Student Mobility Program in Vietnam :)

Xin chào! Over the 2nd to 12th of July 2018, we participated in the mobility program at Vietnam. Four UKM forth year students took part in this adventure along with two Thai students from Mahidol University.

On the first day, we had a brief introduction session with Ms My from the International Relations Department in Hanoi University of Pharmacy (HUP) as well as delegates from Mahidol University. We then explored an overview of the Vietnamese healthcare system in the Pharmacoeconomics Department. We visited the pharmaceutical wholesale market later that week. In that department, we attended the lectures together with 16 Vietnamese students. We also had interactive sessions such as group discussions about the differences in the healthcare systems in Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. It was great to have an exchange of ideas with each other so that all of us had a quick overview about the pharmacy system in different countries.

In week two, we learnt about Vietnamese Traditional Medicines in the Traditional Pharmacy Department and had a chance to visit Nam Dược, a Vietnamese traditional medicine factory. During the lessons, we were exposed to the basic theories used in the practice of Vietnamese Traditional Medicines. On the way to the factory, we dropped by at the Kumquat plantation farm owned by Nam Dược, located in the middle of a river. During our visit to the factory, we had the opportunity to observe the quality control, manufacturing, packaging and storage of the traditional medicine products.

Throughout the two-week programme in HUP, we gained additional knowledge about the local healthcare system as well as Vietnamese Traditional Medicines. Other than that, we felt happy for being able to make new friends from Vietnam. All our Vietnamese friends are very welcoming, and we truly enjoyed every single moment spent together with them. Our friends recommended a variety of local Vietnamese foods such as rice noodles, spring rolls, desserts known as Che and many other delicacies. We also learned about Vietnamese culture and picked up a few simple Vietnamese words and phrases from our newfound friends. Over the weekend and when we were free after class, we visited some places around Ha Noi such as the Ha Noi Old Quarter streets, Bat Trang Ceramic Village, Women’s Museum and the Vietnamese Traditional House. On the last day, we celebrated this momentous trip with a farewell party organized by our Vietnamese friends, signifying the end of our stay in Ha Noi.

We truly appreciate all of the kind hospitality provided by the lecturers and students from HUP. If not for them, we wouldn’t have had this unforgettable and wonderful summer break in Vietnam. Thank you for everything; all the sweet memories we made will never fade away. Cảm ơn nhiều!

Written by :

Delegates from UKM