What makes the áo dài so special? What is it about sidewalk iced tea that fascinates Japanese students so much? The answers were found right at VJU’s Hoa Lac Campus during a cultural exchange between students of VNU Vietnam Japan University (VJU) and the University of Tokyo on August 17.
As the “hosts”, VJU students introduced interesting aspects of Vietnamese culture and invited their Japanese friends to experience familiar elements of everyday life in Vietnam, such as wearing áo dài, sitting down for sidewalk iced tea, and enjoying Vietnamese coffee.
The áo dài quickly became one of the most popular experiences. Not only did the University of Tokyo students enthusiastically try it on, they also wore áo dài during their self-introduction presentations and throughout the campus tour. Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thùy Dung, one of the event’s MCs, appeared in a kimono that she had personally brought back from Japan. The traditional Vietnamese and Japanese outfits appearing together created a lovely and memorable moment of cultural exchange.
During their exploration of VJU, students also enjoyed “VJU’s signature” coffee and freshly made cookies prepared by our Hasuko – VJU Cuisine Club. Alongside these small experiences, conversations continued to unfold, fueled by the students’ curiosity and enthusiasm for each other’s cultures.
From áo dài to kimono, from sidewalk iced tea to coffee, these simple cultural experiences became a natural way for students from the two universities to learn about each other’s cultures.
Thank you very much, our “Todai” friends, and see you again at VJU!
Some photos of the event:
