300 students from the Faculty of Tourism, K23, had a blast at the Freshmen Camp

NTTU – Recently, on December 21, 2023, the Faculty of Tourism, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, organized the orientation program “Exploring Pleasures” for 300 new students of the K23 intake in the coconut land of Ben Tre.

The orientation ceremony is an annual event of the Faculty of Tourism, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, aimed at helping students understand more about their chosen field while providing them with opportunities to access, experience, and engage in real-world activities related to their field of study, thereby fostering a love for their profession.

The exciting activities at the orientation camp will be memorable experiences for the students during their university years.

Moreover, the orientation ceremony aims to create a dynamic and professional learning environment for the students of the Faculty of Tourism, providing practical, adaptable, and fast-integrating experiences through real-world learning activities. These activities enable students to engage and experience the industry’s specifics through simulated games related to various professions such as reception, hotel operations, restaurant operations, tour guiding and travel management, international relations, and particularly by equipping students with the necessary skills for their future careers.

The K23 orientation ceremony was held at Vam Ho Bird Garden, Ba Tri, Ben Tre, with the participation of nearly 300 students from Hotel Management, Restaurant Management and Food Service, Tourism, Vietnamese Studies, and International Relations majors, along with the support of the Faculty Board, Heads of Departments, and lecturers teaching the introductory courses.

The students had  lots of fun with the games.

The orientation journey began with excitement as the students gathered at Nguyen Tat Thanh University before dawn, where they checked in and boarded the buses arranged by the faculty and tour guides. The buses were filled with laughter and lively activities, including singing contests related to tourism, setting the tone for a vibrant day of orientation.

During the opening speech of the orientation, Associate Professor Phan Thi Ngan, the Head of the Faculty of Tourism, emphasized, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. I wish all the students of the Class of 2023 at the Faculty of Tourism a joyful and memorable orientation, marking the beginning of your academic journey at the university with our esteemed professors and friends.

Associate Professor Phan Thi Ngan, Head of the Faculty of Tourism, gave a speech at the event.

The students of the Class of 2023 had a complete “Study Hard, Play Hard” day with many beneficial activities that fostered teamwork and unity, such as rowing, rope walking, carrying water to the village, overcoming challenges together, and working towards common goals. They also engaged in traditional team-building games and competed fiercely, earning rewards from the faculty during a lively lunch featuring unique traditional dishes from Ben Tre Province, such as young coconut salad from Ba Tri, sautéed water spinach with shrimp, and sour fish soup with Ba Lai river fish.

After lunch, the teams experienced traditional Southern crafts at the Vam Ho Bird Garden on the banks of the Ba Lai River, where they learned to make My Long rice paper (a national intangible cultural heritage), Ben Tre coconut candy, and rice crackers, as well as trying their hand at crafting coconut leaf toys like kites, grasshoppers, clocks, and coconut leaf whistles. These activities honed their dexterity and patience.

Many team-building activities took place with the enthusiastic participation of the students.

The induction ceremony concluded with a summary, awards presentation, and the enjoyment of rice porridge with snakehead fish and coconut sweet soup, and sake tea before boarding the bus back to Ho Chi Minh City. While the induction ceremony marked the end, it also opened new gates in the university sky, leaving unforgettable memories and joy for the Class of 2023, in line with Nguyen Tat Thanh University’s motto: “Learning for practical application, reputation, and career” and the Faculty of Tourism’s motto: “Study to become cultural ambassadors of the nation.”

Content and photos: Faculty of Tourism