On July 13, 2025, NEU Summer Program 2025 (NSP2025), organized by National Economics University (NEU), officially concluded, marking a week of lively learning, experiences, and exchanges between international students from various countries and NEU students. The delegations returned home with joy, a sense of personal growth, and sadness at saying goodbye to Hanoi, where they had made many beautiful memories of their youth.

International students participating in the program pose for a commemorative photo.

As part of the program, international students attended academic lectures delivered by NEU lecturers, focusing on prominent topics about Vietnam. The opening lecture, “Vietnamese Tourism and Cuisine,” offered practical perspectives on cultural identity in relation to economic development. This was followed by sessions on “Characteristics of the Vietnamese Language” and “Traditional Arts,” which helped students gain a deeper understanding of the language and folk culture. The lecture on “Vietnam’s Business Environment and Culture” provided an overview of the country’s economic and cultural context and business activities. The sessions were lively, open, and highly interactive, leaving international students with many positive impressions.

International students pose for a commemorative photo with NEU lecturers after a lecture.

Alongside academic activities, participating delegations also had opportunities to take part in a variety of meaningful, hands-on experiences. In the early days of the program, a Campus Tour was organized to help students explore NEU’s modern facilities and dynamic learning environment. This activity helped them settle naturally into campus life at NEU while leaving positive first impressions of the professional, welcoming academic environment at one of Vietnam’s leading higher education institutions.

International students take part in the Campus Tour at the “Century Building.”

In the following days, international students had the opportunity to attend a Vietnamese cooking class and enjoy lunch in a friendly atmosphere of exchange, helping strengthen connections between cultures. A tour of Hanoi offered students insights into history at the Hoa Lo Prison historical site and an opportunity to explore Vietnam’s distinctive traditional arts through a water puppet performance. At the Kafela creative space, students attended an exchange workshop on Vietnamese coffee culture, where a brand representative shared insights into coffee’s history, processing methods, and cultural value in Vietnamese life. The activity not only broadened learners’ understanding of a distinctive aspect of consumer culture but also provided opportunities to exchange views and share diverse perspectives on learning and life, reflecting the younger generation’s openness and spirit of international integration.

Students visit the Hoa Lo Prison historical site.

Students participate in a Vietnamese coffee-making workshop.

Souvenir gifts.

Students visit and pose for a commemorative photo at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

The program also offered contemporary experiences through a visit to Lotte Mall – West Lake, which combines commerce, entertainment, and urban green space. The field visit to the social enterprise Vun ART left particularly profound impressions. There, students explored a socially conscious entrepreneurship model that links business development with social responsibility, broadening their thinking about the role of businesses in the community.

Students participate in a workshop at Vun ART.

To conclude their journey, the delegation visited the scenic landscape of Trang An—a UNESCO-recognized World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. More than a prominent ecotourism destination, Trang An also offered experiences of Vietnam’s nature, history, and culture that evoked a sense of the sacred, leaving lasting emotional impressions on the international students.

Students visit and pose for a commemorative photo at Trang An.

At the closing session, students from the delegations shared their heartfelt reflections, expressing gratitude and emotion at having experienced a program rich in academic and cultural value. The smiles, farewell hugs, and promises to meet again all left a deep impression on every participant.

Cultural exchange performances by Russian and Vietnamese students.

NEU Summer Program 2025 was not only an academic program but also a place that brought together young people with an international outlook and an open, compassionate spirit. Through authentic experiences, the students became “cultural ambassadors,” connecting Vietnam with friends around the world.

Article and photos: Department of International Cooperation

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.