VietNamNet Bridge - To go to school on time, children in Dong Mam village in Son Hai commune, Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province have to get up from 5am and row on the lake of Cam Son, which is 80m deep.

The Cam Son Lake is the fourth largest hydroelectric reservoir in the north. In the flood season, all fields in Dong Mam are submerged by a few dozen meters deep. But the kids here consider the lake as safe as mother womb.

Today, people in the village will go to the fair. Mr. Dam Thi Sang (Cao Lan ethnic) will also go to the fair with her neighbors so her elder daughter, Giap Hai Hue, 8, is assigned to row to school with her two younger brothers, Giap Ly Hai – 5 and Giap Hai Duy - 3. At 6am, the three kids leave home. It takes them 30 minutes to row to school. On the small wooden boat, the two little boys lean against each other to sleep.

On the way to school, Hue sees Dat, her classmate, who has rowed to school since he was 6 years old. The way from his home to the school is more than 10km.

Giap Van Dat (left) has been boating to school from 6 years old. Photo VNE

Every day, it takes Hue and Dat 30-50 minutes to go to school but it is harder for other kids in Dong Mam. Whether it rains or shines, two brothers Hoang Minh Tri, 10 and Hoang Thi Tra My, 6 have to leave home at 5am.

Tri’s house is located on the remote island of Dong Mam. To go to the wharf, the kids have to walk more than 3km of forest roads and take another 50 minutes on a motorboat. "Several years ago, I had to row for two hours to the school," Tri said.

It is hard to go to school but local children do not give up their studies because only the school brings joy, knowledge to them and help them escape from poverty.

In late 2011, a charity organization presented a motorboat for local students. Every day, families take turns to carry their children to school.

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Linh Ha