After more than 2 weeks of experience, the "homestay for Lao students" programme in Lien Chieu District left many beautiful memories in the hearts of Lao students as well as local households. This sentiment continues to be nurtured and developed to cultivate close friendly relations between Viet Nam and Laos. 

Mrs. Vu Thi Xuan Huong, her husband and their adopted children who are Lao students. Photo: DAC MANH

The home stay programme has provided Lao students with real experiences by staying with local families across Da Nang.  By joining the homestay programme, the students can get a deeper insight into Viet Nam’s traditional customs, culture and society.

During her free time on the weekend, female student Chanthaveesouk Mimee from the University of Science and Technology, the University of Da Nang, took the opportunity to arrange to visit the family of her adoptive parents in Xuan Thieu 4 Street, residential group 21, Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District. Mimee said she was very lucky to live with her ‘adoptive family’.

“The adoptive parents take very good care of me. Here, I not only have a valuable opportunity to learn more Vietnamese, but also to learn about the customs, occupations and cultural life of Vietnamese people, and Nam O villagers in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward in particular. Moreover, I have a second family so I feel very warm.”, Mimee said.

Every day with her adoptive parents, Mimee wakes up early to help her family with housework such as cleaning, washing clothes, and cooking with her mother. Mimee knows and can cook many delicious Vietnamese dishes. She has cozy meals with her second family.

Mimee’s adoptive father, Mr. Bui Cong Ban, has four children, three of whom live in their own houses. He and his wife now live with their youngest daughter. This is the first time he and his wife have welcomed their adopted Laotian child.

“When the local government trusts us, we are very happy. Mimee is obedient, polite and especially speaks Vietnamese very well. When we are together, we always see her as the youngest daughter in the family. Everyone loves each other very much.”, said Mr. Ban.

As for Ms. Vu Thi Xuan Huong at 60 Le Doan Nha, residential group No. 2, Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, this is the fourth time her family has accepted Lao students to stay with them.

In the previous three times, each time her family received two female Lao students. Ms. Huong's family now lives with two male Lao students, Thilavong Hatsaphone and Inthilath Phoudthaxai from the Da Nang University of Science and Technology.

Two male Lao students expressed their joy and said that during their two weeks staying with Huong's mother's family, they received love and thoughtful care.

As a retired teacher, Mrs. Huong is a long-time Literature teacher, so with her experience and teaching skills, she always spends the most time, dedicatedly teaching her adopted Lao children to be good at Vietnamese.

“The children are good, polite and learn very quickly. In addition to extra study time, we always create bonds with members through taking our children to visit historical relics, sharing more local and Vietnamese customs and practices so that our children can feel more deeply.”, Ms. Huong confided.

Talking about her feelings during the time spent with Huong's mother's family, Phoudthaxai said: "This is a warm time, with many beautiful memories that I will never forget."

According to Mr. Nguyen Nhuong, Standing Vice Chairman of Lien Chieu District People's Committee, in response to the two-week homestay programme for Lao students studying at universities across the city, Lien Chieu District welcomed 28 Lao students to stay at households in the district.

Among these, there are 24 male and 4 female students, have assigned to live in the wards of Hoa Hiep Nam, Hoa Khanh Nam, Hoa Minh and Hoa Khanh Bac.

The students had an impressive time living and experiencing Vietnamese life with the friendly and hospitable Lien Chieu people, especially local youth, to exchange culture, art, and enjoy local cuisine. In addition, Lao students can visit the Nam O historical relic cluster, a city-level historical relic, visit the time-honoured Nam O fish sauce craft village and receive regional specialty gifts from the Nam O coastal craft village.

According to Mr. Nguyen Nhuong, the more than two weeks of staying at a local people's house, although not too long, was enough for the people, youth union members of Lien Chieu District and Lao youths to get closer to each other and learn more deeply about each other's country, history, people, and traditional culture, thereby contributing to tightening and helping the Viet Nam - Laos friendship bridge become closer and more sustainable.

“I think that the experiences of staying at a homestay will be beautiful memories, worth keeping in the hearts of Lao students as well as their families. Hopefully, the love between Lao students and Vietnamese households will continue to be nurtured and develop steadily like the friendship between the two countries," Mr. Nhuong expressed.

Reporting by DAC MANH - Translating by A.THU