HCM City restarts summer activities for children after COVID-19

Various activities and camps in Ho Chi Minh City are bouncing back to entertain and educate children this summer, after a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Vietnam to speed up COVID-19 vaccines' supply for children
  • Under-12 children in Quang Ninh receive COVID-19 vaccination
HCM City restarts summer activities for children after COVID-19 -0

Various activities and camps in Ho Chi Minh City are bouncing back to entertain and educate children this summer, after a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The local Southern Youth Center (SYC) has resumed its life skills courses for kids since June, attracting the participation of more than 1,000 pupils. Some 100 learners were scheduled to join the first eight-day course starting June 12 and taking place in Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Vung Tau and HCM City. They are set to be trained to develop disciplinary habits as well as independent and adaptive living skills so that they can take care of themselves and know how to deal with dangerous everyday situations.

Also in June, the An Nhien center for life skills and experiential tourism kicked off its first summer programme title ‘Canh dong bat tan’ (the endless field). Located in the neighbouring province of Long An, it offers a series of enticing activities such as hunting fireflies, picking water lily, cycling, swimming, canoeing, exploring the film set, and visiting an essential oil processing factory.

A representative of the centre, Nguyen Quoc Viet, said the establishment aims to help children experience the nature in rural areas, thereby having a richer and more diverse view of life.

Meanwhile, since the middle of May, the municipal children’s house opened classes in martial arts, painting, music, modern dance, handicrafts, robotics, and modeling. Their fees range from 400,000 to 1 million VND (17.23 – 43.08 USD), which are affordable for most urban families.

English language classes are a key activity of many children during summer, with popular organisations in the city like the Vietnam-USA Society English Centers (VUS) and ILA offering myriad activities aiming at children aged between 4 and 16.

In addition to life skills, English language, and military courses, those teaching children how to swim are also on parents’ radar. Vietnam has decreased the number of child drowning cases by 100 each year since 2016. While this may seem like an encouraging outcome initially, the fact remains that drowning is still among the leading causes of death for children in the country.

Nguyen Manh Ha, a resident from Thu Duc city, has registered for his son a two-month swimming course, expecting the eighth grader to swim properly and know how to handle others’ drowning at sight.

Ha said as children see their friends being swept away, many jump immediately in the water for rescue and end up getting themselves in trouble. Therefore, rescuing a drowning person also requires skills, he noted.

Nguyen Kien Toan, a division head at the center for fitness and sports in Phu Nhuan district, said that swimming is a sport for health as it boosts breathing effectiveness, which can solve some post-COVID-19 problems in children.

According to Toan, his centre is running classes on drowning prevention for kids and plans to work with a number of local schools to hold a swimming festival in August.

From the professional perspective, Le Minh Huan, lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education (HCMUE)’s Department of Psychology, said the summer holiday is important for children to learn new skills, refresh their energy, and prepare their mind for the upcoming academic year.

Outdoor activities and exposure to the nature stimulate the development of their thinking, emotions, knowledge, and skills, Huan added.

Safety is a top priority in choosing summer camps, recommended Tieu Minh Son, communications lecturer of the city’s Van Lang University, who has taught many life skills classes for children.

Health care conditions are also important, particularly for kids who have yet to receive COVID-19 vaccination, he advised. 

VNA

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.