Summer 2026 Experiential Learning Program

for Tourism and Hospitality Management Students

of School of Economics

To express the educational philosophy of "Integrating Theory with Practice," the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management implemented the Summer 2026 experiential learning program. The program was designed to provide students with opportunities to apply specialized domain knowledge toward solving operational challenges and handling real-world business scenarios within tourism, travel, and hospitality enterprises.

The practical training program for 2026 comprised four key components:

1. Hotel and restaurant internship

Students completed a 28-day professional internship at 3-to-5-star hotels in Can Tho City, including Muong Thanh Luxury Can Tho, TTC Hotel Can Tho, Ninh Kieu Riverside, Ninh Kieu 2, Kim Tho, and Van Phat Riverside. Under corporate mentorship, students were exposed to and rotated across various operational departments, including:

• Front office operations
• Housekeeping operations
• Food & beverage (F&B) operations
• Supplementary services management

2. Fieldtrip of entertainment business model

At the local level, students conducted field studies and observational research on operational management and business models of characteristic entertainment and recreational services in the Mekong River Delta region at My Khanh Tourist Village. This activity enabled students to analyze the current operational practices of indigenous tourism products.

3. Coastal tourism fieldtrip in Phan Thiet, Lam Dong province

The field research program expanded with a practical survey of coastal and resort tourism business models in Phan Thiet. The research scope focused on:

• Evaluating the hospitality service supply chain, encompassing accommodation, culinary services, and coastal sports and recreation.
• Observing and analyzing organizational strategies for corporate team-building activities and large-scale event management.

4. Applied project report: Tour pitch competitition

A key highlight of the experiential learning series was the adoption of Project-Based Learning. Students were divided into research teams to simulate the formal pitch process for real-world travel itineraries. Key execution phases included:

• Developing and finalizing project proposals.
• Pitching tour packages and presenting operational solutions.
• Engaging in defense presentations, handling emergent scenarios, and client persuasion.

The evaluation panel consisted of industry experts and senior executives from the travel sector. Innovative, highly feasible, and cost-effective solutions were awarded prizes, fostering academic excellence and competition among students.

The Summer 2026 experiential learning program not only contributed to standardizing professional competencies and enhancing practical adaptability for Hospitality and Tourism Management students, but also reaffirmed the sustainable strategic partnership between the School of Economics and the tourism business community.