Vietnamese father-daughter continue 'china bond' through studies in Guangxi

A 25-year-old Vietnamese student is pursuing a master's in International Chinese Education at Guangxi University, following in the footsteps of her father — a Vietnamese doctor who graduated from the same university.

China has been a part of her life since childhood. "I visited my father's agricultural lab at Guangxi University and joined him in sugarcane fields," she said.

Her father came to the university's College of Agriculture in 2008 under a Vietnamese teacher training program, earning his PhD despite challenges like language barriers. After returning in 2013, he launched Chinese classes at Vietnam National University of Agriculture and fostered academic exchanges between the two nations.

Inspired by her father, she secured a Guangxi scholarship for ASEAN students in 2018. "Chinese is our family's second language now," she said, noting shared moments like her mother and brother using Chinese to joke with them. She enjoys Guangxi's tea culture and calligraphy and is grateful to her Chinese friends for helping her with her studies.

She plans to teach Chinese in Vietnam post-graduation, mirroring her father's mission to boost bilateral ties. Her father has also inspired his student to pursue a doctorate in agriculture at Guangxi University, who aims to advance Vietnam-China agricultural cooperation.

With Nanning as a key hub, around 3,000 ASEAN students study at the city's universities year-round, strengthening China-ASEAN ties in fields like agriculture, trade, and e-commerce.