its own color, yet all aim to help children develop comprehensively. Through practical scenarios such as time management, teamwork, social media communication, and handling life situations, many children overcome initial shyness, boldly express themselves, and learn to take responsibility for their actions.

Making summer count

This marks the second year Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng from Mường Thanh ward has registered his child for summer experiential classes, with the “Military Semester” remaining his top priority. He shared that after each course, he notices remarkable changes in his child, who becomes more proactive in daily living, shows care and helps parents, limits phone usage, and gains confidence in communication - qualities that are difficult to acquire solely through classroom learning.

Alongside vibrant summer camps, a serene space also attracts numerous teenagers and students during the summer break. At Linh Quang Pagoda in Thanh Nưa commune, the 2026 summer Buddhist study course themed “Buddhism and Youth - Nurturing Wisdom, Cultivating Love” attracted over 200 participants, including many from highland and exceptionally difficult villages.

After a week of participation, Lò Thị Hậu, born in 2008 and residing in Nà Chua village, Mường Mùn commune, shared that in her village she rarely has opportunities to join such activities. Coming here allows her to meet many friends and understand life in different places, while Dharma talks on parental gratitude make her cherish her parents more, resolving to study hard and help her family further.

Summer will eventually pass, and the school drum signaling a new academic year will soon echo again. Yet what young children accumulate after an experiential summer consists of valuable new knowledge and skills. More importantly, it brings shifts in awareness, positive habits formed, and a spirit of sharing nurtured - a foundation for them to mature, become useful citizens for their families, homeland, and society, and step confidently into the future.