Planned by Students! Discover How Fun Vietnam Can Be – A Cultural Experience Event

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, the “Vietnam Cultural Exchange Event” was held at Ibaraki University’s Mito Campus. Designed for local junior and senior high school students, the event welcomed six participants who had the opportunity to explore Vietnamese culture and daily life through hands-on activities. The event was planned and run by a diverse team of 20 students, including Japanese students from Ibaraki University, students from Hai Phong University in Vietnam, Vietnamese international students studying at Ibaraki University, and high school students participating in university classes. Together, they created a warm and collaborative space that bridged generations and nationalities.

This event was part of the course “Intercultural Collaborative Learning (Vietnam)”, offered by the Center for Global Engagement at Ibaraki University. Through a COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) project, students from Ibaraki University and Hai Phong University connect online and engage in joint learning under the guidance of faculty members from both institutions. As part of the project, students organize cultural exchange events for junior and senior high school students in both Hai Phong and Ibaraki. This event was one of the practical outcomes of that collaboration.

The first program was a Vietnamese greeting-themed bingo game. Participants learned basic phrases like “Xin chào” (Hello) and “Cảm ơn” (Thank you) while filling in their bingo cards. Students from Hai Phong University joined online to help with pronunciation, creating a fun and interactive atmosphere. One participant commented, “I was surprised to learn that the word ‘ma’ has so many different pronunciations—it made me realize Vietnamese might be even harder than Japanese!”

Next came a hands-on experience with the traditional Vietnamese game Ô ăn quan. Played on a board drawn on paper or the ground, the game involves distributing stones across small “citizen” squares and larger “mandarin” squares to earn points. Participants listened attentively to the student explanations and eagerly tried the game multiple times. One student said, “It reminded me of traditional Japanese games—it was fun to see the similarities.”

The fun continued with two more popular Vietnamese games: Ném lon (a can-targeting game using slippers) and Chơi chuyền (a game where players toss a ball and pick up chopsticks). These simple yet exciting games brought laughter and energy to the room. “I didn’t know Vietnam had so many fun games!” one participant shared.

The food culture segment began with an introduction to Vietnamese cuisine and ingredients, followed by a spring roll-making workshop. Guided by Vietnamese international students, participants wrapped vegetables and shrimp in rice paper to create their own rolls. “Making and eating the spring rolls was so much fun!” one student said. The session continued with an explanation of how coconut is used in Vietnamese cooking, highlighting regional differences across the country. Students also sampled popular coconut-based sweets, with Hai Phong University students sharing when and how these treats are enjoyed in Vietnam.

In the second language activity, participants played a Vietnamese tongue-twister relay game. Despite the challenge of mastering tones and pronunciation, teams worked together and laughed through the process, gaining a deeper appreciation for the rhythm and complexity of the Vietnamese language.

To wrap up the event, students introduced Vietnamese music and dance. After learning about the cultural backgrounds of different regional styles, everyone joined in a group dance to the popular song “BONG BONG BANG BANG.” Smiles and laughter filled the room. “The final dance was so much fun!” “It was refreshing to experience a different culture,” and “There were so many fun programs!” were just a few of the comments from participants.

The student organizers also shared their reflections. Some deepened their interest in Vietnamese history through research on traditional dance, while others gained insights from tandem learning—such as differences in how time is perceived in Japan and Vietnam. Many noted personal growth: “I learned to observe and act,” “I overcame my hesitation to talk to people,” “I want to improve my presentation skills and join more international activities,” and “I realized the joy of planning something together with people from different backgrounds.” One Vietnamese student said, “Even though I’m Vietnamese, I discovered things about my own culture I didn’t know.” Another shared, “I was nervous about working with new people, but through the activities, I felt more excited than anxious and improved my communication skills.”

From planning to execution, the event was a meaningful experience for everyone involved. “It was simply fun,” “I’m glad the participants enjoyed it,” “I learned about Vietnam and improved my own skills,” and “The food and sweets were delicious—I’d love to visit Vietnam someday!” were just some of the enthusiastic responses.

Ibaraki University will continue to create opportunities for young people to connect with the world. Thank you to everyone who participated and to all the students who helped make this event a success!