Hanoi students promote cultural exchange with foreign friends

THE HANOI TIMES — Foreign tourists exploring Hanoi's historic Old Quarter were pleasantly surprised to find local students offering to serve as their free tour guides. Dressed in school uniforms, the students enthusiastically and confidently explained the city's historical landmarks in fluent English.

As part of the project "English Practice and Volunteering at Hanoi's Old Quarter Heritage Sites", the students interacted with visitors and answered their questions to the best of their abilities.

The project, which ran from November 2024 to March 2025, involved 50 students from VAS Hanoi (Vietnam Australia Secondary and High School). Over four months, the students completed 600 hours of English practice and assisted nearly 1,000 international visitors at key heritage sites such as the Heritage House at 87 Ma May Street, the Cultural and Arts Center at 22 Hang Buom Street, and the Kim Ngan Communal House at 44 Hang Bac Street.

Vu Thuy Huong, Vice Principal of the school, said the program is usually reserved for high school seniors. To be accepted, the 50 students had to pass written exams and interviews, as well as complete intensive training. Their selection was aided by the school's strong emphasis on English language instruction and IELTS preparation.

"At first, we didn't know much about the heritage sites, but after two months of training, my friends and I gradually gained confidence and could effectively explain and guide tourists," said Doan Pham Linh Ngoc, a student from Vietnam-Australia Secondary and High School.

Another student, Tran Trung Hai, added: "We had to study both the materials provided by the heritage board and online sources."

Spreading culture

Vu Thuy Huong said that the project provides a valuable chance for students to build self-confidence, practice real-world English, deepen their understanding of cultural heritage, and develop both national pride and a global mindset.

Dang Xuan Khue, a representative of the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board, commended the students for their responsibility, friendliness, and enthusiasm. He noted that their sincere commitment made a strong impression on many tourists, who expressed interest in returning to the Old Quarter.

The students shared that at first they were shy and hesitant to interact, but with time and practice they became more confident, worked better in teams, increased their knowledge of history and culture, and adapted more easily to real-life situations.

"The project was really meaningful for us. We realized that it's good to contribute to our country with small things," said Tran Trung Hai.

History teacher Tran Thi Huong, who guided the students throughout the project, observed that they exhibited remarkable maturity. "The lessons were no longer limited to textbooks, but became real experiences. The students didn't just study history, they lived it. They became cultural ambassadors, linking the past, present, and future, connecting Hanoi and Vietnam with friends around the world."

Efforts to make education a key pillar of Hanoi 

The project at VAS Hanoi exemplifies the implementation of Article 22 of Capital Law 2024, which aims to make Hanoi's education sector a leading one, even at the international level. To enforce the law, policies have been developed to encourage students to study foreign languages, participate in cultural exchanges, and preserve traditional values.

Initiatives like these help students develop critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving skills, and independent learning habits, in line with the 2018 General Education Curriculum, which promotes project-based learning as an open, creative, and hands-on approach.

Meaningful projects like VAS Hanoi's shape a generation of global citizens, yet firmly rooted in their cultural identities, exactly what Hanoi seeks in this new era.

After the project, students said they gained self-confidence, improved teamwork, deepened their understanding of culture and history, and learned to adapt to different situations.

"Through this project, the students have grown remarkably. They put knowledge into practice and became cultural ambassadors, spreading historical values to international friends," said history teacher Tran Thi Huong.