Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (President: Moon Hwi-chang) announced that its Department of Vietnamese and Indonesian Studies has successfully completed its Winter Overseas Cultural Exploration program in central Vietnam.
The Winter Overseas Cultural Exploration is a non-curricular program designed to broaden students’ academic perspectives by visiting regions related to their major during vacation periods and experiencing local history and culture firsthand. Unlike conventional travel programs, the Department of Vietnamese and Indonesian Studies differentiates its initiative by having faculty members design the exploration themes and detailed itinerary in advance, accompany students throughout the trip, and provide in-depth explanations of local history and culture on site.
This year’s program, themed “Understanding the History and Culture of Central Vietnam, Where Diverse Cultures Intersect,” was held for five days starting January 23. Led by Professor Kang Hana, Head of the Department of Vietnamese and Indonesian Studies, the delegation consisted of 18 participants, including enrolled students. The group visited Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hue, exploring the multilayered cultural landscape of Vietnam, including the legacy of the Champa civilization.
In Da Nang, students toured the Cham Museum and the My Son Sanctuary, engaging in in-depth study of the history and civilization of the Champa Kingdom, which was rooted in Hindu culture. In Hoi An—once the largest trading port in Southeast Asia during the 17th and 18th centuries—they visited the Chinese Assembly Halls, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and traditional Vietnamese houses clustered in the Old Town, gaining insight into the city’s historical role as a vibrant international trading hub.
The delegation then traveled to Hue, the capital of Vietnam’s last dynasty and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage city. There, students explored the Imperial City of Hue, royal tombs, and Thien Mu Pagoda, renowned for its seven-story octagonal tower, developing a multidimensional understanding of Vietnam’s history and architectural heritage.
One participating student remarked that although they had visited central Vietnam several times as a tourist, this exploration program enabled them to systematically understand the historical and cultural narratives of Vietnam in ways they had not previously experienced.
Professor Kang Hana, who led the delegation, stated, “The goal of this program was to directly observe and deeply understand the unique culture of central Vietnam. Through three preparatory online meetings prior to departure, we ensured thorough preparation, which made the experience meaningful for all participants.” She added, “We will continue to operate high-quality exploration programs that allow students to directly experience Vietnamese language and regional culture, thereby strengthening their academic competencies.”
The Department of Vietnamese and Indonesian Studies at Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies offers two specialized tracks: Vietnamese Studies (language and area studies) and Indonesian Studies (language and area studies). Upon completion of the curriculum, students can obtain practical certifications such as the CUFS Vietnamese Translator Certificate and the CUFS Indonesian Translator Certificate. The department also operates a range of academic and extracurricular programs, including Saturday offline lectures, online special lectures with native-speaking professors, student clubs, and overseas cultural exploration programs.
Meanwhile, Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is accepting second-round applications for new and transfer students for the first semester of the 2026 academic year until February 12. The university is recruiting students across ten departments: English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese and Indonesian Studies, Business Administration, Industrial Safety and Housing Management, Counseling Psychology, and K-Beauty. Applicants who have graduated from high school or hold equivalent qualifications are eligible to apply. Detailed information is available at the university’s admissions website (https://go.cufs.ac.kr), and inquiries can be made via phone, KakaoTalk (cufs), or email (ipsi@cufs.ac.kr).
About Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Located within the campus of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Imun-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is a four-year online university specializing exclusively in foreign languages. As Korea’s only language-specialized cyber university, it leverages the educational expertise of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies—ranked among the world’s leading language institutions—to provide a systematic curriculum, cutting-edge online learning infrastructure, and student-centered academic services.
The university offers undergraduate programs in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese and Indonesian Studies, Business Administration, Industrial Safety and Housing Management, Counseling Psychology, and K-Beauty. Graduate programs include AI & English, Global Korean Studies, and the TESOL program under the Graduate School of TESOL.
