Just two months after enrolling, new Tourism students at Dai Nam University have already arrived in Ha Long to learn their trade!

Instead of waiting until their final year to participate in fieldwork, new students in the Tourism and Travel Service Management and Hotel Management programs at Dai Nam University have been able to directly participate in organizing programs, surveying destinations, and learning about business operations just two months after enrollment.

Gain practical experience right from your first year.

Two months after enrollment, students from the Tourism and Travel Service Management and Hotel Management majors had a field trip to Ha Long (Quang Ninh). Notably, they not only visited the area but also directly participated in organizing the program under the guidance of their lecturers.

From contacting service providers, preparing documents, developing financial plans, arranging logistics, to coordinating activities, students experience many specific tasks of a tourism professional. Through this, they hone their planning, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and sense of responsibility skills.

Sharing his thoughts on this direction, Dr. Ngo Quang Duy, Head of the Tourism Faculty at Dai Nam University, said: “We believe that the best way to get started in a profession is through direct experience. Students cannot fully understand tourism or hospitality through textbooks alone; they need to observe, participate, and test themselves in a real-world environment. Therefore, the Faculty aims to introduce students to the profession from their first year, with activities tailored to each stage of training. Each trip should become a real professional learning experience, helping students understand the profession and know what they need to prepare for the future.”

According to Dr. Ngo Quang Duy, early exposure to real-world situations helps students develop a service-oriented mindset, a professional demeanor, and a better understanding of the requirements of their chosen profession.

Each destination is a lesson in the field.

During their trip to Ha Long, students explored the Bai Tho Mountain - Tran Quoc Nghien Temple complex, Ha Long Bay, and the Tuan Chau amusement park; learning about the value of local resources, culture, history, and tourism development activities.

In particular, the internship program is specifically designed to suit each industry. Students majoring in Tourism and Travel Service Management visited the Quang Ninh Museum, learning about how to preserve, introduce, and utilize cultural and historical values in the development of tourism products.

Meanwhile, Hotel Management students had the opportunity to meet with leaders, conduct surveys, and learn about operations at the Saigon Ha Long Hotel. Through observing the organizational and operational model, they gained initial exposure to a real-world working environment, better understanding management requirements and service quality in the hospitality sector.

Through these initial experiences, students have the opportunity to connect classroom knowledge with real-world work.

Chu Mai Hoa, a student majoring in Tourism and Travel Service Management, shared: “Directly participating in the preparation and organization of the program helped me understand that behind a successful trip lies a lot of work that needs to be planned and coordinated. Those working in tourism not only need a love for exploration but also organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. The trip helped me better understand my field of study and gave me more motivation to pursue this career.”

Sharing the same sentiment, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, a student majoring in Hotel Management, said: “Visiting the Saigon Ha Long Hotel, meeting with the leadership, and learning about its operations has given me a clearer picture of my future career. I realize that to provide a good customer experience, each department must cooperate closely and work professionally. These are things I want to continue learning and practicing in the coming years.”

The journey concluded with a Gala night featuring various networking activities, creating memorable moments for the new students during their first months of university life.

Learning should go hand in hand with practice; prepare for a career from an early age.

In the field of Tourism and Hospitality, specialized knowledge needs to be supplemented by organizational skills, communication skills, service-oriented thinking, and problem-solving abilities. This is also why Dai Nam University focuses on incorporating experiential learning, internships, and business networking into its training process.

Students gain practical experience in stages, from observation and research to direct participation in relevant professional activities. Through this, learners have the opportunity to verify their knowledge, identify career requirements, and proactively improve their skills while still in university.

The study trip to Ha Long after two months of enrollment is one of the activities that concretizes Dai Nam University's applied training orientation: learning linked to practice, classroom connected to reality, and training geared towards professional competence.

For students, the journey to becoming a professional doesn't begin on graduation day, but is built upon the lessons and experiences they gain during their studies.