The activity lasted from August 12 to August 16, 2025, under the guidance of Prof. Kato Atsufumi (Kyoto Sangyo University); Dr. Nguyen Phuong Thuy (Faculty of Oriental Studies) and Mr. Do Van Kien (Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Sciences, VNU) and 10 students of KSU, aiming to help students experience rural and agricultural life, learn about people's lives, unique traditional cultures, and achievements in new rural development of the locality. VNU-USSH Japanese Studies students became translators, acting as a bridge between Japanese students and local people.
Japanese students exchange and study at the Faculty of Oriental Studies
Accordingly, the delegation worked with the People's Committee of Mai Phu commune to learn about the local situation after the merger of administrative boundaries, the development of OCOP products in the locality, typical traditional craft villages in Ha Tinh, including the broom making village of Thach My, mussels of Thach Chau, salt village of Mai Phu,... In nearly 15 years (2010 - 2025) of implementation, the OCOP Program in the whole province of Ha Tinh has recognized 410 products, of which 267 products are still valid OCOP certification, 8 products have achieved 4 stars, 259 products have achieved 3 stars.
Working delegation at the Office of New Rural Area Coordination (NTM) of Ha Tinh province
In addition, the delegation also visited Ba Hai Temple (Ky Ninh, Ky Anh), visited Luan Nghiep fish sauce production facility with 3-star and 4-star OCOP products; conducted a survey program, interviewed local people, and participated in cultural and sports exchanges with students of Thach Chau Primary School.
Field team interviews people in Mai Phu commune, Ha Tinh province
Students participate in cultural and sports exchange with students of Thach Chau Primary School
Speaking at the meeting with the delegation, Associate Professor Dr. Dang Hong Son - Vice President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities expressed his gratitude for the long-term relationship between the two schools from 2018 to present and hoped that the two sides would continue to have effective cooperation activities.
Vice President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities Dang Hong Son expressed his hope that VNU-USSH and KSU will have many effective cooperation activities in the coming time.
Field trips in Ha Tinh have become meaningful experiences for students majoring in Japanese Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies. For Nguyen Thi Thuy Ngan (student of K65 majoring in Japanese Studies), who comes from her hometown of Ha Tinh, accompanying and supporting the KSU student group on the recent business trip brought her special experiences. “Through working sessions and translation support during the survey, I had the opportunity to look back at my hometown from a new perspective, better understand the characteristics of the new countryside, typical products of each region, traditional villages and achievements in building the new countryside of my hometown” - Thuy Ngan shared.
As for Phuong Quynh Giang (student of K66, Japanese Studies major), this is the second time she has participated in a field trip to Ha Tinh with a group of students from Kyoto Sangyo University. Quynh Giang said that the trip helped her become more confident, not only in translating but also in actively exchanging and sharing the knowledge and skills she has acquired during her studies and research practice in Japanese Studies with Japanese students.
