Meet the 2025 ILR Vietnam Engaged-Learning Students!

Chelsey W., BSILR '26

Hello, my name is Chelsey, and I am a junior from San Jose, CA, studying ILR and Information Science. In the future, I am interested in pursuing global labor research or strategy consulting. Previously, I interned in communications at NVIDIA where I worked on employer branding, content creation, and blog writing. On campus, I serve as the VP of DEI for Social Enterprise Group at Cornell, a Worker Institute Research Fellow, and the Director of Alumnae Relations for Kappa Delta Sorority. I am also a member of Chinese Student Association, 180 Degrees Consulting, and A Seat at the Table (Business Ethics Club). Having always been interested in labor, globalization, and technology, I am incredibly excited to explore these topics further in the context of Vietnam. I greatly look forward to this cultural immersion, research, and community- building opportunity.

Ciara O., BSILR '26 

Hello! My name is Ciara, and I am a junior at Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations with a minor in business. I'm from Boston, Massachusetts, and I transferred from Northeastern University. On campus, I am involved with the Phi Gamma Nu business fraternity and work at a student run business called Student Agencies, Inc. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, hiking, and trying out new recipes. Through this program, I hope to learn more about international labor relations as well as Vietnamese culture and history. I'm really excited about the opportunity to connect with and learn from the students at TDTU!

Courtney H., BSLIR '26

Hello everyone! My name is Courtney, and I’m a junior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, pursuing minors in Business and Law & Society. I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York. On campus, I serve as the advertising manager for The Cornell Daily Sun, a staff writer for The Undergraduate International Law Review at Cornell, and an Active Citizen at Hans Bethe House. I also work as an Undergraduate Research Aide and am a Course Assistant at The Johnson School. I look forward to learning more about Vietnamese labor relations and getting to interact with my Ton Duc Thang University peers.

Ivor M., BSILR '27 

Hello! My name is Ivor, and I am a 2027 student majoring in Industrial & Labor Relations, originally from Swedesboro, New Jersey! On campus, I am a Meinig Family Cornell National Scholar, am the Vice President of Finance for the ILR Global Affairs Club, the Vice President of Academic Development for the Cornell Compensation Club, an ILR Peer Mentor, an Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator, an ILR Undergraduate Resident Research Fellow, and am a student assistant for the Office of Engaged and Experiential Programs! I am so excited and grateful to be taking part in the Vietnam Engaged Learning program, as I want to learn more about Vietnamese culture, as well as continue to learn about the topics that interest me in Labor Relations as they are experienced within the Vietnamese context! I also cannot wait to participate in this program with the students at TDTU and to make long-lasting friendships with everyone I meet!

Joaquin R., BSILR '25

Hello! My name is Joaquin and I am a current senior from Houston, Texas. Within the Cornell ILR school, my main passion is International Labor Relations, and I additionally minor in Southeast Asia Studies, History, and Classics! On campus, I am an actor/director for the Cornell Shakespeare Troupe, the Editor-in-Chief of Cornell Claritas (a religious journal), a past student worker for the Cornell Asian & Asian American Center and a current student worker at the Asian American Studies Program, and an active member of the Cornell Filipino Association. I love nature, cooking with friends, and trying to meet a new person every day! In the future, I hope to do work in either International Labor Law or broader International Relations, so I am so excited for this opportunity to visit TDTU and learn about labor relations in Vietnam, and get a deeper understanding of the nation as a whole!

Marian A., BSILR '27

Hello everyone! My name is Marian, and I am from Miami, Florida. I am a sophomore at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations pursuing minors in Law and Society, International Relations, and Inequality Studies. My involvements on campus include Cornell Latinx Association of Prelaws and the American Civil Liberties Union Chapter at Cornell. This past summer, I participated in the ILR-Warwick TeamWork Program, where I collaborated with students from the University of Warwick on a project focused on industrial health and safety. I also attended the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Youth Leadership Institute, where I served as a mentor for high-achieving Latino students in their preparation for college. In my free time, I love watching cooking shows and spending time with friends, family, and my pet shih tzu. I am honored to be a part of the Vietnam Engaged Learning Program and excited to learn more about labor relations within a cross-cultural environment. I look forward to connecting with my cohort and meeting the TDTU students!  

Sean S., BSILR '27

Hello! I'm Sean, a sophomore at Cornell's Industrial and Labor Relations School, intending to minor in Law & Society. My academic interests lie in labor relations, international development/trade/policy, and conflict resolution. I'm from Fremont, California, and I'm actively involved in the Worker Institute as a research fellow, the Policy Debate Team, the Intercollegiate Men's Fencing Team, and more on campus. I'm particularly excited about connecting with my TDTU peers. I'm eager to learn about Vietnamese culture, labor relations, and more, and I can't wait to start my journey in Vietnam!

Carlene M. ILR'24, Cultural and Group Work at Tôn Đức Thắng University (TDTU)

Hello Everyone! My name is Carlene Mwaura and I am a Senior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations who traveled to Ho Chi Minh City over the past winter break to study and learn at TDTU University in a cultural exchange and engaged learning collaboration program. The cultural exchange aspect of our trip is something that I valued the most from our trip. I loved how we were able to learn so much about Vietnamese culture and history in both the socioeconomic and labor aspects of Vietnam such as the Vietnamese workplace and classroom environment cultural norms, both labor history and labor law in a Vietnamese and East Asian context. We also learned more about cross-cultural teamwork collaboration as we partnered with the TDTU students to complete presentations, class projects, and simulations. We learned how to communicate beyond language barriers and grew deeper friendships and connections with the students that we worked with. We discussed the cultural and pop cultural similarities and differences between Vietnam and the United States, and I felt that I created lasting close friendships with everyone I met it was such a beautiful experience that I will never forget and am so thankful for!

Song L. ILR'26, Trip to Nha Trang

After a morning of classes, we packed into a train to the Nha Trang campus, armed with bags of 7/11 snacks. We spent the whole ride playing charades games and trying Hot Pot flavored chips together. Once the train arrived at midnight, we found our spacious rooms and passed out almost immediately.

Bright and early at 8:30 in the morning the next day, a group of us met outside to get some breakfast nearby. We then walked over to the beautiful Hon Chong beach, capturing picture- perfect glimpses of the verdant landscape, each more magnificent than the last. With endless blue skies sweeping overhead and white sand under our footsteps, we admired the great mountains and urban sprawl that lay ahead of us. Once we put our towels down, we sprinted straight into the water and spent the morning splashing in the water, enjoying the daylight.

Once we returned to the TDTU campus, we were able to see the campus in all its glory for the first time. We found a hidden nook by the rocks while exploring, so we lounged there for a moment and enjoyed the incredible view.

At noon, I had seafood noodles, probably one of my top meals on the whole trip. Spent yet satisfied, we devoured the warm food quickly. After lunch, we drove to the Po Nagar Cham Tower to see the beautiful archaic temple. We joined the hordes of tourists crowding to see a group of women in traditional clothing dancing, and a few of us bought hats at the gift store.

Afterward, we spent a few hours at the bustling local market, filled with vendors clamoring and bargaining. Navigating the lively crowds, I bought a few bracelets to bring back home for my friends and family. The rest of the day flew by in a blur of food, music, and energetic conversations.

The next morning, we woke up bright and early to visit the resort. We had no idea what to expect on the ride there, as none of us had been to a mud bath before. After crowding into one and relaxing in the sun, we had free time to explore countless pools of crystal blue water. We ate a delicious meal one last time, and took a one way sleeping train back to the Ho Chi Minh City campus.

The Nha Trang was truly one of the best parts of the entire trip to Vietnam, and I was so grateful to be a part of the the 10th anniversary cohort!

Danielle D. ILR'25, Field Visit: Đầm Sen Water Park

Today we visited Dam Sen Waterpark, where we met with representatives of the Vietnamese General Confederation of Labor who represent the hospitality workers at the waterpark. They are part of the grassroots VGCL, which is similar to a local union in the US. The VGCL’s main roles are to handle grievances and bargain new collective bargaining agreements with the employer. The representative told us that they typically take an integrative approach to dealing with management, meaning they work together to find common goals and a mutually desirable resolution, rather than being at odds with one another. After talking to the representative for about an hour, they graciously invited us to spend the afternoon swimming at the waterpark! We formed small groups with our Vietnamese friends and went on every slide in the park that afternoon. On the bus back to TDTU we still had a lot of energy— we had a sing-a-long on the bus where we taught the TDTU students some fun American songs like Call Me Maybe, and the TDTU students taught us their favorite songs like Áo Dài Ơi.

Eva E. ILR'26, Field Visit: International Labour Organization (ILO) Office

On January 11, we ventured to the BetterWork Vietnam Office in Ho Chi Minh City. BetterWork is an offshoot of the International Labour Organization that investigates and works to improve garment sector working conditions. BetterWork Vietnam plays an important role in Vietnam because of the prevalence of garment factories and production sites. The organization conducts inspections of different work sites and overall, works to improve compliance with labor rights guidelines. Something that I found interesting was the presentation on non-compliance levels across different regulations. The most common subject of noncompliance was overtime payments, followed by personal protective equipment provisions and fire safety. Learning about the specific challenges that face Vietnamese garment workers really put into perspective the importance of international labor rights advocacy and worker voice. 

One of the things I was surprised by during our trip to the BetterWork office was our discussion about how the ILO can promote changes in brand behavior. When we asked about the brands with the highest compliance levels, Ms. Ha said the name of a company that I would not expect to be compliant. I won’t name names, but it’s pretty infamous on Cornell’s campus. Anyway, they explained that the outcry about this brand’s poor labor practices in the past actually led the company to make significant changes. The increased spotlight shone by labor rights organizations and the general public revealed significant failures, but also pressured the company to provide solutions. This was an inspiring example of how advocacy and organizing can enact real change, even at the corporate level. I hope that more companies will follow this example and bolster their labor rights compliance in Vietnam. 

After the ILO, we walked around the city area and found some delicious Banh Mi. The two girls working at the store were very nice, and they gave me some free yogurt! We took selfies with them and followed each other on Instagram, which was a really fun and unexpected moment of connection. After we got our sandwiches, we sat and reflected on our visit at a coffee shop while waiting for the bus to take us to the Waterpark for the union visit. Learning from the ILO and BetterWork was an invaluable experience, but it is this time that I remember the most– thoughtful conversations with my amazing cohort, sharing a meal, and feeling inspired to keep up the work.

Sri R. ILR ‘25, Session with Ha Dang (Founder of Respect Vietnam)

On January 9th, we had an opportunity to hear from Ha Dang, the founder of Respect Vietnam, a non-profit organization dedicated to driving organizational transformation in Vietnam and other global settings. Respect Vietnam specializes in addressing inter-organizational conflicts and providing sustainable workplace solutions. One of the ways they achieve this is by providing strategic consulting and creative training, supported by informative infographics that address themes such as conflict resolution, organizational learning, and aligning workplace goals, to name a few. It was truly compelling to see how different visual designs and comics were able to effectively convey messages around labor rights, social change, and workplace inclusion. 

During the second-half of the session, Ha Dang also guided us through an interactive activity focused on the Business Model Canvas. This strategic management tool visually represents nine fundamental building blocks or core aspects of a business: key partners, key activities, key resources, value proposition, customer segments, customer relationships, channels, revenue streams, and cost structure (see infographic below). The activity was highly informative because we saw how the Business Model Canvas illustrates how bad labor relations impact the bottom line—enabling a human resources (HR) professional to better understand business operations. In short, this versatile management tool, which encourages a holistic and systematic approach to the business model design, provided a new perspective into effective HR and labor relations management. 

Overall, the session with Ha Dang was inspiring, to say the least. From hearing her passion for helping organizations recognize that human capital is the highest return on investment to working on an activity unpacking the Business Model Canvas, we learned about the importance of fostering people-centric strategies to drive sustainable growth.

Di T. ILR'25, Hồ Chí Minh City Tour

I'm still catching my breath from this whirlwind tour of Ho Chi Minh City! It's unlike anywhere I've ever been before. As part of the Vietnam Engaged Learning Group, I've been immersed in the history and culture of the country, and Ho Chi Minh City has become a living, breathing representation of all that we've learned. 

One of the hardest things to grasp beforehand was the complexity of the Vietnam War. The War Remnants Museum certainly left a lasting impact. Seeing artifacts, weaponry, and graphic reminders of the conflict made the weight of it all very real. It's been a sobering, but necessary experience for understanding the history of this place. 

After that emotional start, we went to a classic French-style cafe nearby – a reminder of the colonial era here. It felt like a strange juxtaposition: sipping a latte, surrounded by beautiful old-world architecture, knowing how much conflict Vietnam has faced.

Later, there was a visit to the iconic Saigon Central Post Office. It's remarkable! Designed by the same architect who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it has this grand, open feel with beautiful arched ceilings. Here, the past and present really blend – you see locals sending postcards and foreign tourists snapping photos alongside Vietnamese people in traditional clothes on their phones.

But HCMC isn't just about the past. We hopped on a boat cruise on the Saigon River, watching the modern skyline shimmer in the golden sunset. Skyscrapers reflected in the water, traditional fishing boats bobbed nearby, and the city buzzed with life. It was a beautiful blend of old and new, a vibrant snapshot of Vietnam's dynamic present. And witnessing the bustle of activity on the water while the sun dipped below the horizon was unforgettable.

This trip wasn't just about sightseeing; it was about experiencing Vietnamese culture firsthand. Haggling at Ben Thanh Market for silk scarves, slurping down bowls of pho on plastic stools, and learning a few basic Vietnamese phrases – all these everyday moments painted a richer picture of the city than any guidebook could. 

I hope this gives you a taste of the incredible experience Ho Chi Minh City can offer. I urge everyone to visit this charming and dynamic city in Asia.