VietNamNet Bridge – More than one million candidates sat for the university entrance examinations today, July 4.

Volunteers help an exam candidate in HCM City's Mien Tay Bus Station.

And as they do every year, in the first days of July, volunteers with the "Give Strength During Exam Season" programme are busy helping candidates from other provinces who come to big cities to sit for the exam.

They help the visitors in several ways including finding accommodation, providing free meals and showing them the way to get from one place to another.

Nguyen Thanh Lam, a student of the Ha Noi University of Architecture, who has volunteered to receive candidates at the My Dinh Bus Station, said he and his friends were eager to help.

"We give them maps, bus routes, and sometimes even take candidates to hostels which are convenient," he said.

Nguyen Manh Duc, a volunteer at the Giap Bat Bus Station, said he has met candidates who'd never been out of their villages, or those who had never been to Ha Noi earlier.

"For candidates who have special needs, we will personally take them to hostels and even arrange free accommodations and meals," Duc said.

According to the Ha Noi City Youth Union, more than 1,200 volunteers are working at the bus and train stations to receive and help candidates. Around 50 kiosks have been set up in these places to provide free bread, drink and maps.

Volunteers are also available at the stations to provide free transport for candidates and their relatives.

The Youth Union has received 200,000 maps, 30,000 breads and many free meals as contributions from enterprises in the city.

Besides, the union has arranged 30,000 low-price rooms and 3,000 free rooms for candidates sitting for the exam in Ha Noi.

Hoang Thi Van, the mother of a candidate from Thanh Hoa Province, said she was pleasantly surprised by the offer of assistance.

"I had prepared carefully for our stay in Ha Noi for the exam. I even brought rice and meat to cook to save money. But knowing from volunteers at the station that we can actually get free accommodations and transport, I'm no longer feeling worried," she said.

The Bang A Pagoda in the capital city's Hoang Mai District has continued its annual tradition of supporting exam candidates by offering its 3-storey building as free accommodation. Candidates staying here will also receive free meals.

Support in other cities

In central Thua Thien – Hue Province, some 1,000 volunteers have joined the effort to support outstation candidates. Some 25,000 low-priced rooms and 3,000 free rooms have been prepared for candidates and their relatives. More than 300 families have registered to host candidates in their houses during the exam.

Nguyen Duy Minh of the Da Nang City Youth Union said the union has mobilized 5,000 low-priced and free rooms, 2,500 free meals and 30,000 maps.

Some 10,000 free meals will be given to candidates from the southern province of Tra Vinh, he said.

Over 10,000 free accommodations and 420,840 free vegetarian meals will be given to candidates and their relatives at more than 120 pagodas and homes in Can Tho, Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City during this examination season.

Nguyen Thi Hue, a resident of District 9 in HCM City said she was willing to let candidates stay in her house during the exam.

"I have enough space for 100 people," she said.

Meanwhile, students in the city are also willing to share their rooms with candidates. Nguyen Van Quan, a student of the HCM City University of Transport 2, and his friends have been providing support to candidates for four years.

"When the exam season comes, my friends and I will stay together to save the rest of the space for candidates and their relatives," Quan said.

The first phase of university entrance exams this year will take place on July 4 and 5, and the second one on July 9 and 10.

VNS/VNN