Vietnamese students in China: Key pillars in promoting cultural exchange

With over 23,000 Vietnamese international students currently studying and researching in China, this community has become a vital force in fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two nations.

Vietnam through the eyes of Chinese friends

Zheng Yaqin, a graduate student at Fudan University, is a Chinese student who has had many opportunities to interact with Vietnamese peers. Sharing her experiences, Yaqin admitted that before befriending them, her knowledge of Vietnam was very limited, mostly derived from history textbooks or occasional news about rice and coffee exports.

Everything changed when Yaqin became close friends with two Vietnamese students. “They were the ones who gave me authentic beef phở, gifted me coffee, and told me about the motorcycle culture in Hanoi. It is very interesting and quite different from China,” Yaqin recalled.

Trinh Nha Kham (far right) at a cultural exchange dinner with professors and Vietnamese international students. (Photo: Supplied)

Yaqin has promised her friends that she will definitely visit Vietnam one day to personally experience the things she has only heard about. She believes that these small, genuine connections are what truly make a foreigner want to understand more about Vietnam.

According to her, every international student serves as a representative of their country; locals observe how they behave and communicate to form an impression of the people and culture of that nation.

Each student as a national representative

Not only are Vietnamese students coming to China for academic pursuits, but an increasing number are also proactively promoting their culture, connecting communities, and contributing to friendship between the two countries. Amid the steadily strengthening relations between Vietnam and China, the international student community is increasingly recognised as an important channel for people-to-people diplomacy, thereby enhancing mutual trust and understanding.

In recent years, educational cooperation between Vietnam and China has continued through scholarship programmes, university partnerships and student exchanges. Beyond official cooperation, everyday interactions among students also contribute to greater cultural understanding between the two countries.

Vu Thi Van Anh, a sophomore majoring in International Chinese Language Education at Shenyang Normal University, believes that international students play a crucial role in reshaping the national image in the eyes of international friends.

Vu Thi Van Anh (second from right) with international students at the 2025 Liaoning Provincial International Chinese Education Comprehensive Skills Competition. (Photo: Supplied)

According to Van Anh, when living abroad as a Vietnamese citizen, every interaction and behaviour influences how others perceive Vietnamese people. Even through small actions, each student represents the image of the country.

Regarding cultural dissemination, Van Anh frequently participates in exchange sessions organised by her university. On those occasions, she and her fellow Vietnamese students introduce áo dài, cuisine, and traditional beauty. She also integrates cultural elements into her classroom presentations. Van Anh believes the most effective way is through natural, real-life experiences and daily communication.

During cultural exchange activities, Vietnamese students often introduce international friends to items such as nón lá, Vietnamese coffee, and traditional food while sharing stories about daily life in Vietnam.

Natural outreach without pressure

Each student has a unique way of spreading Vietnamese culture. Nguyen Thanh Thanh Ha, a master’s student at Beijing Foreign Studies University, offers a different perspective on this role.

Ha suggests that international students should perhaps not be labelled “cultural ambassadors” because such a title places significant expectations on them. In reality, not everyone studying abroad is ready to take on that role. For Ha, spreading the country's image comes naturally and comfortably to most students.

“I feel happy when international friends ask more about Vietnam after a small story, that is how I spread our culture,” Ha shared.

Thanh Ha chooses a simpler approach: through side stories during class breaks, explaining the motorcycle culture, or detailing Vietnamese dining habits. These seemingly minor details often surprise international friends and spark their curiosity about Vietnam.

Despite her busy master’s schedule, Ha always finds time to support cultural festivals or community events.

“I feel happy to contribute a small part in helping people understand Vietnam better, without the pressure of representing something too grand,” Ha shared.

Integration without assimilation

Trinh Nguyen Thao Linh, a master’s student at Fudan University, agrees with the view of students as cultural ambassadors. According to Thao Linh, cultural promotion does not necessarily require large-scale activities. Sometimes, it is as simple as polite and friendly behaviour in daily life, which is enough to create a positive impression of the Vietnamese people.

Living and studying in Shanghai, Thao Linh is fascinated by the dynamic lifestyle and how Chinese society preserves its heritage while applying technology. Linh observes, learns, and integrates, but never forgets her roots.

Trịnh Nguyễn Thảo Linh (centre, second row) pictured with the Vietnamese student association at Fudan University. (Photo: Supplied)

At cultural exchange festivals organised by the university, Thao Linh’s group brings bánh mì, Vietnamese coffee, wears áo dài, and nón lá - simple images that create a powerful connection with international friends.

At some festivals, Vietnamese students also perform traditional dances and introduce folk games to international participants.

For Linh, learning from the host country’s culture is essential, but preserving and actively promoting Vietnamese identity must never be lost.

Quiet bridges between people and cultures

The stories shared by Vietnamese students in China reveal a young generation that is resilient, deeply conscious of their national identity, and eager to connect with the world. While each has their own way, they are all working toward a common goal: telling the story of Vietnam through their own lives.

For many Vietnamese students, introducing their country often happens through everyday interactions in classrooms and dormitories, as well as in daily conversations with international friends.

Although they may not see themselves as “cultural ambassadors”, many Vietnamese students in China are helping international friends gain a closer understanding of Vietnam through everyday interactions and shared experiences.

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