From September 15 to 17, the Center for Vietnam and Southeast Asian Studies, in collaboration with the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities Research, along with the Faculty of Political Science and Law, Burapha University (Thailand), organized a cultural exchange program for students from Vietnam and Thailand.
The opening ceremony took place in the afternoon on September 15th, in a formal and warm atmosphere. Speaking at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Hồng Xuân emphasized that the program serves as a bridge for students from both countries to study, share knowledge, and simultaneously strengthen the friendship between the two nations as ASEAN continues to deepen integration. Burapha University representative, Dr. Jirayoot Seemung, expressed his excitement at the thoughtful welcome from the Center and hoped for more opportunities to gain Vietnamese educational and cultural experiences.
During the ceremony, the Thai student delegation presented a discussion titled “Cultural Identity and People of Thailand,” introducing characteristics of Thai culture, traditions, and social life. The discussion opened a lively forum with Vietnamese students. In turn, the Vietnamese students presented “Cờ Việt: Phát triển kinh tế đồ chơi từ văn hóa nông nghiệp – 12 con giáp” (Developing a Toy Economy from Agricultural Culture - The 12 Zodiac Animals), which offered a creative approach to preserving and developing folk culture, with insights shared by Mr. Đào Hiểu Đông, founder of the “Water Crystal Chess”.
In the following days, the program continued with many exciting exchange activities. The delegation visited the Linh Xuan campus, learning about the facilities, research activities, and our university’s multi-major training. Furthermore, students from both countries also participated in a study and practicum program with students from the Faculty of Urban Studies, focusing on discussions about urban issues in the era of globalization, the role of mass media in urban development, and the challenges faced by local youth in building sustainable cities. This open-minded forum helped students better understand the roles and responsibilities of the younger generation in regional development.
Additionally, as part of our program, a meeting took place between our institute director and Prof. Dr. Vichien Tansirikongkhon, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Law at Burapha University. During the meeting, both sides discussed long-term collaboration in training, research, and student exchanges. Burapha University expressed a desire to invite our lecturers to teach as well as attend international conferences, especially some important events in 2026 that will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam–Thailand diplomatic relations. The dean of POLLAW also emphasized the plans to strengthen and expand cooperation between the two universities.
The chain of events unfolded over three days, from the opening ceremony to educational discussions, cultural exchanges, facility visits, and meetings with directors. The program not only helped students from both universities expand their knowledge and practice real-world skills but also strengthened the friendship between Vietnam and Thailand through people-to-people diplomatic activities.
The event affirms the commitment of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities Research to promote international cooperation, build an open and creative academic environment, and create long-term potential for collaboration with Burapha University in training and scientific research.
Some pictures taken at the program.
