Soldiers ferry students across flood-swollen river for first day of school

Before sunrise on the first day of the 2026-27 school year, soldiers in Yen Hoa, Nghe An, were waiting by the river with a boat. Their task was to get students to school after floodwaters swept away Trung Thang Bridge.

The temporary bridge had connected remote villages with the school area, but heavy rain and flooding at the end of August destroyed it. With no bridge available, students have had to cross the river by boat. On the opening day, soldiers from the Yen Hoa Commune Military Command arranged transport early and took groups of children across the fast-flowing water.

Every student boarding the boat wore a life jacket. Major Kha Van Hung, deputy commander of the local military command, said the crossings were necessary because the children were young and river travel was dangerous during the floods.

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Opening day is a very special day for students. Although the bridge was swept away by the floods, we are trying to ensure that they can all get to school safely and that the disaster does not interrupt their education.

“Opening day is a very special day for students. Although the bridge was swept away by the floods, we are trying to ensure that they can all get to school safely and that the disaster does not interrupt their education,” Hung said.

Yen Hoa Primary and Semi-Boarding School’s Yen Thang campus has 292 students. Of those, 172 qualify for boarding support, including a monthly allowance of 936,000 dong and 15 kilograms of rice per child. The remaining 120 students travel between home and school each day, and those from the remote villages now depend on the boat crossing.

Bui Danh Vinh, the campus’s vice principal, said the rainy season is always the most difficult period for teachers and students in the highlands. Teachers monitor the weather and remind families and children to travel safely. On the opening morning, the soldiers’ presence allowed students to cross the river and reach the prepared school grounds.

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The bridge being swept away has made travel very difficult for teachers and students. Boarding students are less affected, but about 120 students who do not board still have to cross the river to reach school.