In June, when lotus enters its blooming season, the lotus pond in the campus of FPT University (Hoa Lac, Hanoi) attracts a large number of students to visit, take photos and participate in experiential activities.
Not many universities own large lotus ponds right in their campuses. In recent days, the lotus pond area at Hoa Lac campus has become a location chosen by many students to preserve summer images and participate in cultural activities taking place by the lake.
According to records, from early morning to late afternoon, many groups of students wore ao dai, traditional costumes or everyday clothes to take photos in the space of blooming lotus flowers. Some young people said that this is the most beautiful time of year for the lotus pond, when flowers bloom simultaneously, creating a green and peaceful scene in the school grounds.
Nguyen Thi Dieu Linh - a Multimedia Communications major at FPT University - shared: "The thing I like most is that the school creates opportunities for students to access culture through direct experiences and create content through forms close to Gen Z. This helps me feel that traditional culture is not distant but present in the lives and ways of expression of young people today.
This year, the school organizes the Lotus Week with the theme "Five Lotuses" from June 22 to 26 at Hoa Lac campus. The event includes many activities such as tea room, photography, art performances, fashion and creative content activities on digital platforms.
In the opening ceremony, the lotus pond was used as an outdoor stage with performances combining traditional and modern elements performed by students. Water performances attracted the attention of attendees and created highlights for the program.
One of the activities that received attention was a workshop on lotus tea and Vietnamese tea culture. Here, participants had the opportunity to learn about the process of marinating lotus tea, enjoy tea and listen to shares about cultural values associated with the flower considered a symbol of purity in Vietnamese life.
Within the framework of the event, there was also a workshop on lotus tea and Vietnamese tea enjoyment culture with the participation of Tra Vu - a 10th grade student of FPT University, currently a tea artisan and founder of the Societea community project. Here, participants learned about the art of tea tasting, the process of marinating lotus tea as well as cultural stories associated with the tea enjoyment of Vietnamese people.
In addition, the content creation and photography area is designed with many familiar cultural materials such as ao dai, conical hats, calligraphy or lanterns. This space attracts a large number of students to experience, film videos and record moments by the lotus pond.
According to many students, the attraction is not only in the scenery but also in the fact that activities are organized right in the familiar learning environment. Instead of having to travel to suburban tourist destinations, you can enjoy the lotus season space right at school.
In the context that many universities focus on building learning spaces associated with experience, landscape areas such as lotus ponds not only contribute to improving the school environment but also create more opportunities for students to access cultural and artistic activities and connect with the community right within the school campus.
