Short-term exchange program in Thailand - "Sawasdee Thailand 2023"

Within the framework of international student exchange and exchange activities of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ton Duc Thang University, according to the invitation letter for students to participate in the program "Sawasdee Thailand 2023" at the University Mahidol University, Thailand (ranked 256th among Universities in the world according to QS World University Rankings 2023; ranked 801-1000th among Universities in the world, ranked 145th among Asian Universities according to 2022). Student Huynh Thanh Phat and student Tran Do Phuong Thao from the Tourism Department of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities participated in the program "Sawasdee Thailand 2023" at Mahidol University, Thailand from August 30, 2023 to September 12, 2023.

The following is the sharing of the following two students participating in the program:

Student Huynh Thanh Phat

Hello teachers, my name is Huynh Thanh Phat, today is 2 days since I arrived at Mahidol University to attend Sawasdee 2023 – Batch B course. I still can’t escape my experience in Thailand, especially at Mahidol University.

Thanks to the collaboration between Ton Duc Thang University and Mahidol University, I had the opportunity to receive a scholarship and spend 14 wonderful days in beautiful Thailand. I am participating in Sustainable Life and Society, and while the subjects are familiar, they are also unfamiliar. They are familiar because these courses are part of the Bachelor's program, but they are unfamiliar because we have never really taken significant action for the environment. This course allows me to see a clearer picture of the environment, the people, and the profits from the tourism industry. I had the opportunity to visit tourist destinations recommended by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The first destination was Mahasawat canal, where they developed eco-friendly river tourism with experiences like feeding fish, tasting dishes and drinks made from sweet gourd, trying crispy rice, visiting lotus fields, and rowing boats to watch the sunset on the lotus pond. The second destination was the Royal Palace and the Emerald Buddha Temple. These are considered the Thai Royal architectural complex, and the Emerald Buddha Temple is the most magnificent and sacred temple in the land of the Golden Temple. They manage tourism here very professionally, and the police in this area are very friendly to tourists. The temple itself is splendid and majestic. The third destination was an eco-friendly resort called Nerra Retreat Hotel, where every item is minimalistic design and environmentally friendly. They prioritize the environment and customer experience, with room prices starting from 2,000 baht per night. The fourth destination was Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where businesses operate on both sides of the canal, and there are boats moving around the market. The fifth destination of this trip was Hua Hin Beach, which is quite calm with gentle waves and not too many international tourists. The journey from Mahidol University to this peaceful beach took 3 hours. Here I also had the opportunity to explore the night market of Hua Hin, where there were various food and souvenirs.

On this trip, I also attended lectures by professors from various departments. For ease of understanding, I would divide them into two categories: theoretical categories and practical categories. In the theoretical classes we mainly deal with the environmental issues of the participating countries, and the lecturers provide new information. Theory lessons cover specific topics such as :

Thailand's culture and history

Sustainability and eco-friendly lifestyles

Beliefs, folk stories, and Thai spirituality

Thai cuisine

Sustainable transportation

The use and conservation of energy for the future

In practical classes, we focus on developing skills and personal growth through classes like:

Self-management

Thai cooking classes

Thai Boxing Workshop

Herbal inhaler crafting workshop

Mind-Body-Soul workshops

Through these classes, from theory to practice, and through experience, I have gained valuable knowledge from participating in this program.

These experiences enriched and created a summer camp for global development, cultural sharing, environmental awareness and environmental activities to build an environmentally conscious generation. Mahidol University has always provided timely support for my needs. Housing on campus is very comfortable and Mahidol University students are always ready to offer support. Finally, I would like to sincerely thank the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities for the opportunity to participate in this program. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Nguyen Minh Huan for his constant support from paper to calling me every other day to inquire about my health and the progress of my studies in Thailand. This gesture is greatly appreciated. I don't know what else to say except thank you so much for giving me such a brilliant trip to Thailand.

Student Tran Do Phuong Thao

It's time to say goodbye to “Sawasdee Thailand 2023”

First of all, I would like to send my sincere thanks to Ton Duc Thang University and Mahidol University and the teachers for creating the conditions for me to participate in the program. In addition, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my family and friends for always supporting me and accompanying me throughout the past.

Although the trip was short, I enjoyed the opportunity to attend the course. There is a lot that needs to be experienced firsthand to truly understand the world around you, especially the cultural diversity of many countries. I enjoy learning from mentors and other students, and I want to share my experience and expertise in the most open and accessible way possible. I hope that such cooperation will inspire us to work together and share good values ​​with more people in society.

Through the following course, the Culture module helps international students approach Thailand from the perspective of traditional culture and modern society:

- Introduction to Thailand and Thai Culture

- Everyday Thai language skills

- Beliefs, Folk Tales, and Superstitious of Thai people

- Intro to Thai food

- Diversity and Sustainable Communities in Thailand

- Cultural Heritage management

Workshop:

- Thai boxing

- Thai cooking

- Thai traditional plays and Thai dancing

- Thai massage

Field trip

- The Grand Palace

- Kudeejeen multicultural community

- Bang Luang Mosque

- Wat Kalayanamitr

- Hua Hin Beach

More than 70 strangers from all over the world, including South Africa, Hungary, Japan, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam, who seemed to have nothing in common, gathered together to live together for 14 days, leaving more unforgettable memories. It all started with a lot of confusion due to language barriers, different cultures, different weather, different time zones and more. This journey will always be remembered and will inspire us all to keep going and take advantage of the opportunities that come our way.

For me, it was a privilege to make new friends, including locals, interact with them and learn more about Thai society, culture and people. In addition, the program promotes beneficial partnerships to promote future tourism cooperation between the two countries and provide international students from both schools with a wide range of opportunities and necessary knowledge that will be useful for their future studies and research.

And then are we from a distant country almost on the other side of the world or are we from a neighboring country, All we have to do is say "Hello..." to become friends.

Some meeting’s photos:

 News: F.SSH