The 115 health insurance cards were presented during the inauguration of a project providing 50 flood-resistant floating houses to low-income families in Tuy An Bac Commune and Dong Xuan Commune. The initiative was organised by Dantri in partnership with Hoang Viet Primary, Secondary and High School.
Huynh Ngoc Giang Chau, headteacher of An Dinh Primary School in Tuy An Bac Commune, said the school was severely flooded during historic storms in late 2025, causing extensive damage to its facilities.
The floods also devastated the livelihoods of many pupils' families, destroying crops and leaving households struggling to recover. With the new school year approaching, many parents are facing the cost of books, uniforms, school supplies and health insurance.
This year, a student health insurance card in Dak Lak Province costs VND 1.37 million, with the government subsidising 55 per cent of the premium. Families are required to pay the remaining VND 614,790.
Chau said that in previous years the school had relied on donations from teachers, staff and local Buddhist temples to ensure disadvantaged pupils were covered by health insurance.
He welcomed the latest donations from Dantri readers and sponsors, describing the cards as a meaningful gift for both pupils and teachers ahead of the new academic year.
Nguyen Van Dieu, deputy headteacher of Chi Thanh Primary School in Tuy An Bac Commune, said the programme provided reassurance for both children and their parents.
While most pupils at the school are already insured, he said some families remain unable to afford the cost, forcing the school to seek outside support.
"The health insurance cards are a practical form of assistance that gives disadvantaged children an important safety net if they become ill," Dieu said.
Tran Thi My Luong, 47, who is raising her grandson Ngo Nhat Huy while his mother works in Ho Chi Minh City, said the family's income depended largely on a small rice field and the modest amount of money sent home by her daughter.
Luong recently suffered an accident that left one of her arms paralysed, making farming even more difficult.
"The health insurance card eases one financial burden and gives my grandson greater protection if he falls ill," she said.
Tran Thien Nga, a Grade 5 pupil at An Dinh Primary School, said she was delighted to receive the card.
"I'm very happy. I'd like to thank everyone who helped us," she said.
Over the past four years, Dantri's campaign to provide health insurance cards for disadvantaged pupils has received support from readers, businesses and charitable donors across Vietnam. More than 7,210 cards have been distributed nationwide.
The newspaper said it would continue fundraising for the programme during the 2026-27 school year to help more children gain access to health insurance.