In the span of just a few days in late September 2025, Vietnam was shaken by a series of tragic drownings that underscored the persistent dangers lurking in its rivers and canals. The deaths, reported across several provinces and widely covered by national and local media, have left communities reeling and families devastated, while reigniting urgent conversations about water safety and the vulnerabilities of children and adults alike.
On September 21, 2025, the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh City was the scene of a heartbreaking loss. According to Báo Thanh Niên, a 16-year-old ninth-grade student named N.P.T.L disappeared after a seemingly innocent afternoon outing. It was just after school on September 20 when L, as he was known to friends and family, returned home and changed out of his school uniform. He then hopped on his electric bicycle with a friend, heading to the Kenh Xang area in Hoc Mon district. Their plan was simple: wade into the water under the Xang bridge to catch eels, a pastime familiar to many local kids. But what followed was a nightmare that would haunt his family forever.
As the boys ventured into the water, L lost his footing and was swept away by a powerful current. His friend, panicked and unable to help, ran back to alert the family. The news hit hard. Authorities, including Hoc Mon district police and the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police of Ho Chi Minh City, sprang into action. Yet, as Báo Thanh Niên reported, the rescue operation was hampered by treacherous water flow and the challenging terrain. For more than a day, search teams combed the area, holding onto hope that the boy might be found alive. But by the afternoon of September 21, those hopes were dashed. L's body was discovered over 100 meters downstream from where he disappeared and was brought ashore, closing a chapter on a desperate search but opening a wound that would take far longer to heal.
The emotional toll on the family was immediate and profound. L's mother, T.T.C, herself a worker at a paper company, was inconsolable at the scene. She shared her regret, telling Báo Thanh Niên, "If I had been more determined at that moment, maybe my child wouldn’t have gone out like that." The family, already facing economic hardship with the father working as a mechanic, now faced the unimaginable pain of losing their son so suddenly. The tragedy left them, in the words of the report, "nearly collapsed." The broader community, too, was left grappling with the reality that such accidents can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
This was not an isolated incident. Just a day earlier, on September 21, 2025, another drowning had been reported in Bo Y commune, as covered by Bao Quang Ngai. While details were scarce, the discovery of a drowned victim’s body in this rural area added to the mounting sense of alarm. The victim’s identity and the circumstances leading up to the drowning were not immediately disclosed, but the fact that such tragedies were occurring in quick succession across different regions was enough to raise concern among both authorities and citizens.
And the grim news didn’t stop there. On September 22, 2025, at 16:30 (GMT+7), baolangson.vn reported the recovery of a female corpse floating on the Ky Cung river. The discovery, which sent shockwaves through the local community, was the latest in a series of water-related fatalities that week. Again, details about the victim’s identity and the cause of death were not immediately available, but the incident contributed to a growing sense of unease about the safety of Vietnam’s waterways.
Each of these cases, while unique in their specifics, shared common threads: the unpredictability of nature, the vulnerability of those who live and play near water, and the all-too-frequent heartbreak that follows in the wake of such accidents. For the families involved, the pain was personal and raw. For the broader public, these incidents served as stark reminders of the need for vigilance and education when it comes to water safety—especially for children and young people.
Authorities have not been idle in the face of these tragedies. In the case of the Hoc Mon drowning, police and rescue teams responded swiftly, deploying resources and personnel in a race against time. Yet, as the failed rescue effort demonstrated, even the best-prepared teams can be stymied by the formidable forces of nature—raging currents, unpredictable weather, and difficult terrain. Investigations into each incident are ongoing, as officials seek to clarify the circumstances and, where possible, recommend measures to prevent future occurrences. But as experts and community leaders have long noted, prevention is a multifaceted challenge.
Vietnam’s rivers, canals, and lakes are integral to daily life, providing livelihoods, recreation, and even transportation for millions. But their very ubiquity can breed complacency. Children grow up playing near the water, often unsupervised, and traditional activities like fishing or eel-catching are passed down through generations. Yet, as this month’s tragedies have shown, the risks are ever-present—especially during periods of heavy rain, high water, or sudden weather changes.
The story of N.P.T.L in particular has resonated widely, not only because of his youth but because it speaks to the universal parental fear of losing a child to an accident that might, in hindsight, seem preventable. The mother’s anguished words—her wish that she had been firmer in refusing her son’s request to go out—echo the regrets of countless parents who have faced similar losses. And the family’s economic struggles, highlighted in the reporting, underscore the broader social context in which such tragedies unfold. For many Vietnamese families, especially those in rural or working-class communities, access to swimming lessons, life jackets, or even basic water safety information remains limited.
In the wake of these incidents, officials and media outlets alike have called for renewed attention to water safety. As Báo Thanh Niên noted, these cases serve as a "warning about the dangers children face when playing or fishing in rivers and canals, especially under strong currents and abnormal weather conditions." The hope is that by shining a light on these tragedies, communities will be galvanized to take action—whether by improving supervision, investing in safety education, or advocating for better infrastructure and warning systems near high-risk waterways.
For now, families across Vietnam mourn the loss of loved ones, and the nation is left to grapple with the sobering reality that, despite progress in many areas, the simple act of playing by the water can still claim lives in the blink of an eye.