When culture goes beyond the pages of textbooks to become the vibrant heartbeat of VNUK youth
On December 12, 2025, Hall B of the University of Danang hosted a large-scale, emotionally charged cultural and artistic event: VNUK Global Culture Festival 2025. More than a mere finale for the Global Culture and Event Management modules, the festival stood as a powerful affirmation of VNUK’s liberal education philosophy and its long-standing commitment to nurturing global citizens.
The event attracted a large and diverse audience, including VNUK students, high school pupils, and international students from Hungary, the United States, and the Philippines—creating an energetic, multicultural space for exchange and connection.
Global Culture Festival – A hands-on playground, distinctly VNUK
The most distinctive highlight of the module was its final project: the Global Culture Festival. This was not a written exam, but a real-world project in which students were given full autonomy to conceptualize and deliver a community-oriented cultural festival.
Over successive editions, the Global Culture Festival has become a true “brand” of VNUK students—a platform for boundless creativity and for spreading the borderless beauty of world civilizations. Building on the momentum of previous seasons, VNUK Global Culture Festival 2025 made an impressive comeback under the theme “Our Party, Our Culture, Our World.” While staying true to the VNUK identity, this year’s festival was comprehensively upgraded in both scale and depth, offering a more ambitious and thoughtfully curated experience.
From lecture halls to the main stage: a remarkable transformation
Under the dedicated guidance of the faculty team—MSc. Võ Duy Đức, MSc. Nguyễn Phan Thúy Uyên, and MSc. Đoàn Minh Thu—nearly 200 students from five classes joined forces to create a vibrant multicultural space.
No longer passive recipients of knowledge, the students became true “creators.” A total of 198 students were divided into six groups, each representing a major world culture. Their mission was to transform VNUK into a premier stage of cultural convergence, where classroom theories were brought to life through immersive, real-world experiences.
A feast for the senses from six nations
Inspired by the world’s diversity, Global Culture Festival 2025 took audiences on an emotional journey filled with unforgettable moments. Each performance told a story through a creative blend of music, lighting, drama, and video.
Korea – Where tradition meets modernity: The festival opened with an impressive Tradimod dance. The group captivated the audience with a dramatic on-stage transformation—from elegant traditional Hanbok to bold modern outfits—creating a powerful visual impact.
Italy – A symphony of fashion and movement: Under the theme “Italian Beauty,” the stage transformed into a miniature Milan runway. Audiences enjoyed confident catwalk performances, a romantic waltz, and an emotionally rich short play.
Arab World – The spirit of warriors: With “The Hero and Ayyalah Dance,” the group recreated the heroic yet poignant atmosphere of wartime through a heartfelt drama. The traditional Ayyalah dance was seamlessly integrated, delivering an authentic and intense Middle Eastern cultural experience.
India – The vibrant rhythm of Bollywood: Beyond five minutes of high-energy modern dance, the Indian group energized the entire hall with a charming MC interaction and an engaging bingo game, narrowing the gap between performers and audience.
Brazil – The fiery Samba spectacle: True to the spirit of South America, “The Fashion and Samba Dance” set the stage ablaze with confident catwalks and passionate Samba moves. A lively quiz interaction afterward further heightened the festive atmosphere.
Egypt – A mystery spanning millennia: Closing the cultural journey was “The Reborn Egyptian Catwalk & Drama Showcase.” Through mime theater featuring two lead characters, the group recreated the image of mummies, combined with a majestic and mystical procession inspired by ancient Egyptian gods.
Alongside the main stage, the food booth area buzzed with excitement. Here, cuisine served as a cultural ambassador rather than merely a meal. While strictly adhering to safety regulations that prohibited on-site cooking, the teams creatively presented packaged food and drinks in refined boxes and cups.
Each booth also became a mini “arena” with stamp-collecting challenges and crossword puzzles, allowing participants to eat, play, and take home engaging cultural knowledge.
A sleepless backstage: students solving real event management challenges
The core value of the Global Culture Festival lay not only under the spotlight, but also in the sweat and effort behind the scenes. To ensure smooth operations, VNUK students truly stepped into the roles of professional event managers, tackling a series of real-world challenges:
Financial and legal management: Working within a fixed budget, students learned detailed cash flow management and how to handle electronic invoices to qualify for institutional support.
Logistics and risk control: From drafting detailed lists of borrowed facilities (tables, chairs, power outlets) to ensuring the venue was returned in its original condition, students clearly assigned roles—from finance to logistics and operations. This structured division of responsibilities strengthened teamwork, coordination, and adaptability in a diverse learning environment.
Timeline management and creative communication: To maintain high organizational standards, teams followed a systematic workflow—from finalizing country concepts and submitting promotional content to completing detailed plans and invoice procedures. In parallel, the festival atmosphere was proactively “warmed up” through creative TikTok videos and vibrant poster designs introducing each booth.
The VNUK hallmark: Innovation – Empathy – Perseverance
The success of Global Culture Festival 2025 extended far beyond applause. At a deeper level, the event fulfilled its mission of creating a truly experiential learning environment.
VNUK students emerged not only with enriched cultural knowledge, but also with the confidence and responsibility of young people who dare to think, act, and own their decisions. While Global Culture Festival 2025 has come to a close, the lasting resonance of a dynamic, creative, and globally ready generation of VNUK students will continue to inspire.
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Information:
– Institute name: VN-UK Institute For Research and Executive Education – The University of Danang
– Institution code: DDV
– Address: 158A Le Loi Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City, Vietnam
– Website: https://vnuk.udn.vn
– Admission page: https://tuyensinh.vnuk.udn.vn
– Hotline & Zalo: 0905 55 66 54
