2022 SUMMER INTERNSHIP

IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

THE SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, CAN THO UNIVERSITY

The curriculum of bachelor degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management provides students with various practice-based contents as an important part of studies through the internship program each summer. This is a unique opportunity for students to apply knowledge and skills learned in a practical situation. During June of 2022, Tourism and Hospitality Management students were required to complete the following tourism work experience:

14 days internship at 4-5 star hotels and resorts in Can Tho city: we aimed at teaching students how to work in a luxury tourism environment and eco-friendly accommodation. These hotels and resorts mostly placed students to do their training in operation departments as front office, food & beverage, kitchen, housekeeping, entertainment services, etc.

Students being in their internship at 4-5 star hotels and resorts

Students oriented and trained through the hotel premises within the first day

The experience of working in various departments of the lodging’s operations         

A field trip to Sang Nhu Ngoc resort in An Giang province, known as one of the most famous spiritual tourism destinations of Vietnam.

Students visiting Sang Nhu Ngoc resort 

Visiting Tra Su cajuput forest and studying sustainable eco-tourism development project: This cajuput forest has been approved as a national sustainable development plan for the period of 2019-2030 in order to protect the wetland’s eco-systems. Students had opportunity to study the typical mangrove forest ecosystem with diverse and rare species of flora and fauna. In addition, this is also a great example for sustainable development in tourism industry since Tra Su cajuput forest can be considered as a solution for both the economic growth and the nature preservation.

Students visiting Tra Su cajuput forest 

After that, students visited O Thum vineyard, which was planted many grapevine cultivars from other regions of Vietnam and Japan. This is a newly developed agricultural economic model in Tri Ton district. This vineyard also started to attract visitors and provided several tourism services. However, this enterprise needs to create customer value and upgrade their service quality in order to achieve long-term growth.    

Students visiting the vineyard 

Especially, groups of 5-7 students were required to do a project-based learning. In this project, they had to analyze travellers’ need and evaluate attractions, amenities, accessibility, destination image, the value of cost of a specific tourism destination in the Mekong River Delta. Then, they started to design a one-day tour program and work on its promotional materials such as brochure, flyer, ... This provided students a range of ideas and information they could use to attract potential customers. Finally, a “mini tourism trade show” was organized. Each student group brought their one-day tour program, introduced and “sold” to all audiences including students, instructors and travel experts. 

Discussion among students, instructors, and travel experts

Student groups introducing and “selling” their one-day tour

Travel experts discussing one-day tour programs and sharing their experience

Assoc.Prof.Huynh Truong Huy expressing gratitude to travel experts and giving a prize for the best group

Overview of “travel trade show” designed by Tourism & Hospitality Management students