On October 26, 2024, students from the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) had an enriching field trip to the Cultural Village for Ethnic Minorities in Son Tay, Hanoi. This trip included over 60 Vietnamese students who are studying the course ‘Introduction to Vietnamese culture’ and 38 international students who are currently studying Vietnamese language courses at ULIS.

The trip was lead by Dr. Tran Huu Tri, Head of the Department of Vietnamese Language and Culture. The lecturers, Vietnamese and international students studying at ULIS also joined this trip.

During this trip, the students had the opportunity to visit the famous tourist site the Cultural Village for Ethnic Minorities. This was a wonderful experience for the students as they not only explored the cultural heritage, customs, and traditions of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam but also listened to historical stories associated with each ethnic group. Through this field trip, the students gained a deeper understanding of the cultural beauty of our country.

The first destination of the trip was the Cham tower complex. By listening to the explanations, the students learned more about the construction of Cham towers, their historical significance in the religious and spiritual life of the Cham people, thereby enhancing and appreciating historical values. After that, the students explored the architecture of Khmer temples. The temple is modeled after those of the Khmer people in the southern provinces of Vietnam, where the Khmer worship Buddha. Immediately after that, the students enjoyed and participated in unique cultural performances of the Central Highlands ethnic groups including Ede, So dang, Gia rai, Co Tu, etc. All of these created a lively atmosphere, connecting the students with the ethnic communities. During this visit, the students also experienced the cultural life of the Hmong people. By listening to explanations, participating in cultural performances, and enjoying some typical Hmong cuisine, they gained more useful information and knowledge about the Hmong ethnic group in Vietnam.

Additionally, the students had the opportunity to explore other locations within the Cultural Village for Ethnic Minorities such as the villages of the Tay and Kho Mu people.

Reflecting on this trip, William, a Belgian student studying Vietnamese at the University of Languages and International Studies, shared: “This was a really interesting trip. Although I had heard and read a lot about Vietnam and its ethnic groups while abroad, this trip provided me with many new insights that I had never known before. I was particularly impressed with the ‘wife-catching’ custom of the Hmong people and really enjoyed the Hmong people’s culture.”

Anna, a Vietnamese-German student studying Vietnamese at the University of Languages and International Studies, also expressed her impressions of participating in the cultural experiences of Vietnam’s ethnic groups. “This is the first time I have visited such an interesting place. I experienced many cultural activities such as singing, playing Khèn (Pan-pipe flute), and enjoying the delicacies of Vietnam’s ethnic groups. I hope there will be more trips like this to help international students enhance their understanding and awareness of the cultural values of Vietnam’s ethnic groups,” Anna expressed.

Astor, a Swedish student, also hopes to experience more cultural activities of Vietnam’s ethnic groups in the future. “I have been studying Vietnamese in Vietnam for over six months, but this is the first time I have felt the diversity of the culture of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. I hope there will be many more cultural experience trips during my Vietnamese studies at ULIS,” Astor said.

Hoàng Anh