Contributing to fostering Vietnam - RoK friendship

(ĐN) - In August, Dong Nai province consecutively welcomed two youth and adolescent delegations from Jeollanam and Gyeongnam provinces (the Republic of Korea - RoK), for visits and cultural exchanges.

These activities not only offered opportunities for the youth and adolescents from Jeollanam, Gyeongnam, and Dong Nai to meet, interact, and learn about customs and culture, but also contributed to fostering the ever-growing and sustainable Vietnam and the RoK friendship.

Youth and adolescent delegates from Gyeongnam province (RoK) experience pottery-making at Bien Hoa Pottery Company. Photo: Nga Son

Exploring Dong Nai’s history and culture

Although each delegation only stayed in Dong Nai for four days, they had many impressive experiences.

Yoon Si Won, a student at Jeonnam university, Jeollanam province (RoK), shared: During her days in Dong Nai, she had the chance to experience dressing Vietnam’s traditional Ao Dai, visit the Tran Bien Temple of Literature historical site, explore pottery-making, enjoy Son Tien Tourist Area, and interact with Dong Nai youth and so on. Among these, the most impressive activity for her was the experience of dressing traditional Ao Dai.

According to Yoon Si Won, she had researched Vietnam’s Ao Dai before coming to Dong Nai, however, actually wearing it gave her a completely different feeling. Ao Dai is soft, graceful, and modest, yet it accentuates the graceful curves of Vietnamese women.

“I shared my photos in Ao Dai and my impressions on social media so that my family and friends could also learn more about this traditional costume,” Yoon Si Won added.

Alongside the Ao Dai experience, Yoon Jeong Hyeon, 15, a student from Jinju Middle School in Gyeongnam, and other delegation members visited the Dong Nai Museum - a place dedicated to preserving and promoting cultural heritage values.

Yoon Jeong Hyeon said: Visiting Dong Nai Museum and listening to interpretation by museum employee gave me a comprehensive view of Dong Nai through different historical periods, its natural environment, ethnic communities, Vietnamese culture, and traditional crafts.

Yoon Jeong Hyeon also supposed: Dong Nai Museum should be a priority destination, especially for international visitors who come to Dong Nai and wish to learn more about the province.

In addition to listening to introduction, when directly experiencing some pottery-making steps such as shaping, painting, carving patterns, and glazing, each young RoK person gained a deeper understanding of the value of Bien Hoa pottery.

Ha Seon Bhin, 17, a student from Chungnyeol Girls’ High School in Gyeongnam, expressed: This was my first time working with clay to shape pottery. At first, watching the artisans, it seemed very easy, but when I tried it myself, I realized it was not simple at all. Creating a finished pottery product of real value requires a lot of time and many different stages. Perhaps that is what makes Bien Hoa pottery so unique.

Opportunities for exchange and cohesion

Beyond exploring Dong Nai’s land and people, the exchange program was also an opportunity for the youth and adolescents from Jeollanam, Gyeongnam, and Dong Nai to connect and strengthen bonds.

Youth and adolescents from Jeollanam province and Dong Nai joined in team building games organized by Dong Nai Youth Union and Youth Federation. Photo: Nga Son

The Jeollanam youth and adolescent delegation visited and exchanged with students majoring in Korean Studies at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Lac Hong university. This activity was highly appreciated by both sides. They divided into groups to present about their local history, culture, customs, and traditions.

Representatives from Jeollanam, Gyeongnam, and Dong Nai hoped that youth and adolescent activity exchanges would serve as a practical bridge to further promote friendly cooperation between the localities in the future.

Nguyen Ngoc Kieu Trang, a third-year Korean Studies student at Lac Hong university, shared: In the past three years of studying Korean Studies, she has had many opportunities to interact with experts and volunteer groups from RoK. She has also studied about RoK by herself, but mostly focused on famous cities, while she had little knowledge of provinces like Jeollanam. Through the presentations by Jeollanam youth and adolescents, she found it very interesting and gained a new perspective on RoK.

In order to create more opportunities for exchange, cohesion and further strengthen the friendship between the youth and adolescents of the two provinces of Jeollanam, Gyeongnam and Dong Nai, Dong Nai Youth Union and Youth Federation organized a team building program at Son Tien Tourist Area (Long Hung ward) with exciting games such as three-legged race, catch and throw, blindfolded pig smashing, fishing, and dance activities, etc.

The youth and adolescents from the two provinces were divided into teams to compete together. Remarkably, although they met for the first time, once they became teammates, they played with great coordination. Beyond the games, Jeollanam youth and adolescents also participated in a campfire night, holding hands and singing songs of friendship. A special highlight of the program was the wish tree where participants wrote down their hopes and dreams, then hung them on the tree as a symbol of their aspirations for a future of closer cooperation and development between the two nations.

By: Nga Son

Translated by: Thu Hien - Thu Ha