Vision of friendship

Duong Duc Tam gained a deeper understanding of the event's theme after visiting the historic site of the Zunyi Meeting, where he realized that Guizhou is a land rich in history and vibrant revolutionary culture.

Before this visit, his knowledge of the province had been limited to the Miao ethnic group and Maotai liquor. "I'm very pleased that my understanding of China and Guizhou has grown so much," he said.

He began learning Chinese nine years ago and earned a master's degree from Renmin University of China last year. Since then, he has returned to Vietnam National University to teach Chinese.

Over the years, he has traveled to more than half of China's provinces and interacted with people from all walks of life.

"Young people need to inherit and strengthen the friendship between China and Vietnam, and the first step is to understand each other," he said. "Developing genuine interest in one another is a good start. I hope to do my best to create opportunities for mutual understanding."

In addition to being a lecturer, Duong Duc Tam is also a well-known vlogger who shares a self-designed series of Chinese courses.

He has taught more than 10,000 students, including his sister, Duong Thi Thanh Hien.

At his suggestion, Duong Thi Thanh Hien began learning Chinese in high school and achieved the HSK Level 6 certificate — the highest level of the standardized Chinese proficiency test — by her senior year.

Her fluency also helped her land a position as a host for a Chinese-language news program at Hanoi Radio and Television while she was still at university.

"Many young Vietnamese are becoming increasingly interested in China and learning Chinese," said Duong Duc Tam. "With numerous Chinese companies investing in Vietnam and many opportunities to work in China, we all feel that knowing some Chinese helps reduce barriers and opens opportunities."

For Le Van Dai, a junior at Vietnam National University, a deep passion for the Chinese language and culture has become a defining part of his life. He immerses himself in classical Chinese poetry almost every day and is proficient in classical Chinese writing.

His dedication has earned him several national awards in Chinese language competitions in Vietnam.

"Through Chinese, I can see the world from a different perspective and experience many new things," he said.

During a visit to Huamao village in Zunyi, Le was captivated by the beauty of the local landscape. Quoting a line from the ancient Chinese poem Changgexing (A Slow Song), he recited: "The mallow in the garden green in hue, awaits the sun to dry the morning dew."

He was also impressed by the village's efforts to promote rural tourism. For example, as part of a handson activity, visitors collected fresh plants and were guided through the process of making pressed flower paper.

"We have many villages in Vietnam too," he said. "China's progress in developing its rural areas is something we can learn from. I see a lot of possibilities here."

China's technological innovations have also left a lasting impression on Vietnamese youth.

During her visit to the National Big Data (Guizhou) Comprehensive Pilot Zone in Guiyang, 22-year-old Nguyen Thi Hoai Thuong, who is about to pursue a master's degree at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, learned about the concept of the "Digital Silk Road".

Guizhou is actively working to develop an international data hub in support of the Belt and Road Initiative. With major companies like Huawei, Tencent, and Apple establishing a presence in the province, it is at the forefront of big data and cloud computing developments.

"Guizhou is not only rich in history but is also embracing cutting-edge technology," Nguyen said. "Science and technology are highly valued in both our countries, and there is tremendous potential for cooperation. Young people play a crucial role in this effort because we are dynamic and eager to learn."