In Vietnam, an average of 16 children drown every day. And this in a tropical country that lives from and with water like hardly any other. Drowning is the most common cause of death among Vietnamese children aged 5 to 14. Yet swimming lessons are not a compulsory part of the school curriculum.

There are numerous reasons for this non-swimming fiasco. Vietnam is famous for its over 3200 km of coastline, as well as its numerous rivers, springs and lakes throughout the country. These scenic areas are potentially dangerous environments as children like to spend time there in the summer months, often without adult supervision.

The documentary  follows a family and their two children as they take the step towards water safety and learn to swim as part of a government programme. In addition, the film also documents the multiple effects on the family and social fabric and the conflict with traditions that the children trigger when they break the family spell of not swimming.