Hot weather, people flock to irrigation canals to cool off, need to be careful of accidents and risks

With a diverse irrigation canal system (main canal, level 1, 2, 3 branch canals...), bathing in the canal has long been a hobby of many people in Yen Thanh. In recent days, the weather has been hot at 36 - 38 degrees Celsius, and adults and children in the rice fields are eager to bathe in the irrigation canal. Photo: Huy Thu

Most of the children who go swimming in the canal are taken by their parents or relatives and are fully equipped with life jackets. However, some children go swimming with friends or with adults in the same neighborhood or commune.Photo: Huy Thu

Adults who go swimming in the canal often choose sections with gentle currents, bathing while teaching their children how to swim. Photo: Huy Thu

A baby being taken to the canal by his father enjoys learning to swim in a life jacket. Photo: Huy Thu

Teenagers who go swimming in canals often choose places with strong currents, slopes, manholes... to play and tumble. Photo: Huy Thu

Children who live far from the canals are often taken by their parents to bathe in the canals by electric bicycles, motorbikes, cars... Mr. Thai Huu Bang (52 years old) in Xuan Thanh commune said: For more than a week now, every afternoon he has been taking his two sons by motorbike to Ba Cua canal in Yen Thanh town to bathe. "The children know how to swim and love to bathe in the canal" - Mr. Bang said. Photo: Huy Thu

Fathers who take their children swimming are also their swimming coaches. When the children learn to swim, the whole family will have competitions. Swimming in the irrigation canal in the summer is a joy for many families in Yen Thanh. Photo: Huy Thu

Along the small irrigation canals that flow through the villages, the "foot washing stations" have become places for children to practice swimming. Some places even have ropes strung around the "stations" to make it easier for children to cool off and practice swimming. Photo: Huy Thu

During the hot days, irrigation canals attract many people from the rice fields to come and enjoy a cool bath. However, people also need to be careful of drowning accidents, injuries...; when bathing, they need to choose a suitable section of the canal, wear life jackets, and children need to be supervised by adults. In the photo: Bathing in the canal in the late afternoon in Lien Thanh commune. Photo: Huy Thu