On the morning of July 6, 2024, as part of the "Saigon – Go for love" journey, international students from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar had many interesting experiences, discovering the architectural beauty and daily life of local people in Saigon from a double-decker bus. Go with an aerial view from a double-decker bus, learning about historical landmarks such as the Central Post Office and Independence Palace. Along with that, students also have the opportunity to enjoy signature dishes like ‘cơm tấm’ Đại Hàn and Đỗ Phủ coffee, one of the typical dishes in Saigon.

International students check-in in front of Đỗ Phủ Coffee shop

A journey to discover unique culture, history and architecture

Riding on the open-top bus, impressive convertible high-rise buildings, busy roads with vehicles and the hustle and bustle of the city’ residents, Anita Inthavongxay from Laos, who had been in Ho Chi Minh City for just a week, shared that everything was still quite new and this bus tour allowed her to learn about the city's famous sightseeing spots and featured routes in a short amount of time.

International students excited at the first time travelled in double-decker bus

"The English commentary about the history, culture, architecture, and key features of each location gave me a comprehensive understanding of the places we passed. Especially, the car can stop at the places where we want to take pictures and check in. This was an interesting trip that I will definitely go again during my time studying and living here." Anita Inthavongxay added.

Continuing their double-decker bus journey, students visited famous landmarks with rich historical and cultural significance of Saigon. The majestic Independence Palace, the ancient Notre-Dame Cathedral with its impressive Gothic architecture, and the Saigon Central Post Office with its strong French colonial influences - all served as vibrant historical pages engagingly shared in detail by the tour guides helping students gain a deeper understanding of Saigon's unique historical, cultural, and architectural values, fostering a greater love and appreciation for Vietnam.

Continuing their journey, the group of students moved to the Central Post Office of the City and admired the beauty of the European-style architecture there.

Explore Vietnamese cuisine

Knowing that Vietnamese coffee is famous worldwide and a must-try in Vietnam, Namthip Manivong from Laos was excited to enjoy coffee paired with fried breadsticks while learning about Vietnamese culture through lively historical stories narrated by the guides at the uniquely designed Đỗ Phủ coffee shop.

Especially, the journey to discover Saigon's culture would be incomplete without experiencing renowned ‘cơm tấm’ Đại Hàn featuring aromatic grilled ribs and rich fish sauce, and banchan like pickled spinach and kimchi.

International students enjoyed Bretel butter coffee, along with the Dai Han broken rice dish - a unique dish combining Vietnamese and Korean culinary culture.  

International students explored the former base of operations of the Saigon Special Forces and learned about the process of building tunnels at the historical site.

“Even though there are slight differences in taste, I'm very happy to experience a new culture. The trip gives me a great opportunity to explore the beauty of the city, historical landmarks and unique dishes, which boosts my confidence in integrating and studying well here in the future.” - shared Student Moe Pwint Phyu from Myanmar. 

Although the journey was short, it left many deep impressions on the international students, helping them understand more about the people and country of Vietnam in general and the City in particular, thereby helping them quickly integrate and adapt to the new environment, enhancing their academic success.

Annually, Ho Chi Minh City Open University has welcomed hundreds of international students from various countries including France, Germany, Turkey, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Cambodia for study and cultural exchange programs. and master's programs. The University currently has more than 200 international students study long-term programs including bachelor's and master's degrees. Among them, the university currently hosts over 100 international students enrolled in undergraduate programs.

Some footages taken throughout the "Sai Gon - Go for Love" journey: 

International students explored the city

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