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.

Zohar G. ILR'25, Trip to Mekong Delta

It’s 6 am in Ho Chi Minh City when you wake up in your dorm. Your bag is packed from the night before- water, phone, charger, sunscreen, and bug spray. Bug spray bug spray bug spray. You remind yourself that Dengue Fever is significantly worse than your phone dying and leave the portable charger behind. 

Don’t be late to the bus, or you’ll get left behind! You race down the elevator with your roommate, stop at the conveniently located 7/11 for a quick morning snack and tea, and then you’re on the bus on your way! 

A few hours later, breakfast is the best Pho you’ve ever had in your life at a roadside canteen. You literally drink the peppercorns at the bottom because the broth is so good and you’ve never had such delicious (definitely hand-pulled) rice noodles. This is your first Pho of the trip. You could eat another two bowls right then and there. 

Back on the bus for a short while, you end up at the mouth of a massive river and are guided onto a boat. 

Cruising on the river, you see massive shipping and fishing boats- the wind blowing past you makes for a nice reprieve from the heat. 

You’re now on one of many islands in the Mekong Delta. You dock, hop onto the back of a golf cart, and go. Sandwiched between your friends, it’s a bumpy ride! You pass people smoking in hammocks, playing cards, pushing carts, riding bikes, and even a few chickens and horses. 

It’s hot and sticky in the South, but you’re down for an adventure. 

Your first stop is for honey tasting. You down some honey, pollen, and a citrus juice you can’t recognize (you’ll regret not buying the pollen later) and then you’re handed a beehive frame to hold. Thankfully, the bees are a lot more relaxed than you are feeling.

Off you go onto the cart again to eat fruits and hear some music and then it’s what you’ve been waiting for- a boat ride on the Delta! You cruise on just a few inches from the water and pretend to row. 

Lunch, an entire fried fish is put on the table. Luckily, the break it into pieces. Rice paper, spring rolls, cooked vegetables are passed around the table as you talk and laugh with your friends. Some barely slept the night before because they were so excited! 

Just when you think you can’t eat anymore, your guide takes you to a coconut candy factory. You finish the day’s meals with the freshest coconut ice cream you’ve ever had and sample some candies. On the boat ride back, there are fresh coconuts from your guide are served. 

The bus ride back is significantly quieter as the heat and activities of the day have put everyone to sleep. You’re happy, and ready to rest. 

Go home, sleep, and get ready for another day in Vietnam- where you have no idea what may come your way!

Meet the 2024 TDTU Engaged-Learning Team!

Nguyen Quynh Tram

My name is Nguyen Quynh Tram and I am currently a third-year student at the Faculty of Trade Union Labor. Personality is cheerful, sociable and knows how to observe and listen. My hobbies are discovering new and interesting activities, playing sports and talking with friends. Strengths are ease of integration and friendliness. Weakness is low ability to withstand pressure, easy to stress if work is not arranged properly.

Lưu Thị Ngọc

Hello everyone, my full name is Luu Thi Ngoc. This is my Vietnamese name. You can call me Elyshia. It is my English name. I’m 20 years old and I'm currently a junior student at Ton Duc Thang University. My faculty is Labor relations and Trade unions. I come from An Giang which is located in the South east of Vietnam. I lived with my parents in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City for 3 years with the purpose of studying at university. I was a member of the media club, in the field of reception. My hobbies are traveling, reading books, and playing volleyball. I'm an extrovert. That's the reason why I applied to this short-term program to study, to make a new friend and learn new and meaningful things from foreign friends. Moreover, I have the opportunity to interact with foreign friends and learn many new cultures. I really love learning new things. Before, I participated in a short-term program with La Trobe University. I learned more things from culture, study and make a lot of new friends. And I recognized I absolutely love communicating and diplomacy. I hope to be able to join the course to study and have fun with Cornell University.

Trần Minh Như

Hi there, my name is Minh Nhu, you can call me by the name Elys. I'm now a junior, majoring in organizational behavior of LRU. I really love hanging out with friends, going swimming and I’m also a snapshot enthusiast. But sometimes when I feel exhausted, I am a homebody who spends a lot of time on my me-time too. About my edge, I'd say that I am a friendly and quick-adaptable person. I hope when I join this program, I will improve my poor English reflection and have some memorable experiences.

Pham Tuong Khanh Vy

Hello, I'm Pham Tuong Khanh Vy, a 20-year-old third-year university student at Ton Duc Thang University. I am a cheerful and sociable individual with a keen interest in various activities. In my free time, I enjoy singing, watching movies, and engaging in lively conversations.

One of my notable strengths lies in my upbeat and friendly personality, which allows me to easily connect with others. Additionally, I excel in the field of technology and have a knack for quickly grasping new concepts. As a dedicated learner, I am always eager to expand my knowledge and embrace new challenges."

Vũ Quốc Dương

My name is Dương, I'm twenty year old and studying at Ton Duc Thang university. My major is labor relation, my hobbies is play game and listen to music. My strength is being able to grab some items in high places. After the course, I hope to have new friends and improve my communication skill.

Nguyễn Trần Hoàng Nam

Hi my name is Nam, this is my third time joining Cornell's program. I was fortunate last year to explore your stunning campus, creating unforgettable memories. Personally, I'm sociable, energetic, and enthusiastic about learning. I Looking forward to meeting all you guys soon and sharing many more memorable experiences together during the time at TDTU.

Đỗ Hữu Quốc

Hello! My name is Đỗ Hữu Quốc aka typhonx. I'm a 18 years old full time student, currently studying in TDTU, majoring in industrial relations , unions. I'm a cheerful soul, I love going out, making new friends and learning new things. I'm joining this looking for some new experiences, learn things that would becoming handy in the near future and making new friends.

Nguyễn Khánh Linh

Hi, everyone! I'm Khanh Linh and I'm from Long An. I feel happy because I have the opportunity to get to know and learn with you! My preference is reading books and listening to music. The type of music I often listen to is ballad music, the words have deeply touched my heart. And I also really like writing, and I also really like writing, perhaps it stems from my hobby of reading. I like to write down my feelings and I want to preserve them. My English is not good, But I believe that can't stop me. I want to learn more, learn about your country's culture and besides that I also want to expand my relationships, that's why I'm here today. Hopefully we will experience this course together happily. I'm really looking forward to the course.

Võ Nguyễn Thanh Thúy

Hello everyone. I’m Thuy, and my English name is Cristina. I’m a fourth-year student at Ton Duc Thang University. I’m curious about everything surrounding me. That’s the reason why I am interested in reading books and listening to podcasts about human resources, labor relations, and daily life topics. Furthermore, I am also passionate about writing a bullet journal. The process of creating a bullet journal allows me to clear my mind, organize my thoughts, and cultivate what works for me. It’s like becoming the author of my own story. I hope that in this course, we can expand our knowledge, build our network, and continue to connect well even in the future.

Phan Thanh Trúc

Hi, my full name is Phan Thanh Truc. I consider myself a sociable person and always ready to complete assigned tasks well. I can sing and communicate in basic English (I have a PET certificate). I look forward to participating in a multicultural classroom environment, which is why I signed up for this course, as an opportunity to challenge myself. After looking at the schedule, I can arrange time to attend upcoming classes. Besides, I will also participate in after-school programs, such as taking care of international students. Thank you for reading. I hope I'm given a chance. Best regards.network, and continue to connect well even in the future.

Trần Thị Ngọc Trâm

Hi, my name is Tram Tran and people often call me Rosie. I am a Junior in the Faculty of Labor Relations and Trade Union, Ton Duc Thang University. I am a dog lover and enjoy listening to R&B music. I always smile because I believe it will attract good luck. I love learning about different cultures. That's why I am so excited to meet you guys and participate in this program, which will be beneficial for my studies. Can't wait to meet you guys!

Nguyễn Lâm Thanh Như

Hi, my name is Thanh Như (you can call me Po). I’m a fourth-year student, majoring in Labor Relations at Ton Duc Thang University. I am very excited to join this course. I look forward to studying, experiencing and especially making new friends. I'm a bit introverted, I really would like to improve my English communication skills, hope you will help me. Can't wait to meet you guys.

Nguyễn Hồ Phương Dung

Hi my name is Phương Dung and currently I’m 20 years of age. I have a nice personality and am very easy to get along with. What I like to do in my spare time is to play video games, listen to music and relax with friends and family. People may see that as somewhat weird to play video games as a hobby, but it’s what I really like to do.

I prefer to enjoy things in my own space. I really like singing whenever I'm free. It could probably make new friends and people that have common interests with me.

Vòng Sây Ngọc Linh

My name is Vong Say Ngoc Linh, but my friends call me Say Linh. I love listening to music, especially the USUK (My fav singer is Lana Del Rey). And I love eating new foods. My weakness is that sometimes I will be a little bit shy. But my strength is that I love to discover something new, something like a new place, new food, ... After this course, I want to have more friends and learn useful lessons.

Đào Thị Trang

Hello everyone! My name is Trang, I am currently a senior at Ton Duc Thang University. I am majoring in Labor Relations. I am living with my family in Phan Thiet city, which has many beautiful sand beaches and fresh seafood. I am keen on working with people, planning and holding some activities that help bring people together. In my free time, I like crocheting, writing, reading books and studying through videos on Youtube. I am so excited to get acquainted with Cornell students to know more about culture, learning programs in the U.S. and find out the differences in Labor Relations between the two countries.

Ngô Thị Ngọc Tuyết

Welp! Nice to meet you. Just call me Taylor. I am currently a sophomore at Tôn Đức Thắng University. I am majoring in Labor Relations. Taylor is originally from Hồ Chí Minh City, but she’d prefer to call it Sài Gòn. I love everything about Sài Gòn, especially the cuisine. I often spend my spare time reading books, seriously. I’m obsessed with books and Taylor Swift’s music. I love learning new things, meeting new people, making new buddies. Therefore, meeting the students from Cornell University’s School was such a great opportunity for me.

Nguyễn Đỗ Mỹ Hiền

Hello guys. My name is Mỹ Hiền, you can call me Halcyon. I'm an extrovert and sociable person.  I love experiencing delicious food.  Not long ago, I had a trip to Nha Trang to eat delicious food there and took beautiful photos.

In particular, some tourists trusted my photography skills so they asked me to help them take pictures and received good feedback from them.  Do you want me to take pictures for you to have memorable photos in Vietnam? I'm looking forward to it.😙

Phan Thị Tú Quyên

Hi, I'm Quyen. You can call me Grace. I am 20 years old. Now, I'm a junior student of the Labor Relation and Trade Union department. My hobbies are traveling and studying at the coffee shop. I am an extrovert, like to communicate and make new friends. Hopefully after the course with Cornell University, I will have new friends, gain new knowledge and useful skills for future work. I'm really looking forward to the journey ahead and becoming a member of the course this year.

Quách Đình Chương

My name is Quach Dinh Chuong, and I am a 20-year-old student at Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I am from Phu Yen province, a beautiful and historic region on the central coast of Vietnam. I am a curious and ambitious person who is passionate about learning and exploring the world. I am studying labor relations, and I hope to use my knowledge to make a positive impact on the world of work. I am also a social person who enjoys spending time with my friends and family. I love reading, listening to music, and exploring new places. I am always up for an adventure, and I am not afraid to take risks. I am still young, but I have already accomplished a lot. I am confident and optimistic about the future, and I am determined to make my dreams come true. I want to graduate from university with honors. I want to get a good job in the field of labor relations. I want to travel the world and experience different cultures. I want to make a positive impact on the world and help others. I am excited to see what the future holds for me. I am ready to take on challenges and make a difference in the world. I hope you will join me on my journey.

Nguyễn Huỳnh Trà My

Hello, please allow me to send everyone reading these lines my best wishes. Please allow me to briefly introduce myself. My name is Nguyen Huynh Tra My, my English name is Warlis. I come from Vietnam, live in the central area of Ho Chi Minh City. This year I just turned 18, I am an active, adaptable and sociable Pisces girl. When I have free time, besides playing games, I also like reading books and listening to music. I have an endless passion for horror, detective, fantasy novels and books about psychology. Being a water sign person with the symbol of two fish facing each other shows a somewhat opposite personality depending on the situation. Warlis is a serious person, a perfectionist in important matters, but at the same time, I am also an easy-going, friendly person who is easy to socialize with.

Ballad music or music with melodious folk elements like classical music is what heals my soul during anger.

And that's all about me. I'm glad you took the time to read everything I wrote.

Bùi Trần Phương Uyên

My name is Bui Tran Phuong Uyen, and I am currently a student majoring in Labor Relations at Ton Duc Thang University. Now, I’m living in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

In terms of personality, I consider myself an open-minded person who is quite perfectionistic and always eager to learn new things. I always set goals to develop strengths and overcome weaknesses, trying to improve myself every day.

As for my studies, Labor Relations has captured my interest in its practical

and impactful nature. I enjoy what I learn about this field and constantly seek opportunities to deepen my knowledge and skills.

Beyond academics, I embrace exploration and experiences. Engaging in extracurriculars has honed my life skills and teamwork through event organizing and various activities.

Participating in Cornell course, I worry about my communication skills but I’m excited to talk with you all and improve. Open minds, shared cultures, making friendships - that's what I seek in this course. Let's make it memorable!

Võ Thanh Vy

Hello! My name is Vy, and I’m from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I’m currently a junior at Ton Duc Thang University, majoring in Labor Relations. I'm friendly, meticulous, hardworking but sometimes I'm worried about sharing my ideas in front of a crowd. In my free time, I like cooking, reading books and doing handmade items. I’m delighted to have an opportunity involved in ILR Vietnam Program to share our culture, perspective of labor relation and economics throughout the world. I’m looking forward to having more experiences, learning new things and improving my English skills.

PHẠM THANH THẢO

Hello everyone, my name is Pham Thanh Thao, I am a third-year student at the Faculty of Labor and Trade Unions, Ton Duc Thang University. My passion is making new friends, working for people and the community with the spirit of always being willing to open and learn more. Besides that, my hobbies are photography and playing sports. I like playing badminton the most after studying at school.

Nguyễn Huỳnh Kim Ngân

Hello everyone, I'm Nguyen Huynh Kim Ngan, or you can call me Kathy. I am currently a final-year student at Ton Duc Thang University, majoring in Labor Relations. I am working in Vietnamese Students’ Association as a Vice Chairman at class level, and in the Department of Testing and Quality Assessment of Ton Duc Thang University as an invigilator. I enjoy reading, cooking, crocheting, and spending time with my family in my freetime. During this Exchange Program, I'm really looking forward to knowing and discussing Labor Relations within the context of Vietnam and the U.S., widening my knowledge, improving my social skills and making new friends. This year, I'm very grateful to take part in this program as an opportunity that TDTU students can make global friendships, work with and learn from the others, especially from Cornell students. Hope we have a good time together!

Nguyễn Quỳnh Phương Vy

Hi everyone, I am Vy, I am 19 and I am a sophomore, majoring in Labor Relations. I indeed love my faculty, especially my major so I’m extremely excited about the short term course with Cornell.

Nguyễn Bảo Long

My name is Nguyen Bao Long, 2nd year student of the Faculty of Labor and Trade Unions, Ton Duc Thang University. I come from Ba Ria Vung Tau province - famous for its beautiful sea and lots of seafood. I really like going sightseeing and doing charity visits. Very happy to get acquainted with people?