The Capital’s Lifesaving Mission: Hanoi Launches Anti-Drowning Initiative.

THE HANOI TIMES — The recent Swimming Exercise for Drowning Prevention campaign, organized by the city, has seen an impressive turnout with nearly 2,000 participants, including officials, schoolchildren, students, and local residents.

Pham Xuan Tai, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, addresses the audience at the campaign launch on May 17.

This event, which took place in Son Tay Town on May 17, was a collaborative effort between the municipal Department of Culture and Sports and the Son Tay People’s Committee. The primary objective was to encourage residents to take up swimming as a form of exercise and, more importantly, as a life-saving skill to prevent drowning incidents.

Pham Xuan Tai, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, emphasized the importance of the citywide swimming program. The program offers free swimming lessons and water safety training to equip students with essential swimming skills and knowledge of drowning prevention and rescue techniques. The statistics speak for themselves: in 2024 alone, 398 swimming classes were organized for 52,588 children, with an impressive 96.6% knowing how to swim after the program.

The campaign draws a large crowd of enthusiastic schoolchildren.

Drowning is a serious issue in Vietnam, with a significant number of child fatalities between 2015 and 2020. To address this, the campaign aims to raise awareness and provide accessible swimming programs, especially in rural areas where the drowning rate is four times higher than in urban areas. By encouraging children to swim in controlled environments, such as public pools, we can reduce the risks associated with swimming in natural bodies of water.

To further strengthen the campaign’s impact, Pham Xuan Tai called for a united effort across all districts and departments. He suggested that local authorities prioritize summer swimming programs and provide comprehensive training for instructors in safe swimming and water rescue techniques. Making swimming lessons more accessible and affordable for children is also a key focus, with proposed policies including subsidies or fee waivers for pool access and lessons.

Public outreach and education are vital components of this initiative. Tai encouraged localities and schools to maintain regular swimming classes and promote water safety awareness. “I urge all citizens, especially young people and students, to embrace a culture of regular physical activity, with swimming as a key component,” he said. “Learning basic drowning prevention skills is not just about health and fitness; it’s about empowering individuals to protect themselves and others in emergency water situations.”

Children and adults participate in swimming lessons during the event, recognizing the importance of water safety.

This annual event serves as a powerful platform to raise awareness about drowning prevention, highlighting swimming as a life-saving skill. It also promotes the importance of physical fitness and encourages residents to take an active role in their health and well-being.

During the launch, nearly 2,000 teachers, students, and workers from Son Tay Town received essential swimming and rescue skill training, empowering them to be safer around water and potentially save lives.

The swimming program is well-received by the local community, offering valuable skills and peace of mind.

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