However, in reality, there have been problems arising around summer retreats, such as scams related to the retreats or poor organization of the retreats at the temples.
Typically, in March 2024, a woman named H fell into a summer retreat trap and was robbed of 2.8 billion VND while researching summer retreats for her children. Or there was a case of a "horrifying experience" after a summer retreat.
Specifically, in June 2023, the GNN account posted an article on social media warning parents about sending their children to a retreat at Cu Da Pagoda (Cu Khe Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi). The reason was because her son had a "horrifying experience" at the retreat this summer.
According to the shared content, Ms. N's family registered for a 5-day summer retreat for their children at Cu Da Pagoda for them to experience. During the retreat, the Organizing Committee stipulated that no contact or phone calls were allowed so that the children would not miss home.
On the 5th day, when Ms. N came to pick up her child, she was "shocked" to see her child dirty, smelly, and covered in mosquito bites. The reason was that the temple was very crowded, so there was not enough water for the child to bathe.
In addition, Ms. N also discovered that her child's left arm was swollen at the elbow. When she asked her child, she was told that it was because at the temple, her child had gotten into a fight and was hit on the head and arm with a wooden chair by a friend. The organizers took Ms. N's child to a hospital in Ha Dong district, Hanoi for examination and arm cast but did not inform Ms. N.
Identify quality summer retreats
According to Dr. Tran Huu Son, Director of the Institute of Folk Culture Research, the proliferation of life skills courses and summer camps for children is a trend and a need for social development. Letting children participate in these courses is also a solution to help parents feel more secure. However, parents need to identify quality summer retreats for their children.
To identify quality courses and programs, parents need to choose skill courses or programs organized by legal entities. These can be educational organizations that have been operating in Vietnam for a long time and have prestige; choose the content and program of the course that is appropriate and highly educational. In addition, you should refer to the quality assessment from the courses that have been organized by the temple before.
Dr. Tran Huu Son also said that there are currently many temples that organize very methodical and professional retreats. However, there are groups of people who take advantage of social networks and the trust of parents as well as social trends to commit fraud.
"Having summer retreats is very good, but we should not consider this as a business or a money-making service. Let this be a place to educate young people about Buddhism and love for their homeland and country," added Dr. Tran Huu Son.
Sharing the same view, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Ngoc Trung - former Head of the Faculty of Culture and Development, Academy of Journalism and Communication said that sending children to participate in summer activities at retreats will still make families somewhat worried because this is a new environment for children. Therefore, before letting their children participate in the retreat experience, parents need to find out the content, members, time, location, and cost to see if it is suitable or not.
Parents can also demand the best conditions for their children, such as only allowing children of the same age to be together; ensuring food and living conditions; having many people to supervise them… More importantly, whether participating in a summer retreat or in other activities such as military semesters, police semesters… parents need to put their children's health and safety as top priority.
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