This post is also available in: Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Teachers and Students Compete in Mango Harvesting, Gathering Half a Ton in 20 Minutes

Jun 23, 2026

On the afternoon of May 15, the campus of the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, known as ULIS, was filled with cheering crowds as the ULIS Mango Festival kicked off. According to Vice President Hà Lê Kim Anh, this is the very first time the university has hosted such an event.

Sixteen teams, each consisting of five members, were equipped with harvesting tools and sacks before the competition. After drawing lots for their assigned mango trees, each team had exactly 20 minutes to harvest the fruit, with a strict safety rule prohibiting climbing. The team with the heaviest harvest would take home the crown.

The moment the starting signal blew, teams scattered to track down their designated trees. Under each tree, pickers, gatherers, and sack holders coordinated seamlessly amidst non stop cheers and directions. The event drew not only students and teachers but also many parents waiting to pick up their children and students from neighboring universities who stopped by to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

Students compete in the mango harvesting contest on the afternoon of May 15 (Photo: Thanh Hằng)

According to Ms. Kim Anh, the idea blossomed because the campus grounds are home to numerous mango trees, which happened to yield a bumper crop this year. Therefore, the university wanted to turn the harvest season into an experiential activity for students and faculty members, creating a joyful atmosphere right before the summer break.

“This is not just a fun activity but also a way to build connections, bring people closer to nature, and raise environmental awareness,” Ms. Kim Anh shared.

After 20 minutes of intense picking, the total amount of mangoes collected by the 16 teams reached nearly 500 kilograms. The Department of Campus Administration secured first place with a harvest of 58 kilograms, earning a prize of one million VND. Staff and teachers from the Foreign Language Specialized Middle School came in second with 55 kilograms, establishing a 10 kilogram gap ahead of the runner up.

As a member of the Japanese Linguistics and Culture team, Hoàng Văn Khoa, a freshman majoring in Japanese, said that what he remembered most was not the amount of mangoes they picked, but the wonderful sense of togetherness among everyone.

Even though his team did not make it into the top three, Khoa was still thrilled to enjoy the shaken mangoes and take photos with his friends.

Dr. Mostafa Helil, an expert at the Faculty of Arabic Language and Culture, expressed his particular fondness for mango dishes. Having lived in Vietnam for 10 years and considering it his second home, he felt incredibly happy to immerse himself in the university’s community activity.

Students receive mangoes wishing for high scores in their final exams (Photo: Thanh Hằng)

ULIS students compete in the mango harvesting contest on the afternoon of May 15 (Photo: Thanh Hằng)

ULIS faculty and staff are equally enthusiastic about the mango harvesting competition (Photo: Thanh Hằng)

2The harvested mangoes were prepared into shaken mangoes and pickled mangoes, which were then shared with all the students in attendance.

Nguyễn Tường Vy, a third year student focusing on Translation and Interpretation in the English Department, also joined the event to get some mangoes. She was excited to receive a large, almost ripe one. Vy shared that before exam season, students often share photos of mangoes on social media as a good luck charm for high grades.

“I see this as a lucky sign and hope that I will get straight As in my upcoming courses,” Vy said.

Thanh Hằng