Ho Chi Minh City: A Deep Dive into Sustainability and Cultural Immersion

The group explores the city's vibrant streets, historic sites, and bustling markets to see how tradition and modern growth interact. Guided tours reveal both environmental pressures and cultural strengths in a rapidly urbanising space. By comparing what they see with their own backgrounds, students begin to critically evaluate how culture shapes sustainability. Having observed the city, they are now ready to contrast this with the slower pace and deeper traditions of rural Vietnam.

Traveling into the Mekong Delta, students experience the transition from city life to fertile farmlands. Meeting farmers and seeing sustainable practices such as organic growing or permaculture, they learn how communities adapt to environmental changes while protecting heritage. This day bridges urban insight with rural resilience, preparing them for hands-on cultural immersion with local families.

Students stay with local families, sharing meals, stories, and daily routines. They gain insight into how traditions connect with environmental care, such as cooking with seasonal produce or minimising waste. Working alongside their hosts strengthens cross-cultural bonds and teamwork. This lived experience of sustainable living sets the stage for practical workshops and skill-sharing the following day.

Practical workshops immerse students in traditional crafts, eco-farming, and sustainable cooking. By engaging directly in activities like weaving, fishing, or planting, they connect manual skills with broader themes of ecological responsibility. These sessions show that sustainability is not abstract but deeply embedded in daily practice. Having developed practical skills, students are now ready to reflect more deeply on the cultural meaning of sustainability.

Exploring temples, markets, and cultural landmarks, students learn how heritage underpins identity and guides sustainable choices. Evening reflection sessions encourage them to link lessons from both the workshops and community living. This balance of cultural learning and critical reflection prepares them to see how community efforts scale up to broader sustainability initiatives.

Students visit NGOs, cooperatives, and eco-projects that showcase innovative approaches to sustainability. They see how local action aligns with global goals, gaining a sense of how policies and partnerships support communities. Comparing these projects with their homestay experiences helps them evaluate different levels of action. With this wider perspective, they are equipped to begin creating their own project ideas.

In mixed teams, students brainstorm and design small-scale sustainability projects inspired by their experiences. With mentor support, they turn reflections into practical plans, whether campaigns, tools, or community ideas. These collaborative efforts build leadership and problem-solving skills, while also fostering creativity. This process prepares them for sharing their ideas with local partners the following day.

Students present their projects to peers, mentors, and local partners, gaining feedback and celebrating their work. The exchange of ideas strengthens confidence and cross-cultural collaboration. As the program nears its close, students reflect on the friendships and knowledge they have built. With projects shared, the focus shifts to consolidating the journey and preparing for departure.

The final day includes a reflective workshop where students connect their experiences to future goals in study, work, and personal sustainability. Saying farewell to Vietnam, they carry home practical skills, cultural understanding, and a strengthened sense of global citizenship. The journey comes full circle, from arrival and first impressions to departure with new knowledge and confidence to act as changemakers.