Students are required to pay 21 million VND for a cross-Vietnam trip during the rainy season and floods; what does the school say about this?

(Dan Tri) - Despite many conflicting opinions, after consulting with students, Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture still decided to organize the cross-Vietnam field trip as planned.

On December 6th, students majoring in Travel Management, Faculty of Tourism , Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture participated in a cross-Vietnam field trip.

This 21-day program, spanning the central and northern provinces, costs 21 million VND and is a mandatory part of the school's training program.

This activity sparked mixed reactions, with some students arguing that organizing the field trip during the heavy rains and floods in Central Vietnam was inappropriate and could jeopardize student safety. Some suggested postponing the program until after the Lunar New Year.

Students from Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture on a field trip to a local area (Photo: NT).

The incident attracted even more attention when some students stated that, prior to the trip, they had to sign a waiver accepting responsibility for the trip before being allowed to participate.

Speaking with a reporter from Dan Tri newspaper , Associate Professor Lam Nhan, Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture, said that this field trip would not only cover the central provinces but also the northern provinces. Before the trip, the university held a meeting and gathered feedback from students.

The school determined that if more than 50% of students wanted to reschedule, they would make adjustments. However, many opinions expressed at the meeting also pointed out that this trip is part of the curriculum, and tourism students also need experience in responding to real-world situations.

The school noted that 99% of students agreed to maintain the original schedule, not changing it to a time after the Lunar New Year. Therefore, the school will still organize the trip as planned.

Regarding the requirement for students to sign a commitment accepting responsibility for the trip before being allowed to participate, Mr. Nhan stated that the information "students must take full responsibility for the trip" is inaccurate.

In this process, all stakeholders must acknowledge their participation and assume responsibility for their respective roles.

“The school, of which I am the head, is ultimately responsible for organizing the school's learning program. The tour company is committed to ensuring the content of the activities; purchasing insurance; committing to organizing the event with the highest level of safety; and providing flexible solutions to address various situations... and many other requirements.”

"Students participating must commit to adhering to the principles and regulations of the trip; any violations will be held accountable. Participating faculties and lecturers must also commit to fulfilling their responsibilities," Mr. Lam Nhan stated.

Regarding the 21-day field trip costing 21 million VND, which is higher than the school's annual tuition fee, Associate Professor Dr. Lam Nhan stated that tuition and study costs at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture are currently the lowest.

This is a training program for tourism management students, organized from the beginning, not a program to organize trips for them. Throughout the course, students will also have to participate in many other trips such as tours of the Southeast region, the Central Highlands, etc., not just one program.

The program includes instructors who accompany students to participate in practical professional activities, tour design, and operation. Students must submit reports and receive grades after the program.

According to Mr. Lam, the program has its own specific requirements and objectives to meet learning needs, and the cost cannot be compared to that of tourist tours. For example, buying a tour to Thailand would be much cheaper.

Previously, Mr. Nhan stated that the practical training programs were handled by the departments. For the past two years, the school has organized a bidding process, outlining the program requirements, and the travel agency that meets them at the lowest cost is selected.

Associate Professor Lam Nhan affirmed that information regarding tuition fees, the number of field trips required during studies, etc., is provided to students before they officially begin their studies at the university.

It is known that tuition fees at Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture range from 15 to 20 million VND per year.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/sinh-vien-phai-dong-21-trieu-dong-di-xuyen-viet-mua-mua-lu-truong-noi-gi-20251210122257241.htm