Southeast Asian – Japanese Youth Ship arrives, stays and goes through experiences named Vietnam

SSEAYP 2024 delegates explore the city at night on a double-decker bus on their first evening in Ho Chi Minh City – Photo: THANH HIEP

The stopover in Ho Chi Minh City provided a valuable opportunity for young delegates on the Southeast Asia-Japan Youth Ship from 10 Southeast Asian countries (excluding Myanmar, who did not participate) and Japan to create many beautiful memories and impressions of the warmth and friendliness of the people in Vietnam. In particular, they shared knowledge and perspectives on current events, learned about Vietnamese culture, and experienced Vietnamese cuisine .

Discussing the environment and sustainable development.

On their second day in Ho Chi Minh City, the participants split into six groups to interact and discuss with speakers and young people in the city on topics such as soft power and people-to-people diplomacy , sustainable economic and community development, the global environment and climate change, disaster risk reduction and recovery, health and well-being, and the digital society.

The theme of sustainable economic and community development at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City emphasized the importance of waste sorting at source, increased recycling and reuse, and limiting single-use plastic products.

From group discussions, the students concluded that there is a need to diversify educational methods for young people on sustainable development, including green courses, as well as collaborating with various companies and organizations to design field trips to learn about sustainable development models.

At the University of Technology (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City), regarding disaster risk reduction and recovery, all participants agreed that the biggest environmental challenge is plastic waste. A project shared by a Vietnamese delegate involved using aloe vera as a food wrap, a solution that was developed at the University of Technology as an environmentally friendly alternative.

Walter James A. Jumao-as (Philippines) said that optimizing biodegradable waste to make it more useful in the community is very important. “We must be responsible for what we produce and use every day. Everyone, especially young people, needs to shift to a zero-waste mindset,” he said.

Vietnam has touched my heart with its sincerity and warmth. It was my first time here, but this place has left an unforgettable impression. I want to thank Vietnam, my host family, and all the kind hearts that resonated with me during my short but meaningful stay in this country.

YUKA MIZUGUCHI (Japanese representative)

A bridge connecting cultures and people.

One of the highlights of SSEAYP 2024 is the homestay experience for delegates in 13 districts and Thu Duc City (Ho Chi Minh City). Delegates will stay with host families to explore Vietnamese cuisine, history, culture, and people in the most intimate and authentic way.

Some Japanese visitors were curious to try sugarcane juice for the first time. Others were taken to eat beef noodle soup or broken rice with grilled pork. Many young Vietnamese people even brought foreign delegates to attend the National Unity Day celebration in their neighborhood so that international youth could experience the strong sense of community among the Vietnamese people.

Thu Duc City Youth Union Secretary Phan Ngoc Doan Trang said that staying in people's homes will create special, unforgettable emotions and provide valuable experiences to better understand Vietnamese culture, customs, and lifestyle.

"This is also an opportunity to foster close and deep bonds between international youth and the youth and people of Ho Chi Minh City," Ms. Trang said.

Two days with a host family seemed too short, but it left delegates Yuka Mizuguchi (Japan) with many unforgettable memories. She said she felt very strongly the warm affection that the people of Ho Chi Minh City showed to the delegates of this year's program, and that for her, it was "a warm welcome beyond our wildest imagination."

“From the moment I stepped off the train, I felt the warmth and hospitality in everyone's eyes and smiles. I was welcomed into the home of Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang's family in District 4, and it felt like we had known each other for a long time, not that it was our first time meeting. The whole family treated me sincerely, naturally, and intimately, which truly moved me,” Yuka shared.

You boasted about learning many fascinating things about the unique culture of Vietnam. Despite differences in language and culture, Yuka said that, miraculously, an invisible thread still connects everyone, which she called "the harmony of hearts because everyone is striving for sharing and connection."

For Yuka, Vietnam was not just a destination, but also a second home, filled with kind people and unforgettable lessons and memories.

The foster family of Ly Thi Nguyet Anh (District 7) brought her two friends, Aquilah Natasha (Brunei) and Jamsri (Thailand), to the War Remnants Museum – Photo: THANH HIEP

Delegates from the Southeast Asian-Japan Youth Ship explore history.

Many delegates took the time to learn about Vietnamese history and were taken to the War Remnants Museum (District 3). Delegate Aquilah Natasha (Brunei) said that the images and artifacts at the museum partly show the brutality of the war that Vietnam experienced. But what you feel is greater than the loss and suffering, which is the spirit of unity and resilience of the Vietnamese people.

The delegate from Brunei expressed great admiration for how the Vietnamese people transformed the wounds of war into a driving force to rise up and build a strong nation as it is today. He said he would share this with his friends and family upon his return.

Delegate Walter James (Philippines) said that visiting the museum helped him understand how important protecting peace and human rights is. According to James, the lessons from the museum not only remind Vietnamese people but also anyone who visits about the consequences of war.

“This trip not only helped me understand more about Vietnamese history but also made me realize that young people must be the pioneers in building a world without war, where everyone lives in peace and compassion. Hopefully, through SSEAYP, the spirit of solidarity and mutual understanding between countries will be further strengthened,” James said.

Meanwhile, delegate Jamsri (Thailand) stated: "The consequences of war are always devastating, and these things help us to appreciate the value of independence and freedom even more."

Online medical appointment booking system

At the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City, the topic of health and well-being was discussed by students in terms of global access to healthcare, the current state and solutions for physical and mental health.

Opinions were expressed on the need to develop an online medical appointment registration system to save patients waiting time. Priority should be given to the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and people with disabilities. In addition, improvements in the quality of facilities and human resources at healthcare centers are also necessary.

Some opinions also suggest a policy of providing free medication and delivering it to the homes of the elderly. At the same time, they propose updating healthcare applications to maximize convenience for people seeking medical care and accessing information from doctors and medical professionals.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tau-thanh-nien-dong-nam-a-nhat-ban-den-o-lai-va-di-cung-trai-nghiem-mang-ten-viet-nam-20241118104358541.htm