Date posted:
08/08/2026
14
| Read the article |The first week of the HLU International Summer School 2026 has come to an end, marking an exciting and enriching beginning to our international students’ journey at Hanoi Law University.
Under the theme of “Law, Governance, Markets and Society in Vietnam,” the first week has offered students a unique combination of academic learning, professional exploration, institutional visits, and cultural exchange. While classroom sessions provided students with a foundation for understanding Vietnam’s legal system and society, a series of field trips and experiential activities allowed them to explore how these ideas are reflected in real institutions, historical sites, and everyday life.
For our international students, the first week has therefore been much more than a series of lectures. It has been an opportunity to learn about Vietnam through direct experience, meaningful conversations, and encounters with people and places that represent different aspects of Vietnamese society.
Throughout the week, students participated in academic sessions introducing key aspects of Vietnam’s legal system, governance, markets, and legal practice.
Lectures and discussions with HLU lecturers provided students with opportunities to explore the foundations of the Vietnamese legal system and gain insights into how Vietnamese law interacts with economic and social development.
At the same time, the Summer School places strong emphasis on experiential learning. By visiting courts, professional institutions, museums, and another HLU campus, students were able to connect academic concepts with real-world institutions and experiences.
This combination of classroom learning and practical exploration is an essential part of the HLU International Summer School experience.
One of the first highlights of the week was a visit to the Vietnam Military History Museum, offering students an opportunity to explore important chapters of Vietnam’s history through historical artifacts, documents, exhibitions, and military equipment.
Throughout the visit, students discovered stories of Vietnam’s past and learned more about the historical experiences that have shaped the country and its people.
For international students, the museum provided an especially valuable opportunity to understand Vietnam from a historical perspective. Coming from different countries, participants were also able to share their own perspectives and experiences, creating meaningful conversations across cultures.
The visit demonstrated how history can become a bridge connecting people from different backgrounds. Beyond learning about historical events, students had the opportunity to reflect on themes such as resilience, national identity, and the importance of peace.
The Summer School journey then continued to Bắc Ninh, where our international students visited the Bắc Ninh Campus of Hanoi Law University.
The visit allowed students to explore another academic environment of HLU and gain a broader understanding of the University's educational activities and facilities.
During their time at the campus, students also attended an engaging academic session focusing on the Vietnamese legal system. The session provided another opportunity to deepen their knowledge and raise questions about Vietnam’s legal and institutional framework.
The academic visit was complemented by a cultural experience at Đền Đô (Đô Temple), one of the important historical and cultural landmarks of the Kinh Bắc region.
Through the visit, students were introduced to Vietnam’s royal history and traditional cultural heritage while experiencing a place of historical significance firsthand.
The trip to Bắc Ninh therefore brought together academic learning and cultural exploration in a meaningful way. With the support of HLU lecturers and student buddies, students were able to learn, interact, and enjoy the experience together.
Another memorable experience of the week was the visit to the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam.
As Vietnam’s highest judicial institution, the Supreme People’s Court holds an important position within the country’s judicial system. For students with a legal background, visiting such an institution provided a valuable opportunity to move beyond theoretical knowledge and gain a more concrete understanding of Vietnam’s judicial structure.
During the visit, students learned more about the role of the Supreme People’s Court and the Vietnamese judicial system. The experience also encouraged them to compare Vietnam’s legal and judicial institutions with those of their own countries.
Such comparative perspectives are particularly valuable in an international Summer School, where students are encouraged not only to learn about Vietnam but also to engage in dialogue about different legal systems and approaches.
The visit offered a unique opportunity to see how law and justice are reflected in practice and to appreciate the important role of judicial institutions in society.
The first week also brought our international students to the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), one of Vietnam’s leading institutions for commercial dispute resolution.
During the visit, students received an insightful introduction to VIAC’s history, role, and functions. They also had the opportunity to learn directly from arbitration experts and hear about practical experiences in the field.
The discussions introduced students to the role of arbitration in resolving commercial and international disputes and demonstrated how legal principles are applied in real-world professional settings.
For students interested in commercial law, international business, and dispute resolution, the visit was particularly valuable. It provided an opportunity to explore the practical dimensions of arbitration while encouraging students to consider similarities and differences between dispute-resolution mechanisms in Vietnam and their own jurisdictions.
The VIAC visit perfectly reflected one of the key principles of the HLU International Summer School: learning should extend beyond theory and connect students with real professional practice.
We sincerely thank VIAC and its experts for warmly welcoming our international students and sharing their valuable knowledge and professional experience.
Looking back on the first week, what makes the HLU International Summer School particularly meaningful is the combination of different forms of learning.
Students have learned in classrooms, but they have also learned by visiting institutions. They have studied legal concepts, but they have also met legal professionals. They have explored Vietnam’s history through academic discussions, but they have also encountered that history through museums and cultural landmarks.
Most importantly, the programme has created opportunities for students from different countries to learn from one another.
Every visit, discussion, and shared experience has contributed to building an international community at Hanoi Law University. Students have exchanged perspectives, discovered similarities and differences between their countries, and gradually formed friendships that will hopefully continue long after the Summer School comes to an end.
The first week has been a remarkable beginning to the HLU International Summer School 2026, but there is still much more to come.
As the programme continues, our international students will have further opportunities to explore Vietnamese law, society, culture, and professional practice while experiencing life at Hanoi Law University.
At HLU, we believe that meaningful international education is about more than academic knowledge. It is about connecting people, exchanging ideas, discovering cultures, and creating experiences that students will remember long after they return home.
We are delighted to have shared the first week of this journey with our international students and look forward to many more moments of learning, discovery, and friendship in the weeks ahead.
HLU International Summer School 2026 — where learning goes beyond the classroom. 🌏⚖️💙
