3 students drowned during charity trip in northern Vietnam

Bodies of the students, one 20 years old and the others both 19, were found early on Sunday morning. They were among a group of 21 students at the Hanoi-based Foreign Trade University (FTU) who joined the university's annual charity summer program in Quang Ninh's Binh Lieu District.

Representatives of the school said four of the students stopped by a stream to rest on Saturday afternoon and slipped. A male schoolmate in the area managed to save one of them while the rest were swept away.

Many universities in Vietnam organize annual Green Summer campaigns in which students register voluntary help in poor or remote communities, or with environment protection.

The Hanoi's FTU was having around 400 students doing such campaigns in the northern region, but has suspended all the activities following the incident.

Quang Ninh and Binh Lieu authorities have supported each victim’s family VND12 million (US$540).