On the evening of 15 September, the international cultural exchange programme entitled “Colours of Integration – Welcome New Students K68” offered a meaningful way to welcome new students, not merely through words of encouragement but through direct encounters between cultures, between international artists and Vietnamese youth, and between students beginning their university journey and an increasingly open and globally connected learning environment.
The programme was attended by H.E. Mr. Tshering W. Sherpa, Ambassador of India to Viet Nam; H.E. Mr. Poshitha Perera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Viet Nam, and his spouse, Ms. Kethma Rajapaksha Yapa, Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Sri Lanka; Ms. Phan Lan Tu, President of the Hanoi Vietnam-India Friendship Association; Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung, Deputy Director General of the Department of Student Affairs, Ministry of Education and Training; and Mr. Navendu Kumar, Chairman of INCHAM Hanoi. Representing Thuyloi University were Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Huu Hue, Permanent Vice President, together with leaders of the University’s departments, staff members, lecturers and students.
The appeal of the evening lay in its combination of traditional cultural values and youthful energy. Twelve artists from the Punjabi folk troupe “Kuljeet Singh & Party” brought the culture of Punjab, India, closer to the audience through traditional dance, singing and instrumental performances.
The powerful rhythms of the Dhol drum, the energetic movements of Bhangra, the graceful charm of Giddha and the vibrant colours of traditional costumes quickly swept the audience into the festive atmosphere. The boundary between the stage and the auditorium seemed to disappear as applause, cheers and hands moving in time with the music transformed T45 Hall into a lively celebration of Punjabi culture in the heart of Hanoi.
Each performance offered more than unfamiliar music and dance. It also gave the audience a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural life of the Punjabi people, the joy found in labour, love for one’s homeland, strong community bonds and an enduring spirit of optimism. Through the language of art, values that might once have seemed distant became accessible and relatable to Vietnamese students.
The participation of “Kuljeet Singh & Party” artists was made possible through cooperation between Thuyloi University and the Embassy of India in Viet Nam. The event created another space for cultural exchange between the younger generations of the two countries, while demonstrating how culture can serve as a natural and enduring bridge for strengthening mutual understanding and friendship among nations.
Speaking at the programme, Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Huu Hue, Permanent Vice President of Thuyloi University, noted that “Colours of Integration” was more than the name of a cultural event, it embodied the spirit that the University wished to inspire among its students. Every country has its own culture, just as every student has a distinct personality, story and colour. When these colours come together through respect, openness and mutual sharing, they help create a diverse, humane and highly creative university environment.
For K68 freshmen, that message was conveyed directly from the stage. Rather than simply sitting in the auditorium and receiving the University’s welcome, they actively participated, performed and played a key role in connecting the various parts of the programme.
One of the evening’s standout participants was Ngo Gia Binh, a student of Class 68CNK at the School of International Education. Despite having only recently begun his studies at Thuyloi University, Gia Binh was selected as the bilingual Vietnamese–English MC for an event attended by ambassadors, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Training, friendship organisations and a large number of international guests.
In front of a full auditorium, the K68 freshman confidently switched between the two languages, introduced the cultural significance behind each performance and connected the artists with the audience. The sight of a first-year student confidently leading an international event during his own cohort’s welcome night gave the programme a distinctive character. It also provided tangible evidence of an educational environment that is ready to give students opportunities to demonstrate their abilities, embrace new challenges and grow from their very first days at the University.
The spirit of international integration was further reflected in the participation of international students and interns from France, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Laos and elsewhere, alongside their Vietnamese peers. Songs performed in different languages, acoustic music, modern dance and collaborative performances created a colourful cultural mosaic in which each individual retained their own identity while contributing to a shared sense of connection.
International integration was no longer an abstract concept. It could be seen in a freshman confidently hosting the programme in English; in the collaboration between Vietnamese students and their international friends; in the audience’s enthusiastic response to art forms they were experiencing live for the first time; and in the presence of local residents who came to share in the festive atmosphere.
The performance of “We Are the World” by Vietnamese and international students captured the essence of the programme. As phone lights illuminated the auditorium, voices, languages and nationalities came together in a shared message of peace, solidarity and hope.
The fact that T45 Hall reached full capacity well before the programme began demonstrated more than the appeal of an international arts event. More profoundly, it reflected young people’s desire to discover, engage and connect. For the K68 cohort, “Colours of Integration” marked the beginning of their university journey with an emotionally rich experience, while extending an invitation to every student: to confidently bring their own unique colour and join in shaping a youthful, diverse and globally minded Thuyloi University.
