Students carry gifts of meat and fish for their teacher

Witnessing five students carrying chickens, fish, pork belly, and other items in a procession into her classroom, Ms. Huong Lan laughed, feeling a touch of shyness at what she called the "most unexpected" gift in her nearly 30-year teaching career.

A heartwarming video showing students giving gifts to their teacher on Vietnamese Teachers' Day (20/11) has quickly gone viral, attracting 70,000 interactions and nearly 2 million views in less than a day since its upload. Most online comments expressed affection and appreciation for the students' gesture, describing the act as "both touching and amusing."

The video captures five students entering the classroom one by one, each carrying two gifts for their teacher. These unique offerings included fresh chickens, fish, pork belly, ribs, mustard greens, potatoes, pumpkin, and green bananas. The chickens and fish were even adorned with festive red bows. Upon receiving these special gifts, the teacher was visibly moved, laughing while her face flushed with shyness.

The teacher featured in the video is Tran Thi Huong Lan, 48, who serves as the homeroom teacher for class 5B at Van Phu Primary and Secondary School in Van Phu ward, Lao Cai province.

"I was very surprised and touched," Ms. Lan shared. "This is the most meaningful Vietnamese Teachers' Day for me in nearly 30 years of teaching."

Ms. Lan is a local resident, living over 10 kilometers from the school. She has been teaching at Van Phu school since 2012, following a 13-year tenure in the former highland district of Luc Yen.

Class 5B students with special gifts for Ms. Huong Lan, 19/11. *Photo: Provided by parents*

Ms. Bui Thi Phuong, a parent from class 5B, conceived the idea of these "homegrown" gifts. She believed that on Vietnamese Teachers' Day, the most important thing for educators is the affection of their students. Consequently, she invited other parents to help prepare gifts, enabling the children to express their appreciation for their homeroom teacher.

On the morning of 19/11, parents contributed whatever they had available, cleaning chickens and fish for the children to bring to class that afternoon. Ms. Phuong recounted that the gift presentation was met with cheers from the students in the class, and even students from other classes came to watch out of curiosity, finding it "so much fun."

"Initially, Ms. Lan hesitated to accept the gifts," Ms. Phuong stated, "but we explained to her that it was a heartfelt gesture from the parents and children, not meant to be materialistic."

According to Ms. Phuong, the homeroom teacher is very enthusiastic, thorough, and caring. During this period, there is a flu outbreak in the locality, causing many students to be absent due to illness. Ms. Lan frequently calls each student to check on their well-being and understand their situation.

"She does not distance herself from her students, which is why both the children and their parents hold her in such high regard," she added.

Despite parents encouraging her "not to overthink it," Ms. Lan plans to cook a meal using the gifted items this weekend and invite her students to share it.