Think your school run is bad? Incredible moment Vietnamese man takes his kids across a flooded river in a PLASTIC BAG

  • Flood prevented children at a Vietnamese primary from getting to school
  • One of the parents transported the entire class across in a plastic bag
  • Man swam across river and children arrived safe and dry on the other side

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 06:06 EST, 20 March 2014 | UPDATED: 07:15 EST, 20 March 2014


This parent is giving a whole new meaning to ‘school bag’ as he helps a class of primary pupils safely cross a river by taking them in a plastic bag.

When the children in Sam Lang village, Dien Bien Province, near Hanoi in northern Vietnam could not get to school due to spring floods, one father found an unorthodox solution.

As the nearby suspension bridge was out of action, he put the children in a plastic bag to keep them dry, and carried them across the flooded river.

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Going in: This bizarre school run was filmed by a teacher in Sam Lang village, Dien Bien Province, near Hanoi in northern Vietnam during the spring floods

Going in: This bizarre school run was filmed by a teacher in Sam Lang village, Dien Bien Province, near Hanoi in northern Vietnam during the spring floods

Bagged up: When the local river flooded, preventing the children from getting to school, one parent took them across in a plastic bag

Bagged up: When the local river flooded, preventing the children from getting to school, one parent took them across in a plastic bag

Off we go: The unnamed parent took each and every one of the children across the river in the bag

Off we go: The unnamed parent took each and every one of the children across the river in the bag

His incredible devotion to the children’s education was filmed by their teacher Tong Thi Minh.

In the clip, one of the children’s fathers can be seen carefully wrapping up each child in a plastic bag before he launches himself neck deep into the raging torrent.

 

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Once at the other side, the still dry child jumps out, before the man swims back to pick up another.

In the clip filmed last year, female teachers and students were seen waiting for their turn to traverse the Nam Po stream.

 

On dry land: Once a pupil got out of the bag on the other side, the parent returned to pick up another

On dry land: Once a pupil got out of the bag on the other side, the parent returned to pick up another

Safe on the other side: Teacher Tong Thi Minh pictured with the class who were taken across the river in bags

Safe on the other side: Teacher Tong Thi Minh pictured with the class who were taken across the river in bags

Keep Calm and Carry On:The father, clearly devoted to the children's education, takes another student in a bag across the river

Keep Calm and Carry On:The father, clearly devoted to the children's education, takes another student in a bag across the river

Vietnamese newspaper Tuoi Tre News said a local man was captured holding the bag in one hand and swimming across the water with the other hand despite the powerful currents.

Miss Minh told the newspaper: ‘It's normal. That's the only way to cross the stream because no bridge can stand floodwater.

‘I've taught here since September last year. At first, I did not know how to ford the stream so I had to follow what local villagers did later.’

According to Miss Minh, many parents in the village also bring their children to school that way to keep their uniforms dry when the area is flooded.

Staying 'safe': Despite everything parents tell you about not putting a plastic bag over your head, this parent ensures the bag is tied up tight

Staying 'safe': Despite everything parents tell you about not putting a plastic bag over your head, this parent ensures the bag is tied up tight

Staying afloat: The parent carried the bag in one hand and swam across with the children one by one

Staying afloat: The parent carried the bag in one hand and swam across with the children one by one

Ready for school: A girl getting out of the plastic bag the other side of the river in Sam Lang village, Dien Bien Province, near Hanoi

Ready for school: A girl getting out of the plastic bag the other side of the river in Sam Lang village, Dien Bien Province, near Hanoi

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I think this shows a couple of things. Firstly, a massive commitment and value in education in Vietnam. I agree that this commitment as a whole to education is to be highly respected. On the other side, up to 30 children drown in Vietnam a day. The WHO describes drowning as a 'silent epidemic', and in Vietnam it is one of the biggest causes of accidental death in children. To put this in perspective, in the UK around 400 people a year drown annually, taking into account all age groups. So no, it's not a great idea to put a child in a plastic bag and swim them across a fast flowing river. It's tragic that people are in the situation where they must choose between taking this risk and not going to school. Complain about excessive H&S; all you want, but it's hardly relevant here and no reason to suggest this a good move! My point is: condone the commitment but not the action. I'm glad to hear resources have been found to build a bridge so they will no longer be in this position.

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If all parents were as involved and invested in making sure their children were getting to school and the best education available our children might have a better out come. This father is to be commended for being so selfless, and given as much help he needs to make sure his children get a good education without having to go through such a treacherous pathway. What strong family values have been established. I hope the children in this family continue on their path of getting a great education and become good and honorable adults in their chosen field of profession. These children are destined for greatness!

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They should have crossed it on an inflatable sausage.

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After know about this issue. Our government is building a bridge across the floodwater. because the incident occurred in a remote area, so we were slow to see the problem. we are sorry!

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God bless him

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OK so if the entire class of children has to go across the river why doesn't the lone teacher come to THEM hm?

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Not because no bridge can stand floodwater .. but the money to build bridges are end up in the communist party members and the Vietnamese government pockets .So danger to cross river in a bag. but human life in the communist country is very cheap, very much cheaper then a bridge ..... just as cheap as a plastic bag .

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Not because no bridge can stand floodwater .. but the money to build bridges are end up in the communist party members and the Vietnamese government pockets .So danger to cross river in a bag. but human life in the communist country is very cheap, very much cheaper then a bridge ..... just as cheap as a plastic bag .

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Lol imagine the lefty hand wringers if this had happened over here!

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Fair enough. It floods often and the ground could not handle a bridge. Leaves me to believe flooding has been an on going problem, sooo why not relocate the school closer to the children? BECAUSE MAYBE THEY DONT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO SO! DID YOU EVER THINK OF THAT??? OTHERWISE THEY WOULD OF BUILT BETTER BRIDGES!

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