Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Brunei Darussalam, organised the Brunei–Vietnam Friendship Concert at the Pro-Chancellor Arts Centre, UBD on 16th April 2025.
Present as the guest of honour was Dr Hazri Haji Kifle, UBD Vice-Chancellor. Also gracing the event was His Excellency Tran Anh Vu, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Brunei Darussalam, and spouse, Madam Le Thi Hong Ngoan as well as UBD’s senior management team.
Included in the audience were ambassadors as well as Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Awang Haji Mohd Yusra Haji Mohd Salleh, Director of Hai Duong Petroleum and Marine Corporation (HADUCO) Overseas Vu Viet Toan, and Executive Trustee of Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Pengiran Datin Hajah Noraini Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pengiran Haji Abd Momin.
Co-organised by UBD and the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the event aimed to promote cultural exchange and strengthen the growing friendship between Brunei Darussalam and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It also celebrated cultural diversity and community collaboration while enhancing academic collaboration and student exchange opportunities between UBD and institutions in Vietnam.
The concert featured a vibrant line-up of performances by UBD students, as well as local Bruneian and Vietnamese artists. Highlights included a traditional silat demonstration, gulintangan music, and a lively rendition of Joget Seri Kenangan by UBD performers. Vietnamese and Bruneian artists also collaborated on instrumental pieces and shared songs from both nations.
In line with the spirit of community, Vu Viet Toan presented a donation cheque to Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam as part of their corporate social responsibility initiative. The donation was received on behalf of the center by Pengiran Datin Hajah Noraini.
Since the launch of UBD’s Discovery Year Programme in 2011, more than 580 UBD students have selected Vietnam as their Discovery Year destination. This distinctive programme offers students one semester of experiential learning through four tracks: Study Abroad Programme, Internship, Community Outreach Programme, and Incubation Programme. Activities in Vietnam have included Study Abroad Programme, Internships, and Community Outreach Projects in collaboration with partner institutions.
UBD also had the honour of welcoming the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam His Excellency Pham Minh Chinh and spouse, Madam Le Thi Bich Tran, during their visit on 11th February 2023.
During their visit, the Prime Minister observed a Vietnamese language class at UBD and visited the Universiti Brunei Darussalam Botanical Research Centre (UBDBRC), where he planted a Cotylelobium burckii F. Heim (Resak Durian) tree to commemorate the occasion.
Vice President of the National Assembly of Vietnam His Excellency Nguyen Khac Dinh visited UBD on 10th August 2024. During the visit, His Excellency donated 38 books on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Transformation and also visited a Vietnamese language class at UBD.
On 2nd October 2024, the Language Centre of UBD collaborated with the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to organise the Vietnamese Language and Culture Day at UBD Library. The main aim of the event was to further introduce Vietnamese language and culture to the UBD community and facilitate meaningful cultural exchange between Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam.
The Language Centre offers Vietnamese language courses at various level of proficiency to UBD students and the wider Bruneian community. Starting with an initial cohort of 12 students, the programme has steadily grown with an overall participation ranging from 50 to 90 students each semester.
For further information on Vietnamese language courses at UBD, please email: office.lc@ubd.edu.bn or alternatively office.gr@ubd.edu.bn.