Vietnam - Cambodia Student Exchange: Connecting from simple things

From self-prepared food stalls, bustling art performances to stories about a second home away from home, the Vietnam - Cambodia Student Exchange Program at Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Hung Yen province) on November 15 brought students from three countries: Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia closer together, creating moments of connection and strong friendship between the young generations.

Taste of homeland and friendship from all over

From 6pm, the campus of Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy was bustling. Three booths of students from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were crowded with visitors.

Booth of Cambodian students studying abroad. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

The Cambodian booth featured familiar dishes from the land of the pagodas: Amok with the fragrant smell of coconut milk and fish sauce; Num bank chok - fresh rice noodles with green curry sauce and Sack kur arg - pork-filled rice rolls. Chheang Sophon (third-year medical student) happily said that he had sold out his products by noon, only keeping a few portions for display and giving his booth a 10 score. Chheang Sophon added that after graduating, he would return to Cambodia, but if given the chance, he would still want to return to Vietnam to study for a master's degree.

The Lao booth also attracted many customers to enjoy mango sticky rice, banh sang khoi, coconut cake and phan khau xoi - seasoned with "thua nao", spices brought from Laos. Student Sengdavy Souliyaseng (5th year of General Medicine) said: "Sometimes in the dormitory, I make them for my friends to eat. Then they like them and tell me to make them for sale. I didn't expect them to sell out so quickly and have so many supporters." The booth also displayed a tourist map made by students in a week, introducing destinations and typical cuisine of Laos.

A display corner of the Vietnamese booth. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

Vietnamese students prepared a colorful booth, introducing cuisine from the three regions of North - Central - South along with homemade gift sets based on scientific research topics, including herbal tea, scented bags and candles. Dinh Thi Quynh Anh (2nd year Nursing) said the group spent a week to complete, each set costing 150,000 VND. The booth also displayed cultural images, festivals and symbols of the three countries.

On the side of the stage, Ho A Nu (4th year of General Medicine) and Vu Duc Quan (2nd year of General Medicine) took the opportunity to practice the movements for the dance "My Homeland Hung Yen". A Nu shared: "I want to introduce my homeland, Vietnam, to Lao and Cambodian students". Quan said that his class has about 15 Cambodian students, who are still shy in communicating, so Vietnamese students always support them, both in theory and in clinical practice.

Inn Sovandara (second year of General Medicine) and his friends prepared two performances, "Vietnam - Cambodia Samaki" and a performance about Cambodia's traditional Chol Chnam Thmey New Year. He said: "Everyone was very happy because this was an exchange program between the three countries. We practiced for a month."

The booth of Lao students attracted many visitors. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

A second home nurtures the seeds of friendship

Ms. Bopha Yos, President of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association of Chua Thap (a member of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association) joined the Central delegation of the Association to bring 31 Cambodian students who are godchildren to attend the exchange program. "The program helps children understand that Cambodia and Vietnam are always a close-knit relationship. When they are far from home, they are taken care of like family members, to feel the bond between generations," she said.

Mrs. Bopha was moved when she saw her godson - Chav Channy, a third-year student at the National Economics University and President of the Cambodian Student Association in Vietnam - speak coherently on stage. Chav Channy said: "When I first came to Vietnam, I was confused, but thanks to the dedicated care of teachers and fellow students, all my worries disappeared. They were not only classmates but also brothers and sisters who always stood by my side, corrected every pronunciation mistake, and laughed together in extracurricular activities."

Chav Channy sent his sincere thanks to Vietnamese teachers and students, especially his godparents: "When we were far away from home, our parents opened their arms, giving us a second home built from love that transcended borders. Our parents are the embodiment of love that does not need to be related by blood, a living testament to the lasting friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia. When we return to Cambodia, we will not only bring with us knowledge but also the warm hearts of Vietnam, becoming goodwill ambassadors to tell the story of this friendship to the next generation."

Delegates and students sang "Vietnam - Cambodia Samaki" and "Holding Hands Together" around the campfire during the Vietnam - Cambodia Student Exchange Program. (Photo: KT)

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thu, member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association, said that this is the first time the Central Association has coordinated to organize a large-scale student exchange program with the participation of students from many provinces and cities. He emphasized: "The activity aims to connect the young generations of the two countries, who will continue to preserve and foster friendship in the future. In addition to this large-scale event, the Association also maintains many sponsorship activities, tours, cultural exploration... so that Cambodian students can clearly understand the historical traditions of the two countries and deeply understand their responsibilities."

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/giao-luu-sinh-vien-viet-nam-campuchia-gan-ket-tu-nhung-dieu-gian-di-217722.html