Vietnamese students make kimchi, try hanbok at Korean culture event

The event was organized by the Korean Language program under the Faculty of Foreign Languages, in collaboration with the Korea Foundation (KF) and the King Sejong Institute Ho Chi Minh City 2, on Saturday at the Vietnam Aviation Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam seeks to make Korean a key skill for aviation workers

Prof. Dr. Ha Nam Khanh Giao, deputy director of the Vietnam Aviation Academy, said cultural exchanges, academic programs and opportunities for young people to learn about each other's countries and people help strengthen and sustain the friendship between Vietnam and South Korea.

The Vietnam Aviation Academy considers foreign language proficiency, intercultural understanding and international cooperation skills essential to training aviation professionals in an industry characterized by global connectivity.

"For the Korean Language program, the academy aims to combine Korean language proficiency with knowledge of Korean culture and the aviation industry. Students need not only to master the language but also to develop professional communication skills, understand corporate culture and apply their language skills in real-world work settings," Giao said.

He said the event expanded opportunities for students to learn, gain practical experience and engage in international exchanges, while helping identify ways to better align language education with labor market demands and support the development of the aviation industry and other sectors in which the academy provides training.

K-EXPERIENCE DAY 2026 also provided a platform for Korean language education institutions in southern Vietnam to connect, share experience, exchange expertise and explore cooperation in training, academic exchanges and student activities, Giao added.

Discover Korean culture through K-dramas, food and folk games

At a session titled 'How K-Dramas Shape What We Desire: Gender, Stars, and Korean Culture,' Prof. Claire Shihhea Lee of Pusan National University in South Korea examined the relationship between Korean television dramas, gender, celebrity images and contemporary culture. 

The discussion focused on how K-dramas convey cultural messages, reflect social life and shape public perceptions.

At another session, 'Drivers of Korea’s Industrial Growth - Government, Enterprise, and International Partnership,' Prof. Ryu Sang-yun of the University of Ulsan in South Korea discussed the roles of government, businesses and international partnerships in South Korea’s industrial development, offering students further insights into the country's economy and business environment.

Beyond the academic sessions, students took part in a hands-on kimchi-making activity with speaker Kim Eun Ja and learned about Korean cuisine. 

Other activities included trying on hanbok, practicing calligraphy, playing traditional games such as tuho, yut, jegichagi (Korean shuttlecock kicking) and ddakji, and making handicrafts such as keychains and lucky pouches.

Nguyen Ngoc Dan Thanh, valedictorian of the Korean Language program, said extracurricular activities and cultural exchanges offered students opportunities to gain practical experience, broaden their knowledge, improve communication skills and connect with Korean culture.

Thanh encouraged students to take part in cultural exchanges and build connections with Korean Language students at universities across Vietnam and with South Korean students, helping them better understand the country's language, culture and people.

"Taking part in activities such as making kimchi, wearing traditional hanbok and playing folk games allows students to experience Korean culture in a more engaging way and learn about the country's customs, traditions and people," Thanh said.