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​Young people enjoy snow games for summer break in Saigon

​Young people enjoy snow games for summer break in Saigon

Saturday, July 07, 2018, 12:00 GMT+7

This summer, children and young people growing up in tropical Ho Chi Minh City do not need to go anywhere to enjoy a chilling vacation, as a ‘snow town’ has been erected in the southern metropolis.

Summertime is the longest break yet for schoolchildren in Vietnam.

During the prolonged absence from school, many living in metropolitan areas are taken abroad to experience changes in activities.

But all that seems redundant, now that there is a snowdome in District 2.

Ever since its launch, the range of snow-related activities here has thoroughly charmed juveniles and adults alike.

Welcome to the snow world

Even though it is high noon outside, exhilarating shouts can still be heard amidst the icy atmosphere on the inside of the snowdome.

Many children are taken here as a reward for their performance during the harsh academic year.

The District 2 landmark offers a wide variety of snow games, including skating and skiing.

Since most remain oblivious of these activities, coaches and protective gears are always around the corner.

Children are seen skiing at a 'snow town' in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Children are seen skiing at a 'snow town' in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Huynh Tien Minh, 12, was really struggling to remain standing on his ski equipment alone.

But with the help of a personal trainer, he finally got around the mechanism after two hours of drilling.

Needless to say, he was excited with the newly acclaimed feat.

Nguyen Thuy Tram, 14, sparked a love for skiing the first moment she got its hang.

Ever since the fateful encounter, she has been going hard at the sport two to three times a week.

Yet how she was able to afford the entry and training fee of VND300,000 (US$13.04) in total for every session remained a mystery.

“I got some summer discount vouchers that halve the total amount,” Tram said.

“I’ll use this chance to master the sport.”

Children are seen skiing at a 'snow town' in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Children are seen skiing at a 'snow town' in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Archery – the choice of nobility

Not just winter games, other newfound sports are steadily on the rise in Ho Chi Minh City.

That explains why a thorough archery course is also available at the city’s Youth Cultural House.

Though the Western sport has just been around recently, many have quickly adopted it as the summer pastime.

To fifth-grader Le Minh Thuong, the alluring process of drawing and releasing each bolt towards any dummies in sight, truly blows off lots of steam.

Despite coming across archery by chance, the young boy quickly fell in love with the art, and is seriously making progress.

“Archery helps me clear focus and keeps my temper in check,” Thuong remarked.

Children learn archery at a club in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Children learn archery at a club in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Girls can also take on the elegant sport, but for Huynh Wiktor Minh An, 7, his passion for the art is nothing short of toxophily.

Every time An steps into the archery hall, he is donned to the tip with deluxe gears.

But unlike a generic pampered snot-nosed, he also has the eligible skill to go along.

“Initially, I was declined from the game due to my age,” An explained.

“But seeing as how I was so head over heels for the sport, I was finally admitted in,” he giggled.

According to Doan Thi Le, director of Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House’s archery club, the sport is sought after the most during summertime.

Most just come and go, but this summer, many familiar faces have returned to the fold.

“Archery is not for the half-hearted,” Le said.

“Again, it also has its perks – nothing calms you down as fast, while whoops your patient and focus up in no time like archery.”

Children learn archery at a club in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Children learn archery at a club in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Countryside still reigns supreme

Undeterred by many allurements urban areas have up its sleeves, the countryside of Vietnam is still sought after by many paddy-loving juvenile.

Dang Cong Toan, 13, always nags his parents to take him to the rural areas every summer.

“The countryside is so much fun! I got to play lots of outdoor games with my cousins and new friends all day long,” Toan exhilarated.

He even got his hand on fishing, in which he is excelling with a lot of tips and tricks he accumulates from the elders.

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Duy Khoi / Tuoi Tre News Contributor

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