US students experience Vietnamese culture in Da Nang
DNO - A cultural exchange visit by students from George School in the United States to Da Nang has created a vibrant atmosphere of connection and mutual understanding, highlighting the growing friendship between young generations of Viet Nam and the United States.
Impressive cultural experiences
From January 25 to 28, a delegation of George School students, led by Mr Croucher Benjamin James, Head of the History and Social Sciences Department, took part in a series of exchange activities at Da Nang-located Tran Phu High School, offering meaningful opportunities for cultural interaction and learning.
During the exchange, students from both schools participated in a variety of activities, including traditional music and dance performances, bingo games introducing famous Vietnamese landmarks and hands-on cultural experiences such as painting and decorating traditional Vietnamese conical hats.
These activities helped foster friendship, curiosity and deeper cultural awareness among the students.
The visiting students also toured several well-known attractions in Da Nang and experienced homestay accommodation with local families.
This immersive experience allowed them to gain firsthand insight into the daily life, customs and hospitality of Vietnamese people.
For many students, it was their first visit to Viet Nam. In addition to Da Nang, the group travelled to Mai Chau in Hoa Binh Province and the capital city of Ha Noi, gaining a broad perspective on Vietnamese culture and society. Among the highlights, the homestay experience left a particularly strong impression.
Student Weng Pujiangyue shared that the warmth of the host families and the close, friendly conversations created unforgettable memories.
Meanwhile, Mascari Michael Weiwei Xu expressed admiration for the friendliness of Vietnamese people, especially the strong emphasis on family values and community bonds.
Building bridges of friendship
Since 1995, George chool in the United States has maintained a long-running programme that brings its students to Viet Nam for experiential learning and cultural exchange.
The initiative aims to help young Americans gain deeper insights into Vietnamese history, arts and local life, while fostering respect for cultural diversity and the value of people-to-people engagement.
Through hands-on activities and direct interaction with local communities, students are encouraged to develop a understanding of Viet Nam and its people.
“We want our students to understand that despite cultural differences, people from different countries can connect, empathise and become friends,” said Mr Croucher Benjamin James, Head of the History and Social Sciences Department.
The recent exchange in Da Nang continued this tradition, with the Tran Phu High School playing an active role as a host and cultural bridge.
Through educational and cultural activities, the programme helped introduce international students to the history, culture and daily life of Viet Nam, as well as Da Nang in particular.
Alongside cultural discovery, such meaningful exchanges contributed to strengthening mutual understanding, trust and long-term bonds between young people of Viet Nam and the United States.
They are seen as practical and meaningful contributions to the development of bilateral friendship in a new phase of Viet Nam-US relations.