THE VIETNAM OUTDOOR TOURISM RESEARCH PROJECT: FROM VINUNI CAMPUS TO LIVING CULTURES

At VinUniversity, learning is not just confined to classroom hours or final exams. It’s a journey where students carry their values and knowledge out into the real world – to observe, listen, and understand people.

For Thùy Dương and Gia Bảo (Cohort 5 – CAS), that journey began with seemingly ordinary moments: late nights completing assignments, long discussions in search of solutions to problems without clear answers, and repeated cycles of trial and error while approaching knowledge from multiple disciplines. Within CAS’s liberal and interdisciplinary learning environment, they were equipped with a strong academic foundation and encouraged to question, challenge assumptions, and actively explore what truly interests them.

And then they all stepped out of their familiar classroom.

Joining the Vietnam Outdoor Tourism Research Project as Research Assistants, Thùy Dương and Gia Bảo visited locations such as Sa Pa, Mù Cang Chải, and Đà Bắc – not as tourists, but as researchers. They had the opportunity to directly interact with the Dao, Mường, H’mông, and Giáy communities to listen to their stories, observe how tourism impacts their lives, and capture perspectives that are often overlooked.

Using a novel narrative-photovoice method, the team gave cameras to local people, enabling them to record their daily lives. This approach allowed them to actively participate in the storytelling and analysis process, creating authentic and multifaceted glimpses into culture, livelihoods, and identity.

From working with local guides, small businesses to engaging with the community in various activities, this experience has helped students transform their learning into a deep understanding of people and social contexts, while also taking them beyond the campus to explore the wider world.

It can be said that the environment at VinUni, along with the company of College of Arts and Sciences, has become a true “incubator” for nurturing and honing students. It not only provides an academic foundation, but also creates a space where students are encouraged to break free from familiar patterns, and dare to try new directions to find the path that best suits them.

The journeys of Thùy Dương and Gia Bảo are clear evidence that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge, but also about progressing beyond the initial starting point to create value.

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