On April 18, the Office of Student Affairs at USSH-VNUHCM, in collaboration with Van Khoa Tourism and Science Services, organized the “Go Glocal USSH” educational program. Students participated in a field trip to Phu Loi Prison and Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village. This served as a valuable opportunity for the younger generation to explore and cultivate appreciation for long-standing traditional cultural values.
At the first destination, students explored the prison cell systems, isolation cells, and artifacts preserved at the Phu Loi Prison relic site. Dubbed "Hell on Earth", Phu Loi Prison once detained thousands of revolutionary soldiers between 1957 and 1964. Notably, the brutal poisoning of prisoners on December 1, 1958 stands as a historical scar, testifying to the crimes of the neo-colonial regime while highlighting Vietnamese patriotism.
A museum guide shares the history of Phu Loi Prison with students - Photo by: HANH NGUYEN
Mr. Tran Dang Khoa, a representative of the "Go Glocal USSH" organizing committee, shared: “Returning to Phu Loi Prison after eight years, I still deeply feel the unbelievable resilience of the revolutionary soldiers. Witnessing the cramped cells and hearing about the torture methods made me realize that peace shouldn’t be taken for granted. This trip reminds me to complain less about daily life, cherish the present, and think more seriously about my responsibility toward the nation’s future".
Students and organizers offer incense to commemorate heroic martyrs in a solemn atmosphere - Photo by: HANH NGUYEN
The program's next destination was the Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Village - the "cradle" of traditional Southern lacquer art. Here, students observed the intricate process of creating artistic masterpieces from simple materials such as colored paints, seashells, and eggshells. Tuong Binh Hiep is a traditional craft village renowned nationwide for its lacquerware of high quality and sophisticated style.
Beyond observation, the students also experienced the craft firsthand by using sandpaper and learning the grinding process. During the process of grinding, each layer of color gradually revealed beneath the lacquer, indicating that each masterpiece requires not only talent but also diligence.
Students experience the lacquer grinding process, a crucial step requiring meticulousness and patience to reveal hidden vibrant colors - Photo by: HANH NGUYEN
Additional images from the program:
The journey concluded, but the echoes of national pride remain. This helps prepare young people to bring Vietnamese identity to the world by embodying the spirit of Go Glocal USSH: Learning through experience - Understanding through culture.
Source: HANH NGUYEN
Translated by: Như Quỳnh Lý
