A heavy rainstorm in Ho Chi Minh City on the afternoon of 22/9, coinciding with rush hour, caused severe flooding, strong currents, and extensive traffic jams on many roads.

In the letter, Principal Do Dinh Dao anticipated that many students might have gotten their clothes, backpacks, and shoes wet, possibly arriving home very late. Consequently, he permitted students to wear sandals to school the following day, provided they were clean and safe. The school would not deduct conduct points for this.

"A pair of shoes does not define a student's character. Wet clothes do not alter a person's worth. The most important thing is that you know how to stay safe, care for your health, and return home peacefully," the principal wrote.

The principal further advised students to avoid deeply flooded roads and to be cautious of trees at risk of falling, as well as signs, awnings, or other objects that might collapse. If students got wet, he recommended changing into dry clothes, drinking warm water, and keeping warm. Should they feel unwell, students were instructed to immediately inform their parents or relatives.

On the school's fanpage, the letter garnered nearly 1,000 interactions, which was 20 times the engagement of typical daily posts. Many parents expressed feeling touched after reading the principal's message.

"Driving my child home from school for 15 km, wet from the rain, through floods and traffic jams. Reading the heartwarming letter, I thank the school management," one person commented. Many others thanked the principal and the school for their care and affection for students, even for such a small gesture.

Many Nguyen Huu Tho High School students wore sandals to school on the morning of 23/9. *Photo: School provided*

Mai Anh, a student from class 12A5, shared that she was touched last night upon reading the principal's letter after walking home for over 30 minutes in the rain. Initially, she worried about having conduct points deducted, as her three pairs of shoes had not yet dried after several consecutive days of rain.

"This morning, many friends wore sandals to school. In class, every teacher asked if we got very wet coming home yesterday, and we felt very cared for," Mai Anh said.

Principal Dao recounted that during yesterday's torrential rain, he also had to leave his shoes at school and waited until 20h30 to go home. Reading news about severely flooded roads and strong currents, he worried for his students. Even after 19h, about ten students were still at the school, waiting for the rain to subside or for their families to pick them up.

According to Principal Dao, the school has long not deducted points for uniform infractions or tardiness following heavy rain. The advice shared in the letter is also regularly reiterated by teachers.

"But thinking of students struggling with the rain, floods, and traffic jams, surely completely soaked by the time they got home, I wanted to write something to warm their hearts," Principal Dao said. He sent the letter to class presidents to disseminate to students that night.

Parents and students waded through water during heavy rain in the former Thu Duc City area on the afternoon of 22/9. *Photo: Quynh Tran*

Le Nguyen