In the cold of early winter where Hoang Lien Son range is covered in fog, the road leading to Phong Hai Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities No. 2 (Phong Hai commune, Lao Cai province) is bustling with laughter.
Instead of fresh flowers or pre-purchased gifts, students here bring to class very different gifts in the rain: green banana bunches withay, bunches of herbs with the scent of soil, or cabbage picked from the rock and soil before class.
Teacher Nguyen Kim Hong, a teacher at the school, shared: Every morning, students have to walk for an hour to class, but today they still brought gifts. Some children wander around and put a bunch of green bananas on my table, saying, "This is all in my family, you can have fun".
It is known that the female teacher from Hai Phong, born and raised in the mountainous district of Bao Thang, has been working as a "young-head teacher" here for more than 27 years.
Students here are mainly ethnic minority children, life is still difficult, they do not have enough to eat, are not warm enough to wear. 100% of their families are poor, and most of them do not speak Vietnamese.
The parents had cut those banana bunches the night before, washed them, drained them, and told their children to take them to the teacher. Many children walk, rain, and have slippery roads but still carry gifts so as not to get wet. For us, it is the most beautiful gratitude, said Ms. Hong.
According to the reporter's research, in addition to teaching hours, this female teacher also regularly takes advantage of relationships to mobilize clothes, hats, and socks to support students.
At Chiem Hoa Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minorities (Tuyen Quang), teachers also experienced an emotional day on November 20.
There are no brilliant flowers or beautiful paper gifts, instead there are baskets of cabbage, some cassava, pumpkin, even wild banana flowers, which are used for daily cooking.
Teacher Dang Thi Phuong - the homeroom teacher of class 11A - shared: "Instead of giving flowers to teachers of the subject, this year I am orienting the class to innovate: give teachers vegetables and foods for daily meals".
According to Ms. Phuong, in the highlands, many families still have many difficulties. Many parents go to the forest and go to the fields early, and the whole family's meals are still lacking.
However, I give my children everything they have. A bunch of onions, pumpkin, a few eggs, all became the most precious gifts that students sent to their teachers on November 20.
"On November 20, in the mountainous areas, it is not as brilliant as in the city. But for us, it is the warmest, said Ms. Phuong.
