Recently, the Faculty of Foreign Languages hosted a special cultural exchange event titled "Learning Vietnamese through Fresh Spring Rolls (Gỏi cuốn)". The program welcomed faculty members and students from the English Linguistics department, along with two distinguished guests from the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), Philippines: Ms. Pauline Joy Reyes Gelacio (Lecturer) and Ms. Roselyn Encarnacion Cañega (Student).

Learning Vietnamese through Hands-on Experience

Instead of just looking at pictures or learning via social media, Ms. Pauline and Roselyn enjoyed a highly practical Vietnamese lesson. With the enthusiastic support of English Linguistics students, the two international guests quickly memorized vocabulary for various ingredients—such as bánh tráng (rice paper), tôm (shrimp), thịt luộc (boiled pork), bún (rice vermicelli), and rau sống (fresh herbs)—through fun, interactive activities.

Experiencing the Subtlety of Vietnamese Cuisine

The most exciting part of the event was making Gỏi cuốn, a signature dish known for its fresh and light flavors. Despite their initial hesitation with the stretchy rice paper, the guests from NEUST received enthusiastic guidance and managed to wrap their very own authentic, beautifully shaped spring rolls.

Ms. Pauline Joy Reyes Gelacio shared: "This dish is incredibly delicate and healthy. The warm hospitality and dynamic energy of the English Linguistics students have given us an unforgettable cultural memory."

Strengthening International Friendship

The exchange event concluded in a warm atmosphere as everyone gathered to enjoy the delicious results. This was not only a wonderful opportunity for the NEUST delegation to discover Vietnamese culture, but also an excellent real-world environment for English Linguistics students to practice their communication skills and confidently act as "cultural ambassadors."

This activity promises to pave the way for more profound cooperation and cultural exchange programs between the two universities in the future.

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DNTU, May 18, 2026

Reported by: Huynh Le Minh Trang