The Consul General of Malaysia shares a lecture on “Urban Culture” with students and learners at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City.

On the morning of June 14, within the framework of the postgraduate course Urban Culture led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Hồng Xuân, Mr. Firdaus Othman – Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City – delivered a special guest lecture to doctoral candidates, graduate students, and undergraduates from the Departments of Urban Studies and Cultural Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City.

His talk, titled “Urban Culture in the Context of Integration and Cultural Diversity in Southeast Asia”, offered practical and comparative insights into the processes of urbanization, cultural preservation, identity-building, and the role of cultural institutions in major cities such as Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Putrajaya, Malacca (Malaysia), and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).

During the exchange, Mr. Firdaus Othman emphasized:

"Cities are not only engines of socio-economic development, but also spaces where cultural values converge and spread. In the era of globalization, preserving urban cultural identity is a shared challenge—but also an opportunity to foster creative cooperation and sustainable development among ASEAN cities."

Photo: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Hồng Xuân with the guest speaker and participating graduate students and undergraduates.

The session attracted lively discussion and strong interest from the audience, composed of students and researchers actively engaged in the fields of urban space, urban management, community culture, and humanistic planning.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Hồng Xuân – Head of the Department of Socio-Economic and Urban Culture, Director of the Master's Program in Urban Studies, Director of the Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities, and Director of the Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies – highly appreciated Mr. Firdaus Othman’s insightful and inspiring sharing. She also emphasized that the talk was a vivid testament to the strong friendship and cooperation in education and culture between Vietnam and Malaysia, particularly in the field of sustainable urban research and development.

Photo: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Hồng Xuân with the speaker and students in the courtyard of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-HCM.