My outbound mobility to Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (HCMUTE), Vietnam was an enriching journey of learning and cultural exchange. From exploring the translation lab and joining classes with local students, to making Vietnamese summer rolls and presenting Malaysian performances, every activity deepened our intercultural understanding. Competing in the HCMUTE x UM video contest and securing second place added excitement, while visits to historic sites in Ho Chi Minh City offered profound insights. Tasting local dishes like pho and banh mi completed the experience, leaving me with valuable knowledge, friendships, and a stronger global mindset. 
On the first day, we were taken on a campus tour of HCMUTE, including a visit to the translation laboratory for the Translation and Interpretation subject, where students will enter a special booth to listen to audio recordings and translate them in real time. We were also informed that we would be competing in a HCMUTE x UM promotional video competition based on the groups that had been assigned. Later, we joined a class with local students to experience their learning environment firsthand. During this session, I had the opportunity to share information about Malaysia with the students there. In addition, we learned how to make Vietnamese summer rolls, which corrected my previous understanding that spring rolls in Vietnam actually refer to the fried version.
On the second day, the program continued with traditional Vietnamese games such as Dap niêu đất and Ném còn. We were also given the opportunity to present Malaysian cultural performances as an effort to introduce our national identity and heritage. The performances included dikir barat and a solo dance performed by Farrah Aleeya, a third year student from Bachelor of Italian Language and Linguistics, both of which were well received by the Vietnamese students and the organizers. The highlight of the day was the announcement of the promotional video competition winners, where my group successfully secured second place. _1.png)
On the third day, we visited several historical and iconic locations in Ho Chi Minh City, such as the War Remnants Museum, which provided profound lessons on history and the impact of war on a nation. We also visited the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, the Saigon Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market. These visits offered in-depth exposure to the history, culture, and identity of Vietnamese society.
In terms of personal experience, I had the opportunity to try local dishes such as pho and banh mi, with banh mi becoming my favorite due to its delicious taste. Overall, this program had a positive impact in terms of knowledge, intercultural communication skills, and the development of a global mindset. I hope that more exchange programs like this will continue in the future to nurture globally minded and competitive students.
Student testimonial written by Nur Aisyah binti Zailani