During a summer course at the International School, Hue University (HUIS), in June 2024, Pitzer College students explored Hue’s heritage in two settings. In one session, they looked at images and learned about life at the imperial court. In another, they colored their own Sình village paintings. The two experiences brought together the legacy of the Nguyễn dynasty and a craft tradition passed down through local communities.
Reading imperial heritage through visible details
Dr. Huỳnh Thị Anh Vân, former director of the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, used visual materials and her museum experience to introduce students to imperial court culture. The session gave students a starting point for looking more closely outside the classroom. A garment or a statue can prompt questions about who wore it or whom it depicts, and how rank was expressed in a court setting.
The illustrated lectures prepared students to explore Hue’s heritage in a broader context, including how older traditions relate to the city today. Visits to the Imperial City, the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, and the Tomb of Emperor Tự Đức gave them a chance to connect what they had learned in class with the sites and objects they saw in person.
From a brushstroke to the story of a craft village
Nguyễn Thiều Tuấn Long led a discussion on craft villages and community participation in tourism. Through games, images, and group activities, students compared cultural practices in Vietnam and the United States, practiced working in teams, and learned to recognize and respect cultural differences. During the Sình village painting activity, students looked closely at the outlines, selected colors, and completed their own paintings. The exercise gave them a concrete question about craft tourism: what can visitors learn about a community through the objects its artisans make?
IIE helped Pitzer College develop the program and connect with the International School, Hue University, to organize the activities. For universities designing courses on heritage or tourism in Vietnam, the visit offers one way to structure a session: local specialists provide context, students observe and try a technique themselves, and their observations become material for classroom discussion.
Information and original photos: International School, Hue University (HUIS).
Tên: Phạm Thị Phương Dung