Southern Vietnam kite stunt raises safety concerns as expert warns of powerful lift

Nguyen Anh Khoa, head of the Rach Gia Kite Flying Club in Rach Gia Ward, said on Tuesday that kites come in a wide variety of sizes and designs, including fish- and octopus-shaped kites, kites in the shape of cartoon characters, and musical kites.

The larger the kite, the greater the pulling force it can generate, Khoa explained.

Such kites must be paired with specialized lines designed to withstand substantial tension and ensure safer operation.

Musical kites have become increasingly popular among enthusiasts in the Mekong Delta over the past two years.

Giant musical kites can have wingspans of six to eight meters, allowing them to fly at considerable heights and generate extremely strong pulling forces.

Under favorable wind conditions, a giant kite can potentially lift an object weighing around 200 kilograms, Khoa said.

He stressed that flying large kites requires experience and a thorough understanding of kite handling in order to respond appropriately to unexpected situations.

Enthusiasts should also avoid prohibited areas, airports, military facilities and power lines to minimize safety risks.

Large kites should only be flown in open areas, with the kite and line carefully inspected beforehand.

An adequate number of people should also be available to secure and control the kite, preventing accidents in which a person could be lifted into the air or dragged along the ground.

“Once a kite is airborne and wind conditions can change constantly, the kite can be subjected to powerful pulling forces, causing it to sway and become difficult to control,” Khoa said.

“People should never hang onto a kite line because it is extremely dangerous.”

Kite flyer vows not to repeat dangerous stunt

Earlier on Monday, a video circulating on social media showed a child being lifted several meters into the air while holding onto the string of a large kite in Cho Moi Commune, An Giang Province.

Many social media viewers expressed concern and disapproval of the stunt.

Regarding the incident, police in the commune said local authorities had met with the owner of the TikTok account that posted the short video showing the dangerous act.

The kite flyer pledged not to repeat the stunt and removed the video to prevent it from setting a harmful example on social media.