Two Vietnamese - Korean student delegations take a commemorative photo at Ben Thanh Market. (Photo: Vũ Lê Kim Oanh)

Introduction to the Program

The exchange program with the Korean student delegation was initiated by the Department of Korean Studies at Van Hien University, Ho Chi Minh City. The goal of the program is to provide a platform for students from both Vietnam and Korea to exchange languages and cultures. The program has attracted a great deal of attention from students who are in the process of learning the Korean language. After the selection round, 15 Korean students from various universities and 15 Vietnamese students from Van Hien University came together to explore Ho Chi Minh City and exchange cultural values on February 22nd and 23rd.

The trip was a great success, bringing about many connections between the two delegations of students from Korea and Vietnam.

As an honorary reporter for Korea.net and a communications collaborator for the program, I had the opportunity to hear some candid and interesting insights from representatives of both student delegations after their memorable journey in Vietnam. These included Tường Vy, Duy Quang, Jin Yong, Sin Eun, and Seung Bin.

Interview with Representatives from Both Korean and Vietnamese Student Delegations

Thank you all for agreeing to participate in today’s interview. Let’s share your memories and experiences with the readers of Korea.net!

Korean Student Delegation Representative

Interviewer: What was your first impression of Vietnam and its people?

Jin Yong: The Vietnamese people are very friendly, and because of that, I had a wonderful time. On the last day of the trip, I even became so close to a motorcycle taxi driver that we exchanged Instagram accounts. This shows just how approachable and kind the people in Vietnam are.

Si Eun: When I first arrived, I immediately felt the heat, but the Vietnamese friends I met at the airport and accommodation were so friendly. The Vietnamese students took the initiative to introduce themselves and chat with me with such warmth. In Vietnam, the sky is blue, and the sun is warm, which made me feel very happy.

Seung Bin: Vietnam has beautiful landscapes and streets full of entertainment services. I enjoyed comparing the flavors of pho at different restaurants after eating it multiple times. Everyone here is kind and easy to talk to, which made me feel very comfortable and satisfied.

Taking a commemorative photo at the Ho Chi Minh City book street. (Photo: Nguyen Tưong Vy)

Interviewer: What’s your favorite traditional Vietnamese dish from this trip?

Jin Yong: If I had to pick one, I’d say pho, and in second place would be bún chả. But actually, I think all the dishes I tried in Vietnam were very delicious.

Si Eun: On the last day in Vietnam, I bought a banh mi in District 1. Since I didn’t have much money, my friend and I shared it, but it was still so delicious and filling. Even though I had to eat it on the street, with the sauce all over my hands, it was so tasty that I realized all the banh mi I had eaten before were nothing compared to this!

Seung Bin: The bánh xèo I had on the last day of the trip was really delicious. Actually, I feel like all Vietnamese food suits my taste, and that makes me very happy.

Interviewer: Cu Chi Tunnels was one of the destinations of this trip. Did it leave any special impression on you?

Jin Yong: Since I had studied the history of the Vietnam War and had the chance to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, I felt really sorrowful. I realized that war should never happen again. I also hope that historical sites like the Cu Chi Tunnels will be preserved for a long time.

Si Eun: Seeing and witnessing the images from the time of the war gave me a better understanding of the circumstances back then. I was especially impressed by the clever strategies and how the Vietnamese people utilized the terrain.

Seung Bin: It was interesting to see firsthand the preparations for war that I had only seen and learned about on the internet. The sharp military strategies were explained in great detail, and it was very fascinating. Especially, I had the experience of crawling into the tunnels to understand more deeply what the Vietnamese soldiers went through. This made the trip very meaningful for me.

The two student delegations had a meaningful and enjoyable trip together. (Photo: Vũ Lê Kim Oanh)

Interviewer: How did your Vietnamese friends from the student delegation bring you energy during this trip?

Jin Yong: Recently, I have been easily irritated and stressed over small things. But thanks to this trip with my Vietnamese friends, I had the chance to reflect on myself. I learned from my Vietnamese friends that if I think positively, I can spread positive energy to others, and I’m truly grateful for that.

Si Eun: Honestly, the Vietnamese students are very friendly, innocent, and kind. Although I know it might be hard to meet again, they introduced me to Vietnam and shared a lot of experiences with me, making me feel very happy and thankful. Throughout my time in Vietnam, I never encountered any unpleasant situations; instead, I was always warmly welcomed by kind and warm-hearted friends, exchanging compliments with each other. On the last day, I received a lot of gifts, and I want to express my gratitude to them.

Seung Bin: This year, I’ve been busy preparing for many certifications, which made me feel quite tired and stressed. But thanks to this enjoyable journey with my Vietnamese friends, and learning more about each other’s culture, I had the opportunity to refresh myself. These memories are so valuable that I want to meet up and have fun with everyone again, whether in Korea or Vietnam.

Interviewer: Is there any reason why you would definitely want to come back to Vietnam again?

Jin Yong: Of course, I would love to return to Vietnam! I want to meet my Vietnamese friends again, and I also want to explore other cities in Vietnam. I want to understand more about your country. Next time, I will learn some basic Vietnamese phrases so I can have even more exciting experiences.

Si Eun: I would like to return to Vietnam because I’m very satisfied with the massage services, the food suits my taste, and taking a motorcycle taxi was also fun. Most importantly, everyone is so friendly and cheerful. At first, I didn’t know much about Ho Chi Minh City, but each place I visited had a unique atmosphere that was very interesting. I also miss my Vietnamese friends with their ever-smiling faces.

Seung Bin: I will definitely return to Vietnam one day to meet everyone again. I am also looking forward to seeing how much everyone has grown and changed by then. Additionally, I want to visit some famous places in Ho Chi Minh City that I didn’t get the chance to explore and discover other cities in Vietnam to relive the "hot" (vibrant) atmosphere I experienced just a few days ago.

Vietnamese Student Delegation Representative

Interviewer: What made you decide to join the Vietnamese student delegation for this program?

Duy Quang: For me, this is a great opportunity for a second-year student like myself to gain more experience and connect with Korean students.

Tường Vy: I wanted to join this program to connect with Korean students because I don’t have any Korean friends yet. Also, making friends will give me more opportunities to practice speaking and learn about both countries, which will help improve my Korean pronunciation and language skills. When I decided to join the program, I was very lucky to have the support of the faculty, and my friends and I were given the chance to participate in this meaningful program.

Interviewer: Did you face any challenges when meeting the Korean students for the first time?

Tường Vy: In the beginning, both delegations were quite shy. I was also struggling with whether I should initiate a conversation and how to approach making friends. However, I decided to put aside my concerns and made the first move to introduce myself to the Korean students with a positive and friendly attitude.

Duy Quang: At first, the atmosphere was quite quiet, and there seemed to be some distance. But after a few greetings, the atmosphere became more joyful and friendly.

Interviewer: Was there any memorable place for you during this trip?

Duy Quang: Both student delegations visited many famous places in Ho Chi Minh City, and one of the most memorable was the Cu Chi Tunnels. It gave us a lot of knowledge about the history and the terrain of the area. We also went to the War Remnants Museum. I made an effort to share more about Vietnam’s history with the Korean students, and it was wonderful to see how interested and excited they were to hear about the stories I told.

Tường Vy: For me, I have many memories at the Independence Palace. Although the palace is very large, I wanted to introduce every special and sacred part of it to the Korean students, so our group walked from the ground floor to the third floor. I also tried my best, along with Quang and the rest of the group, to use all the vocabulary we knew to explain and introduce this place to the Korean students.

Interesting historical knowledge shared with the Korean students at the Independence Palace. (Photo: Nguyen Tưong Vy)

Interviewer: Was there anything special about the language exchange between the two student delegations?

Duy Quang: The Korean students prepared their language skills very well before coming to Vietnam. They had already learned basic Vietnamese greetings and pronunciation, which made the trip very enjoyable.

Tường Vy: We even solved Vietnamese and Korean language exercises together. The whole group would sit down and, while solving problems, share tips and knowledge about both Korean and Vietnamese languages.

The students explore the Ho Chi Minh City Post Office together.

(Photo: Park Seong Bin)

Interviewer: What did you learn from this trip?

Duy Quang: I’ve realized that learning a foreign language requires real-life interaction. Although I’ve learned Korean from books and courses, only when practicing outside did I truly understand the importance of real experiences in language learning. I also became more confident and received a lot of positive energy from the Korean students.

Tường Vy: After the trip, my Korean pronunciation improved significantly. During our meals and outings, I also got to hear many interesting stories about Korean youth culture, including their board game culture, which I found extremely fascinating. Sometimes, we played games in Korean and Vietnamese, and for me, this was truly meaningful because we were learning from each other and growing together.

Interviewer: Any final words for the teachers and students learning Korean?

Tường Vy: I sincerely thank the teachers who made it possible for the Vietnamese and Korean students to meet and learn from each other. I hope that in the future, there will be more programs and support from the teachers and the faculty so that we can continue sharing Vietnam’s history and culture with our Korean friends, as well as learn from the positive energy they bring.

Duy Quang: I hope that both myself and the students who are learning Korean will continue to work hard and strive to improve so that we can reach further goals like studying abroad, building careers, and sharing the beautiful cultural values that language brings.

Commemorative photo with the statue of President Ho Chi Minh (Photo: Vu Le Kim Oanh)

Conclusion

The Vietnamese - Korean student exchange program is always an ideal place for young generations to meet and connect with each other. Not only is it culturally significant, but the program also creates meaningful and lasting memories as both student delegations journey together to explore different aspects of language and history. I wish the Vietnamese and Korean students continued success on their academic paths and hope they continue to spread and share language and culture with more people.

Reporter’s Thoughts: This time, I had the privilege of accompanying the students in the role of a content and image collaborator to help spread the cultural connection between Vietnam and Korea to a wider audience. Although my Korean language skills are still a work in progress, I received a lot of enthusiastic support from both Vietnamese and Korean students, who were very attentive in listening and answering the questions during the interview. After this short two-day journey, I’ve gained more motivation to study Korean diligently. Thanks to both student delegations for their positive energy and deeply meaningful and unique cultures.