HIGO & TASS, USSH – VNU cultural exchange and research study project

The HIGO – TASS 2015 project took place over 2 weeks with 2 main contents. One was learning activities at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), visiting the University of Public Health, the Central Acupuncture Hospital, and the WHO Headquarters. The other was field activities in Sa Pa, researching medicinal leaves of the Red Dao people at Sapa-Napro Joint Stock Company, and learning about the lives of indigenous people in Ta Phin village.

Representatives of TASS Company (University of Social Sciences and Humanities) and HIGO Organization (Kumamoto University, Japan) took a souvenir photo.

During the first week of the project, the HIGO delegation with friends from Japan - Myanmar - Nepal - Bangladesh and China under the leadership of Dr. Ishida Satoshi, had lessons on the political and business environment in Vietnam with Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh - Vice Rector of the University as well as on Vietnamese culture and history with Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Deputy Head of the History Department. In addition, the delegation also learned about the process of drug production and distribution in Vietnam. In particular, TASS arranged more in-depth seminars for the delegation at the University of Public Health, the Central Acupuncture Hospital, and the WHO Headquarters.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Vice Rector of the University, discussed with the HIGO delegation about the political and business environment in Vietnam.

During the field week, TASS arranged the working program for the HIGO delegation atSapa-Napro Joint Stock Companyin Ta Phin village, 12km from Sapa town. Sapa-Napro is a company formed and developed on the basis of research, production and trading of Red Dao medicine. The delegation had a discussion with the doctorNguyen Ba Nhung- Professional consultant of Sapa-Napro, used to work at Military Hospital; heLy Lao Lo- Director of Sapa-Napro company.

International students do fieldwork in Sapa, learn about medicinal plants of the Red Dao people

International students go to the forest with the Red Dao people, learn how to select and collect medicinal leaves in the natural forest

In addition, under the responsibility ofDr. Hari Prasad Devkota- Lecturer majoring in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Kumamoto University, Japan, HIGO group went directly to the forest with the Red Dao people, learned how to select and collect medicinal leaves in the natural forest; practiced growing medicinal plants at Sapa-Napro's experimental garden; processed medicinal herbs, asked questions, and exchanged with artisans about traditional medicine. In particular, HIGO group also gave charity gifts of warm winter blankets to poor households in Ta Phin village.

Charitable gifts of warm winter blankets for poor households in Ta Phin village

After two weeks of work, the international students experienced a trip that combined study, research and cultural exchange. The program is one of the examples of creative tourism, a new trend in tourism development in the world. This is also the starting point for the project to research and develop health tourism products that is in the process of proposing cooperation with the People's Committee of Lao Cai province.