The 39th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program 2012 Saturday paid a visit to the headquarters of Tuoi Tre newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City, where the delegates toured around the newsroom and engaged in several exchange activities. The delegates, including 35 young people from Japan and ten Southeast Asian countries, were warmly welcomed by the newspaper chiefs and reporters before starting the exchange. They were first invited to challenge their Vietnamese skill by participating in games in which they were supposed to speak at least two sentences or phrases in Vietnamese, and read a full sentence in the language. The exchange continued with a small discussion over social responsibility of the youth, where the delegates voiced out what young people in their countries should do. A delegate from the Philippines suggested that young people should be aware of social responsibility through their own initiatives, and by specific actions such as limiting the use of plastic bags. His Malaysian counterpart meanwhile said public companies should set aside an annual budget to contribute to social activities. The delegates finally took a tour around Tuoi Tre’s integrated newsroom, the first of its kind in Vietnam, on the fifth floor before having lunch. The SSEAYP is an annual cultural exchange program among young people from ASEAN countries and Japan. The program was initiated in 1974, and Vietnam officially became a member in 1996.

Below are some photos taken from the exchange:

 The delegates receive Tuoi Tre medal as a souvenir when entering the newspaper's hall. Photo: Tuoi Tre

 The delegates pose for a photo in front of Tuoi Tre headquarters. Photo: Tuoi Tre

 The delegates participate in the Vietnamese skill challenging game. Photo: Tuoi Tre

 A delegate from Myanmar speaks during the discussion about the youth and social responsibility at the exchange. Photo: Tuoi Tre

 The delegates watch a Tuoi Tre designer doing his job at the newspaper's newsroom. Photo: Tuoi Tre