"Tourism Ambassadors" Showcase at "Your Dream Destination" Grand Finale

In the context of a rapidly transforming tourism industry toward sustainability, personalized experiences, and technological integration, a generation of students with open mindsets and creative capabilities is increasingly leading the way in creating new values for destinations.

Today's youth are proactively testing ideas, fostering interdisciplinary connections, and gradually shaping their professional mindset. The Grand Finale of "Your Dream Destination 2026," organized by the UEF Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management on the morning of April 8, served as a vivid testament to this spirit. Here, "destination dreams" were materialized into projects and proposals rich in practicality and depth.

Concluding the brilliant journey of young enthusiasts passionate about destination tourism.

A Professional Academic Playground Connecting Tourism Lovers

Now in its fourth year, "Your Dream Destination 2026" continues to affirm its appeal by attracting approximately 100 students from various prestigious universities nationwide. Over a nearly three-month journey encompassing Preliminary and Semifinal rounds, along with a series of training sessions, workshops, and practical challenges, the competition has become an academic meeting point, connecting students from diverse fields who share a passion for tourism, creativity, and sustainable development.

Surpassing many strong competitors, the Top 12 finalists represented: Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF), Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Sai Gon University, University of Finance - Marketing, Dong Nai University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), VNU-HCM University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Vietnam Aviation Academy. With courage, confidence, and determination, they painted a multi-colored picture of academic thinking and professional perspectives.

A panel of prestigious, highly specialized, and influential judges.

In this final stage, the top 12 contestants (divided into 4 teams as drawn during the Semifinals) had 7 minutes to present their projects and 7 minutes for direct rebuttal with the Board of Judges. This was not only a test of the idea's content but also a comprehensive challenge of critical thinking, teamwork, and stage presence.

Projects at the Grand Finale showed a clear shift in how students approach tourism. Moving beyond traditional destination introductions, the teams delved deep into core values such as sustainable tourism development, indigenous cultural preservation, enhancing visitor experiences, and applying technology in promotion. Many projects even placed people—especially local communities—at the center of the development journey, demonstrating humanistic perspectives and social responsibility. This combination of creativity, practicality, and long-term orientation enhanced the competition's academic quality while clearly reflecting the role of the younger generation in shaping the future of the tourism industry.

Contestants' performances were meticulously prepared from project content to costumes.

Accompanying the contestants in this decisive round was a panel of prestigious experts and content creators: Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Chi – Director of Rooms, Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon; Content Creator BabyKopo Home; Content Creator Chau Muoi; Ms. Le Ngoc Kim Ngan – Sales Manager of Group Tours, Vietluxtour Travel Joint Stock Company; MC Huu Duong; and Dr. Nguyen Vuong Hoai Thao – Vice Dean of the UEF Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management. The combination of professional expertise and creative thinking provided multi-dimensional evaluations, contributing to the high quality of the competition.

The competition also saw the attendance and encouragement of the Board of Trustees, the Board of Management, unit leaders, and representatives from sponsoring businesses. Dr. Nhan Cam Tri – Vice President of UEF, stated that to reach the final round, contestants underwent a journey of persistent effort, not just to compete but to learn, connect, and accumulate valuable experiences. "In a context where tourism plays an increasingly vital role in the economy, the younger generation is expected to become the successor force, contributing to promoting the country's image and spreading cultural values," he remarked.

Painting a "Dream Destination" with Creativity and Social Responsibility

The highlight of "Your Dream Destination 2026" lay in how the teams approached tourism as a holistic problem, where experience, technology, and community responsibility are closely linked.

Shining brightest was Team DREAM (comprising students from Vietnam Aviation Academy and Dong Nai University of Technology), who secured the First Prize overall. Their project, "The 5km Dream Road," went beyond building an experiential tourism product in Lao Chai village; it demonstrated sustainable development thinking by placing the local community at the center. The core value of the project is supporting education, thereby creating a long-term foundation for the destination's development. This approach shows a maturity in students' awareness: tourism is not just about exploitation, but about companionship and value creation.

Meanwhile, Team E.D.E.N (students from UEF, HCMC Open University, and Sai Gon University) presented a "Vietnam 2030" vision with a 5G strategy, clearly showing the digitalization trend in tourism through pillars like preservation, integration, environment, and social happiness. Team "Time Travelers" (UEF, University of Finance - Marketing, and Dong Nai University of Technology) chose a creative approach by combining historical elements with interactive games to promote the Cu Chi Tunnels, opening a new way of storytelling for heritage. Team PNV (UEF, HUTECH, and VNU-HCM USSH) made their mark with the "Xanh Bao Sac" journey in Phu Quoc, emphasizing a harmonious relationship between economic development, marine environmental conservation, and the preservation of local cultural identity.

Models and posters of the 4 tourism development projects on display.

Having accompanied the contestants since the Semifinals, Content Creator BabyKopo Home highly appreciated the serious preparation and investment of the teams. Contestants showed clear progress through each round, from content to presentation skills, with confidence and effective teamwork. The entries closely followed the theme, highlighting green tourism messages while showcasing creative thinking and practical approaches. The clear presentation structure and improved time management further enhanced the quality of the performances. The judges also recognized the potential of the contestants in the field of content creation and provided constructive feedback for their future improvement.

Judge Le Ngoc Kim Ngan praised the students for knowing how to clearly position core values and develop ideas in a complete, in-depth manner. Notably, many teams approached tourism through practical experience rather than just surface-level images. Although not all had many opportunities for field trips, they still demonstrated a clear passion for the tourism sector.

The competition continues to affirm UEF's role in creating an academic environment tied to practice. Through this playground, students challenged themselves with creative ideas and honed their professional mindset, teamwork, and integration skills.

At the conclusion of the Grand Finale:

• First Prize: Team DREAM

• Second Prize: Team PNV

• Third Prize: Team E.D.E.N and Team "Time Travelers"

In the individual category:

• Most Liked Video: Truong Nhat Nam (UEF)

• Most Creative Idea: Le Thanh Phu (HUTECH)

• Most Inspiring Destination: Truong Thi Thu Hien (Dong Nai University of Technology)

The Board of Organizers also awarded First, Second, and Third prizes to high school representatives in the High School Category: Luong The Vinh High School for the Gifted, Chau Thanh High School, and Bui Thi Xuan High School, respectively.

The final results were well-deserved following the contestants' efforts over the past 3 months.

From the "destination dreams" presented in the Grand Finale, it is clear that a generation of students is maturing with a sense of responsibility, ready to become future "tourism ambassadors." They carry the ambition to promote Vietnam's image in creative, sustainable, and identity-rich ways. As the competition concludes, it is certain that the students have taken a new step on their journey to conquer the tourism sector, satisfy their passions, and create many practical values for the community.

Center of Information and Communication