On March 16, 2026, Van Ban Commune Police (Lao Cai province) received information from the school about two students including N.T. N (born in 2013, 7th grade) and N.T. H. Y (born in 2012, 8th grade), Son Thuy Ethnic Minority Boarding Secondary School, suddenly dropping out of school, leaving the locality and unknown whereabouts.
Determining that this is a case with many potential risks affecting the safety of students, immediately after receiving information, Van Ban Commune Police urgently deployed forces, applying synchronous professional measures to organize verification and search.
The process of reviewing and verifying information showed that the two students had traveled a very long distance, exceeding hundreds of kilometers from the province.
By the afternoon of March 19, 2026, the police force determined the location of the children at a karaoke bar in Cho Don commune, Thai Nguyen province, more than 800km from their place of residence.
Immediately, Van Ban Commune Police coordinated with Cho Don Commune Police and the family and school to organize the approach and bring the two children back to the locality safely. After being handed over, the children were received by the school, creating conditions to stabilize their psychology and continue their studies.
Currently, Van Ban Commune Police are continuing to verify and clarify individuals who incited and lured students to drop out of school. If violations are detected, they will be strictly handled according to the provisions of law.
From the above incident, Van Ban Commune Police recommends that schools and families need to strengthen coordination in student management; regularly pay attention to and grasp psychology, promptly orient and educate to prevent dropping out of school, being seduced to participate in unhealthy activities, especially in remote and isolated areas.
