Around 900 students from four high schools - Meizen , Mizuma , Asakura and Genkai - in the Fukuoka Prefecture of Japan have finished their study trips to Vietnam, the first of its kind held for Fukuoka’s students.

The program, divided into 4 phases lasting from October 28 to December 11, was part of a series of activities held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

It was designed to offer useful and practical lessons about traveling to Vietnam for the students who may act as a bridge to enhance stronger diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan in the future.

It was organized by the Vietnam Consulate General in Fukuoka, in collaboration with Fukuoka Prefecture authorities, the Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Association in the prefecture, the Kyushu–Vietnam Friendship Association and the HCMC Union of Friendship Associations, HCMC Department of Education and Training , Japanese travel firms JTB Kyushu and Nishitetsu, and its Vietnamese partner Apex Vietnam Co.

This program was a combined study trip enabling the student to apply their practical skills while learning how to cook the traditional dishes of Vietnam, practicing vegetable carving art, performing traditional dance and musical instruments of Vietnam.

It also offered the students a chance to join sightseeing tours to many cultural and historical sites in HCMC and the Mekong Delta.

During the visit, the students also joined many cultural and sports exchange sub-programs with their Vietnamese friends at HCMC-based Le Hong Phong and Le Quy Don high schools.

A joyful trip

Four students from Asakura schools, the last delegation of the program, shared with Tuoi Tre News their own experiences and feelings about the trip.

“This is the first time I’ve made Vietnamese food. I did not know how to make it because in Japan we don’t have so many spices. But I tried to make it and now I’m really happy,” said Tatsuya Hirayama while showing the food that he and his friends made.    

“At first, I thought I could not make it. However, finally I can see my beautiful achievement. I’m proud of it,” expressed Koutakae Airi, a Japanese student while trying to trim a turnip into the shape of a swan.

Huynh Minh Son, tour operation manager of Apex Vietnam Co, said the number of Japanese students his company received this year rose 50 percent over last year to around 2,000 including those from Fukuoka Prefecture, partially due to the diplomatic anniversary celebration.

“I think the program was very meaningful as it offered Japanese tourists a general understanding about Vietnamese history, culture and lifestyle.”

“With the result of the 2013 trip, Asakura High School has booked a fresh study trip for 300 students to Vietnam in 2014.”

Regarding the difficulties the firm met when organizing the trip, Son said the biggest challenges were the licensing for receiving Japanese students which often took a lot of time. Vietnamese schools’ managing boards often said they were too busy to host the cultural and sports exchange activities.

But local state authorities, like the Department of External Affairs, have helped a lot in streamlining the procedures for the implementation of those programs, Son added.