The 11-year-old boy pointed to his sunburned skin and scarred limbs – the remnants of a journey he described as a "nightmare."

Minh Nguyet (Minh's mother) enrolled her son in a summer camp advertised as a "return to nature," costing 7 million VND, lasting 5 days in a province 150 km from their home. She hoped her son would gain new experiences and "step out of his comfort zone."

Minh is a healthy boy who enjoys exploring, so Nguyet only reminded him to stay safe. But on the second day, her phone rang. On the other end was a sobbing voice, "I want to go home." He listed a few reasons why he didn't like it, but Nguyet reassured him, thinking it was a normal reaction for a child newly separated from family.

The day he returned, after a joyful hug, Minh began a litany of complaints: "The bathroom was so dirty I couldn't use it, I had to hold it," "The water pressure was low, the fan wasn't strong enough, it was too hot to sleep," "I really wanted to hike, cook, and camp, but we didn't do any of that, they just let us stand outside for photos," "Sometimes, I was so bored I had to pretend to be sick to go to the medical room," and so on.

Diary entries of My Dung's daughter and 5 friends who participated in a summer camp from 13/6/2025 to 16/6/2025. Photo: My Dung

Diary entries of My Dung's daughter and 5 friends who participated in a summer camp from 13/6/2025 to 16/6/2025. Photo: My Dung

The group of My Dung's daughter and 5 other friends also had a "very bad" experience after a recent summer camp from June 13th to 16th. "My biggest complaint is that the accommodations were not worth the nearly 6 million VND our parents paid," the Hanoi mother said.

From the start, the family understood that experiencing village life would involve insects and heat, but their basic requirement was cleanliness. However, the children described bathrooms "full of mosquito larvae, mosquitoes, cockroaches, worms, and spiders. The toilets were so dirty that no one dared to use them for five days."

"The group went in excited and came back covered in scars. One child even slipped and fell by the pool, needing three stitches," Dung said.

Such negative experiences are not uncommon, according to educational psychologist and life skills consultant Nguyen Le Thuy. Summer camps and retreats are becoming a popular choice for many urban families. However, most parents only learn about these programs through online advertising and word of mouth.

With over 10 years of experience teaching at summer camps, Thuy points out three common "downsides."

First, many programs "look good only on paper." Parents are often sent itineraries with attractive names, but the actual implementation is often cut short, and instructors lack expertise. Many expensive camps offer low quality, operating as mere childcare.

Second, the living conditions are substandard. While parents understand that summer camp involves some hardship compared to home, basic requirements like hygiene and nutritious meals are often disregarded. "Last year, a friend's child returned from a 5-day summer camp and had a bowel movement in their parents' car because the camp's bathroom was too dirty to use," Thuy recounted.

Third, the staff lacks experience. Many summer camps entrust groups of children to student supervisors who lack the necessary skills, practical experience, and understanding of children's psychology. "This is a dangerous downside that many parents are unaware of," Thuy said.

Students participate in a summer camp at the People's Police Academy in 2025. Photo: Le Thuy

Students participate in a summer camp at the People's Police Academy in 2025. Photo: Le Thuy

According to Thuy, well-organized summer camps can help children develop independence, discipline, adaptability, and even change their perspectives. For instance, at the People's Police Academy's Military Semester program, every two dining tables have an adult supervisor. Children are required to eat plenty of vegetables, soup, and fruit—not just meat and fish—to maintain a balanced diet and prevent constipation and dehydration during hot summer days filled with outdoor activities.

When a case of a boy being abused at summer camp surfaced on social media, the topic "Seeking help in emergencies" was immediately retaught. "Although that skill was already in the rules, reiterating it at the right time helps children develop a reflex: When facing trouble, they must speak up," the expert said.

According to Thuy, parents who want to send their children to summer camps should choose organizations with clear legal status, years of experience, and reliable professional staff. They should also look for camps that livestream or provide live updates of activities for parents to follow.

Some models Thuy highly recommends include the People's Police Academy's Military Semester Summer Camp, the Green Warrior Journey organized by the Thieu Nien Tien Phong newspaper, and short-term camps organized by the Mobile Police Command.

Robert Linh's family organizes many activities for their children during the summer. Pictured is their cross-country trip in 2025, stopping at Ganh Da Dia (Dak Lak province). Photo: Family provided

Robert Linh's family organizes many activities for their children during the summer. Pictured is their cross-country trip in 2025, stopping at Ganh Da Dia (Dak Lak province). Photo: Family provided

Besides summer camps and retreats, there are many other beneficial summer activities for children with parental involvement. Robert Linh, a father of four children aged 3 to 16, sees summer as a "golden opportunity to sow the seeds of character and ignite dreams."

This year, he and his wife designed a "home summer camp" for their children, including pitching a tent in the living room, organizing a village market, cooking competitions, drawing, storytelling for younger siblings, and acting as "tourism ambassadors" to introduce a favorite destination. The family also spends time exploring museums, historical sites, and returning to their hometown to swim in the river.

In recent years, the family has often taken cross-country trips, not just to see the country's beauty but also to learn history where it happened. This summer, his children stood before the ancient citadel of Quang Tri, visited Vung Ro – a relic of the "Nameless Ships" and the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea, looked up at the Mother Suot monument, offered incense at the Truong Son Cemetery, and stood in silence amidst the ancient capital of Hue.

"I don't expect what I do to replace professional summer camps, but I believe that parents' companionship during summers like these will be something my children will always remember," the father said.

For children with negative memories of summer camp, Thuy advises parents to help them understand that life always has unexpected experiences. The important thing is not to avoid them but to learn to identify problems, seek help, and overcome them as "minor accidents," rather than negatively labeling all summer camps.

Nguyet also tried to persuade Minh that such setbacks would help him grow. However, he seemed unwilling to accept any explanation. "I will never go to summer camp again," Minh declared.

Phan Duong