MBA 2nd Semester (23–29 March 2026)
An Excursion-cum-International Study Tour to Vietnam was organized for the MBA 2nd Semester students from 23rd to 29th March 2026 with the objective of integrating academic learning with international exposure, cultural understanding, and experiential observation. A group of 44 students participated in the tour under the guidance of faculty coordinators Mr. Faruk Ahmed and Dr. Puja Sen. The journey commenced on 23rd March with a late-night departure from Lok Priya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, followed by arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, on 24th March. The initial exploration of Hanoi provided students with exposure to a distinct socio-economic and cultural environment characterized by organized traffic, colonial architecture, vibrant streets, and diverse local businesses. The visit to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology enabled students to understand Vietnam’s ethnic diversity, traditional livelihoods, crafts, and cultural practices, while the visit to Hanoi Train Street offered a practical illustration of urban micro-entrepreneurship. Students observed how small cafés transformed a unique location into tourism-oriented businesses through customer engagement, pricing, space utilization, and experiential marketing. A major academic highlight was the expert session, “Doing Business in Vietnam: Opportunities, Cultural Insights, and Strategic Implications for Indian Managers,” conducted by Dr. Pham Vu Thang from VNU University of Economics and Business. The session introduced students to Vietnam’s economic reforms, FDI environment, priority sectors, regulatory framework, workplace culture, and business practices. Students subsequently worked in groups to develop Indo-Vietnam collaborative business ideas, thereby strengthening their analytical abilities, teamwork, strategic thinking, and understanding of international business.
The subsequent activities further enriched the students’ academic and cultural learning. Visits to the Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum provided valuable insights into Vietnam’s educational heritage, historical development, national identity, and social values. Exploration of the Hanoi Old Quarter exposed students to traditional trade streets, retail outlets, handicraft businesses, street-food vendors, bargaining practices, merchandising techniques, and tourism-driven consumer demand. These observations enabled students to relate classroom concepts of marketing, consumer behaviour, entrepreneurship, and retail management to real-world business practices. The excursion to Ha Long Bay combined recreation with experiential learning, as students observed cruise operations, tourism services, safety practices, visitor management, and emerging approaches to sustainable and eco-friendly tourism. Throughout the tour, informal interactions with local shopkeepers, service personnel, and other businesses provided additional learning regarding pricing, product variety, customer service, payment systems, operational discipline, cleanliness, and the resilience of small enterprises. Students also experienced Vietnamese cuisine and local markets, which contributed to their understanding of cultural influences on consumption and service experiences. On 29th March, the group departed Hanoi for Guwahati after completing the final shopping and cultural activities. The return journey provided an opportunity for students to reflect upon and share their experiences and learning. Overall, the Vietnam Excursion-cum-International Study Tour successfully combined academic enrichment, international exposure, cultural immersion, and practical observation. It broadened students’ global perspectives, enhanced cross-cultural sensitivity, strengthened teamwork and experiential learning, and enabled them to connect management theories with international business realities, thereby preparing them for managerial roles in an increasingly interconnected global environment.
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