The 16^th Asia Annual Route Development Forum (Routes Asia 2022) not only opened up new opportunities for Da Nang to boost its aviation and tourism revival, but also helped local young people broaden their knowledge, gain practical experience, improve their foreign language skills while volunteering at this international event.

Volunteer Pham Van Nhat (left) is chatting with a delegate attending Routes Asia 2022. Photo: THU UYEN

With recommendations from one of his friends for Routes Asia 2022, Nguyen Thi Viet Anh, 22, a third year student majoring in English Language at the University of Foreign Languages has registered to volunteer at this international event. Viet Anh has been assigned a task to pick up delegates who would attend Routes Asia 2022 at the Da Nang Airport. His specific job was to greet delegates and support them to claim their baggage and travel to their designated hotels after arriving at the airport.

Viet Anh said that one of the greatest difficulties facing him is to ensure his timely presence at the airport to greet international guests upon arrival into Da Nang. Therefore, he always put himself in a state of readiness in a bid to pick up guests on time from the airport.

He also remarked that his foreign language skills and communication skills have improved significantly through his interactions with foreign guests.

Pham Van Nhat who is the same age as Viet Anh and studies at the same school as him, got actively involved in volunteer efforts in Routes Asia 2022. Volunteers performed any assigned tasks at this event, including standing at the gate to welcome delegates, using a scanner to check in attendees, helping delegates book taxi from the event venue to their designated hotels, and handing out souvenirs to them.

Routes Asia 2022 is very meaningful to foreign language students, and university students in Da Nang as a whole, as it helps them improve their English speaking skills and learn about the cultures of many countries around the world.

Nguyen Nu Bich Ngoc, 23, a final year student at the University of Foreign Languages enjoyed a memorable experience while volunteering in Routes Asia 2022.

Ngoc said that she has volunteered at such large-scale international event for the first time. She benefited from her volunteer work at this event, including improving English listening skills in addition to learning more about front desk operations, problem-solving skills and organizational skills in event planning.

She hopes that she has the chance to try her hand at working in aviation as she found this industry quite interesting after attending seminars and talks within the framework of Routes Asia 2022.

It can be seen that Routes Asia 2022 has provided a great opportunity for Viet Anh, Van Nhat, Bich Ngoc and other volunteers in Da Nang to learn, experience and expand their understanding.

A delegate from the UK attending Routes Asia 2022 praised Da Nang volunteers for their active support during the event. He highlighted the efforts of the volunteers in contributing significantly to the success of this event.

Reporting by THU DUYEN – Translating by H.L