Master's Tea Club No. 6 welcomes students from the University of Giessen (Germany).

At the beginning of the meeting, USSH students gave a short presentation on current and upcoming festivals in Vietnam and Germany, notably introducing the origins, meaning, and activities celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival – a festival that is currently attracting the attention of international students. The German students were particularly interested in the significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Eastern countries – including Vietnam – noting that the image of the full moon in the eighth lunar month, the largest and roundest of the year, symbolizes abundance, family reunion, and a bountiful harvest. The festivities, with activities such as lion dances, lantern processions, and the Mid-Autumn feast, also captivated many guests from afar. During the conversation, Associate Professor Hoang Anh Tuan shared some intimate memories of his childhood Mid-Autumn Festival with the students attending the MTC, as well as the differences between the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the past and present. The Japanese student continued the story about the Jugoya festival in the Land of the Rising Sun, associated with the custom of moon-gazing on the full moon day of autumn, Otsuki-mi. Although taking place at the same time of year, the customs in Japan differ significantly from the Mid-Autumn Festival in China and Vietnam.

Following the presentation, the professors and students attending the MTC had the opportunity to enjoy mooncakes in various flavors, from traditional mixed nuts to modern chestnut varieties, prepared by the MTC organizing committee. Next, the German students shared their experiences at Oktoberfest – the world's largest and most famous beer festival, taking place in Munich, Germany in October. Professor Detlef Briesen's recollections of his own childhood memories of attending the festival brought joyful laughter from the MTC participants.

The second part of the meeting was a discussion about the traffic situation in Hanoi, as well as traffic in cities around the world. For many German students, this was their first time in Vietnam. They shared their surprise and delight at seeing Vietnamese people riding motorbikes and their first experience crossing the road in Hanoi. After the USSH students presented some figures on the traffic situation in Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular, the topic of traffic in the world and in Vietnam was discussed enthusiastically by scholars and students. Many agreed that traffic in Vietnam, Germany, Japan, and Thailand all have their own unique characteristics, reflecting the cultural and historical features of each country. The issue of banning motorbikes in Hanoi in the future was also brought up. Professor Detlef Briesen, drawing on his knowledge and experience from living and working in Hanoi, argues that motorbikes are a distinctive cultural feature of Hanoi and should not necessarily be banned or completely eliminated. Instead, solutions should be found to manage and change the awareness and behavior of traffic participants; thereby contributing to limiting and overcoming traffic problems in Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general.

Some photos from the meeting.