The school 'brainstormed' to organize field trips for students during complicated floods

Students are worried about their safety when the school requires a tour across Vietnam, while flooding is happening in some central provinces, and the cost is higher than a year's tuition.

Students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture in the cross-country reality program in 2024 - Photo: Faculty of Tourism

Students of the 2022-2026 course, majoring in tourism management, Faculty of Tourism, Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture, said that on December 6, about 100 students will participate in the Cross-Vietnam Field Tour program (compulsory subject, 2 credits).

21 days in the Northern and Central provinces

The program lasts for 21 days through the Central and Northern provinces. What students are concerned about is the complicated flood situation in the Central provinces that could affect safety, and the cost of 21 million is higher than the tuition fee for 1 year of study at the school. This is a compulsory course in the training program.

It is known that the tuition fee of Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture for the 2025 enrollment is 20 million VND/academic year, the previous courses are lower. Thus, for just one 2-credit subject, the cost is higher than the tuition fee for 1 year of study at the school.

On December 3, the faculty held a three-party meeting involving the faculty, students, and the tour operator. Two tour leaders - lecturers from the school - were in charge of two different groups of students.

MSc. Chu Khanh Linh - Deputy Head of the Department of Tourism - proposed that the group postpone the departure to early January 2026, recalculating the tour price to ensure the price does not change by: reducing the standard of accommodation services for 4-star nights to compensate for the difference, removing some tourist attractions...

Weather conditions such as rain, floods, and storms will affect the safety and experience of students. The highest goal is still to ensure safety of life and health and to meet the course requirements to ensure the training program.

Safety is paramount

Also at this meeting, some lecturers said that ensuring student safety is the most important thing, so it should be postponed to early 2026. Dr. Tran Thanh Tuan - Head of the Cross-Vietnam Field Tour - said that personally, he does not want to postpone the schedule, wants everything to go smoothly and stably. However, the weather is unpredictable, and the organization of the tour is linked to the course subject to the management of the school.

Mr. Tuan expressed concern that the issue of security and human safety is the most important. If the tour departs on the right day and there is no problem, then it is fine. If the opposite happens, and society speaks up and knows the situation, why is it still allowed to go? Who will answer that question? Therefore, carefully consider postponing the departure date, possibly to mid-January 2026.

The remaining head of the delegation, MSc. Duong Van Cham, affirmed that the current weather was not unusual (at the time of the meeting on December 3 - PV) and suggested that the postponement should not be made. The postponement would affect the faculty's training plan.

Sharing this view, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung - Deputy Head of Training Department - said that Mr. Duong Van Cham's opinion clearly demonstrates responsibility, professionalism and practicality.

"We request that teachers and travel agencies study and implement this plan. If any teachers have different opinions, please provide clear and reliable arguments, evidence, and proof (official news about the weather situation). We cannot accept tabloid news or sensational headlines to attract views," Mr. Tung added.

Meanwhile, a representative of the travel agency said that if the trip is postponed to 2026, the service price will increase by 5-20%. Most students agreed to the departure date of December 6, some students requested to change the plan, and one student did not agree to go.

As a result, the school decided to keep the departure date of December 6, but students had to sign a commitment to take responsibility for the trip. Mr. Duong Van Cham texted the person in charge of the bus to ask the students to sign the commitment, any student who did not sign would not be allowed on the bus.

Compulsory subjects

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Lam Nhan - Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture - said that 99% of students agreed with the schedule, so the school decided to organize it because this is a compulsory subject in the training program. The travel company committed to ensuring safety, if it was postponed to 2026, the price would be different. This year's price is cheaper than previous years.

Explaining the fact that the subject is worth 2 credits but requires 21 days of practical training, Mr. Nhan said that according to regulations, 1 day of practical training is equivalent to 2 periods at school. Therefore, the school must organize enough days to ensure compliance with regulations.

"Students do not have to go on tours but participate in designing and operating tours, with instructors as guides," Mr. Nhan added.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/truong-can-nao-to-chuc-cho-sinh-vien-di-thuc-te-khi-mua-lu-phuc-tap-20251205105124957.htm