Bridging cultures: Vietnamese youth visit Beijing, Shaanxi

In northwest China's Shaanxi Province, a group of young Vietnamese performers brought music and energy to Yan'an University.

They danced to a Vietnamese pop song that has become a viral sensation on Chinese social media. 

The event was part of a China-Vietnam youth exchange program, designed to deepen cultural understanding and strengthen the friendship between the two nations. 

CGTN's Hu Chao reports from Yan'an. 

Music, rhythm, and laughter...the campus of Yan'an University was filled with color and energy as Vietnamese youth performed one of their country's most popular songs, now a sensation on Chinese social media. 

The performance was part of the "Red History Study Trip", a weeklong exchange across Beijing and Shaanxi Province that involved more than 260 young people from China and Vietnam. 

In Yan'an, often called the "cradle of the Chinese revolution," they visited revolutionary memorials and historic sites, learning how the city's past continues to inspire China's future. 

At Yan'an University, dialogues and speeches took place under the theme "Carrying Forward the Red Gene."

HU CHAO Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province "At Yanan University, young people from China and Vietnam also discussed topics ranging from technological innovation and economic and trade cooperation to cultural exchange and youth development."

The participants, including civil servants, youth league officials, media professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, and students, shared heartfelt reflections on their journey. 

HA TRUC LINH Miss Vietnam 2024 "I believe exchanges like this help young people from both countries understand each other better and strengthen our friendship. By learning creatively from one another's culture, we gain new perspectives and can contribute more to our countries' growth."

NGUYEN TRAN HOANG THINH Vietnamese Music Producer "I've noticed that both Vietnamese and Chinese cultures deeply value family traditions. Young people in our two countries also share a strong spirit of helping one another and a real eagerness to build closer cultural ties."

LIN WENKANG Shaanxi Normal University, School of Marxism "I think we have a lot in common with the Vietnamese students. They're just as lively and full of energy as we are. We've gotten along really well. When we talk about our countries' history and culture, there's always this strong sense of connection." 

Since May, three sessions of the "Red History Study Trip" have been held across China. 

Hu Chao, CGTN, Yan'an, Shaanxi Province.