Extracurricular activities among students majoring Japanese Studies in Hoi An: Memorable experiences

The exchange was divided into two sections, seminars and excursions. At Hoi An, a traditional international trade center in Vietnam, the students discussed ASEAN-Japan relations in general and Vietnam-Japan relations in particular. Many discussed topics concerned the youth’s interests and affairs. One of the most interesting topics  was Japanese popular culture and its influence in Vietnam and Singapore.

In their presentation on the cooperation to conserve Japanese heritage in Vietnam, the VNU’s students gave an overview of a volunteer program at Hoang Thanh, Ha Noi. Similar programs designed to help promote Hoi An tourism were introduced by the students from Phan Chau Trinh University. In addition, representatives from National University of Singapore, who had lived in Okachi, a town in northeast Japan for a long time, also brought to the seminar their multiple perspectives on the Japanese’s efforts to rebuild their town after the November 3rd earthquake and tsunami.

The students took a photo after their seminar 

The students spent their remaining days exploring interesting locations in Hoi An, Da Nang and Hue such as Hoi An ancient town, Thanh Ha pottery village, My Son sanctuary, Cham Islands, Lang Co Town, My Khe Beach, Ba Na Hill, the Marble Mountains and Son Tra Peninsula. Those were wonderful excursions that helped them not only appreciate beautiful landscapes but also acquire useful knowledge of local cultural, historical and religious values.

The students at Thanh Ha pottery village, Hanoi

These experiences made the students ponder over how to develop Vietnamese tourism given the country’s geopolitical advantages and tourism potential. They recognized it was time for Vietnam to begin reaching out and integrating into regional and global developments, especially when the ASEAN Economic Community was about to be realized.