Your Dream Destination 2026 Returns, Launching a Creative Playground for Tourism-Passionate Students

In the context of a constantly innovating tourism industry, equipping students with a solid professional foundation coupled with creative thinking and practical skills has become an essential requirement.

Aiming to build an experience-rich learning environment, on the afternoon of January 20, the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management held the kick-off for the 4th season of the “Your Dream Destination” competition in 2026. This academic playground is designed to help students unleash their ideas and gradually realize their passion for tourism.

The 4th season of Your Dream Destination officially launches, opening a creative journey for tourism-loving students nationwide.

The kick-off ceremony was attended by Dr. Ngo Minh Hai – Vice President; Dr. Nguyen Vuong Hoai Thao – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management; MSc. Nguyen Viet Thuy – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management and Head of the Restaurant and Dietary Service Management Program; and MSc. Nguyen Thi Lan Chi – Head of the Hotel Management Program, along with faculty members and a large number of students.

The program also welcomed industry guests: Ms. Ly Thi Ngoc Sanh – HR Manager of Viet Nhon Co., Ltd (Sesan Restaurant); Mr. Bui Minh Hai – Head of Retail Banking, Vikki Digital Bank; Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung – CEO of Saigon Holiday Tourism JSC; and PhD Candidate/MSc. Phan Nhan – Seoul & Busan Tourism Ambassador.

UEF representatives express gratitude to sponsoring businesses and guest speakers.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ngo Minh Hai emphasized the University’s orientation toward practice-linked training. He expressed high expectations that the competition would provide students with the conditions to develop their mindset, perfect their professional toolkits, and gradually become ambassadors for various regions in the future, affirming their professional capacity through personal experiences.

Continuing the program, Dr. Nguyen Vuong Hoai Thao introduced the detailed rules, competition rounds, judging criteria, prize structure, and new features of the 2026 season. Accordingly, the competition has been expanded nationwide, welcoming students regardless of their university or major.

Specifically, the Preliminary round, “Destination Storytelling,” takes place online from January 20 to February 9. Contestants who pass this round will compete in the in-person Semifinals on March 11, before entering the Grand Finale on April 8. This challenging series of rounds requires contestants to apply analytical thinking, creativity, and proactivity, fully demonstrating their individual capabilities and courage on their journey to conquer the competition.

To supplement the knowledge base and equip contestants with video production skills, PhD Candidate/MSc. Phan Nhan shared practical experiences and lessons learned throughout his career. Through this, the speaker inspired and motivated UEFers to confidently pursue their passions and gradually shape their personal development in the tourism service sector.

From an academic perspective combined with professional experience, the speaker shared techniques for building a complete video, focusing on creating highlights in the opening and using storytelling methods to attract and maintain viewer interest. Additionally, the speaker emphasized the content value that each media product should bring to the community.

The speaker shares practical knowledge and inspires students to confidently conquer the competition.

Furthermore, the speaker analyzed common mistakes for beginners, such as a lack of emotional elements, copying existing experience journeys, failing to define a personal style, or posting inconsistent content. these insights help students form a solid mindset, understand the spirit of the competition, and stay ready to make breakthroughs this season while gradually building their personal brand on digital platforms.

In a vibrant academic atmosphere, UEFers proactively engaged with the speaker regarding finding inspiration, building tourism content channels, and maintaining video quality. Students had the opportunity to expand their in-depth knowledge and stay ready to apply it to their creative journeys.

UEFers actively engage with the speaker to learn more about video production skills.

Concluding the kick-off program, the 4th season of “Your Dream Destination” opens a promising creative journey for students who love tourism, experiences, and media. Through this practice-linked academic playground, UEFers have more opportunities to showcase their professional capacity, develop creative thinking, and bring their dream destination ideas closer to the reality of the hospitality industry right from their university days.

Center of Information and Communication