GRADUATE STUDENTS OF ASIAN STUDIES AND HISTORY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM CONDUCT FIELD TRIPS AT RELIGIOUS AND FAITH-BASED SITES IN HO CHI MINH CITY

On October 18, 2026, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan – Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City – guided graduate students of Asian Studies and History of the Communist Party of Vietnam to participate in a practical field trip at Mariamman Temple and Long Hoa Pagoda, within the framework of the module Religion and Belief in the Contemporary Asian World.

The program enabled students to directly approach religious spaces, learn about architecture, symbols, rituals, and faith practices, thereby applying theoretical knowledge to analyze the relationship between religion, culture, community identity, and social life.

Notably, the field trip to Mariamman Temple took place on the eve of the Mariamman Temple Festival (October 20, 2026), a significant faith-based event for the community of devotees and those associated with the temple. Amidst the festival preparations, students had the opportunity to understand the significance of worship rituals, divine symbols, and the role of sacred spaces in maintaining cultural memory, connecting the community, and preserving traditional values.

Here, elements such as green trees, banana leaves, flowers, offerings, and divine figures became vivid materials for students to explore the relationship between nature, humans, and the sacred in the Hindu tradition. The presence of Mariamman Temple in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City also opened up research issues regarding cultural exchange, acculturation, and the adaptation of religious practices in contemporary society.

Continuing the program, students visited Long Hoa Pagoda, thereby broadening their comparative perspective on worship spaces, religious practices, and cultural values associated with community life.

The program also featured professional sharing from Dr. Venerable Thich Minh That and Prof. Akifumi (Japan), contributing to enriching academic perspectives on religion, faith, and Asian culture.

From an interdisciplinary perspective, the field trip not only helped Asian Studies students identify cultural-religious diversity and intersection but also created opportunities for students of the History of the Communist Party of Vietnam to relate practice to the study of religious policy, mass mobilization work, building the great national unity bloc, and promoting cultural values in social life.

Through field activities, students were encouraged to observe, ask questions, and compare theory with practice, especially in recognizing religion not only as a belief system but also as a vivid cultural-social entity, contributing to maintaining identity, connecting the community, and promoting intercultural dialogue.

The field trip contributed to affirming the significance of educational methods that link theory with practice, developing interdisciplinary thinking, and enhancing awareness of religious and faith diversity, while fostering a spirit of respect for cultural differences and responsibility toward community cohesion in contemporary Vietnamese society.

Some other images from the program: