Prize winners get taste of Australia’s Learning City

18 Aug 2010

Two lucky Vietnamese students have just returned from the South Australian city of Adelaide having won a prize to visit Australia’s Learning City.

Ms Hanh Tran and Mr Minh Ho from Danang University of Economics, won first prize in a StudyAdelaide public speaking competition in Danang earlier in the year.

The two were chosen after answering: what role can young people play in the development of Danang City?

Hanh and Minh were in Adelaide from the 15-22 July, and spent time with local students, visited Adelaide universities and colleges and toured South Australian regions to explore what the state has to offer.

Adelaide, the capital city of Australia's third largest state, South Australia, has prevailed as the nation's pre-eminent learning city. The city has earned a reputation for providing world-class educational opportunities and is acknowledged as a safe and supportive city which warmly welcomes students from overseas.

Hanh says the experience was a great opportunity to learn about a different culture and explore another part of the world.

“Adelaide is the first place I have visited outside Vietnam and I really enjoyed my time there,” she said.

“The botanic gardens in the middle of Adelaide city are very beautiful and when I went to the Central Market, where they sell all the food, it was so colourful and lively.

“We got to meet and dine with South Australia’s Lieutenant Governor Mr Hieu Van Le, see koalas and kangaroos and we visited the South Australian Institute of Business and Technology – a college that prepares people for university.”

Minh says apart from having dolphins swim underneath his kayak while he was paddling on the river, his favourite experience was trying western food and being able to eat cuisine from many different cultures.

“When I left home I didn’t expect South Australia to be so multicultural,” he said.

“I really enjoyed eating food from Australia, Thailand and China.

“Also, I had the opportunity to meet the Lieutenant Governor. To meet such a high ranking person in South Australia was a real thrill.”

StudyAdelaide Chief Executive Ms. Denise von Wald says Vietnamese visitors and students studying in Adelaide have earned the enthusiastic friendship and respect of South Australians. “The international students who study in Adelaide help to make our city a more diverse, dynamic place,” Ms von Wald said.

“Students who come here from Vietnam to study benefit from the outstanding education opportunities and experiences in Adelaide, the Nobel Prize capital of Australia.”

Hanh says she found the people of Adelaide to be very kind and friendly.

“It is a beautiful city, with great people and great climate,” she said.

“Although I was only there a week, the general living costs in Adelaide seem very affordable for students.

“Plus you can easily find Vietnamese food at the Central Market whenever you want.”

Previous page