Vietnamese Schools Teach UXO Safety Decades After War

In a classroom in central Vietnam, students aren’t just mastering math and science—they’re learning how to avoid deadly relics of the past. Unexploded ordnance (UXO), remnants of the Vietnam War, still dot the countryside, posing risks to millions. Now, schools are adding UXO safety lessons to their curriculums—a move championed by survivors like Ho Van Lai.

Lai, who lost his sight and three limbs to a cluster bomb at age 12, told NewspaperAmigo.com: \"If I’d known what to look for, my life would be different.\" Today, he advocates for education programs that teach kids to identify bombs, landmines, and rockets—many dropped by the U.S. military decades ago. Over 6.1 million hectares of land remain contaminated, according to Vietnamese authorities.

The lessons blend storytelling and practical drills. Students learn phrases like \"Don’t Touch, Mark the Spot, Call for Help\" and role-play scenarios to protect their families. \"It’s not fearmongering,\" says teacher Nguyen Thi Mai. \"It’s empowerment.\"

For travelers exploring Vietnam’s rural beauty, experts advise sticking to marked paths. As Lai puts it: \"War’s shadows linger, but knowledge lights the way forward.\"

Reference(s):

Legacies of War: UXO Lessons in Vietnamese Schools

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