1.

What skills and knowledge do you hope to gain from your proposed
programme of.
I have chosen Tourism Management as my major because I really want to develop
rural tourism in Vietnam. By my own experience in my hometown, I want to make
a new tourism model by an effective combination of ancient craft villages and the
agriculture to promote the economic development.
Business management, marketing, and environmental planning in Tourism
Management are needed knowledge to support my plan. Firstly, I desire to broaden
and enrich my knowledge about various tourism models from New Zealand to see
how different it is in the comparison with Vietnam tourism services. Based on that
foundation, I will develop the practically corresponding tourism services in my
hometown. Secondly, economic knowledge which helps me to understand how to
get a tourism business management as well as create, launch the effective marketing
strategies, which are precious tools to support this livelihoods framework. The
operation of this model helps local people increase the income through supply
services to tourist. This is a reason why I need to enhance economic analysis and
demand analysis knowledge. Lastly, methods and experiences in managing and
developing a sustainable livelihood framework without pollution strongly encourage
me to gain knowledge to carry out my current great consideration.
I had a chance to participate in the building programme of an organic garden, set up
lessons and tours for children about rural life. I believe that the knowledge I could
get in association with my real experience will develop a sustainable tourism model
in ancient villages.
2. Why are the skills and knowledge you have described in H1 important to your
country’s development? (max. 250 words) Where possible you should refer to
data and research that supports your argument.
Located along the Cau river basin of northern Vietnam, provinces of Bac Giang and
Bac Ninh are my hometown where have potentials for tourism development. Hence,
the profound insights into studying methods and skills about tourism such as business
management, marketing, and environmental planning would help me to promote the
local economic growth as well as to introduce these beautiful destinations to
everyone.
In Bac Giang province, the local authority has made 5-year planning to develop the
tourism, nevertheless, they focus on the promotion of few famous destinations. As a
result, other destinations have been not exploited yet, so people who live in these
provinces and in Vietnam have rarely heard about traditional craft villages and
unique cultural values in there. If the potential things were exploited by the tourism
activities, local people would be increased income through active services such as
food, tour-guide, and homestay for tourist. Furthermore, handicrafts are facing many
challenges such as the competition with industrial products and few young people
are interested in pursuing these crafts as a career path. Village tourism will encourage
local people to maintain traditional culture as well as gain more money from selling
their handicraft products.
3. How will you use your new knowledge and skills to contribute to the
development of your home country? (max 250 words)
I am going to apply my new knowledge and skills to develop tourism in ancient
villages in Bac Giang, Bac Ninh provinces. In my opinion, the exploitation of tourism
activities in this areas contributes to the effort for the development of local tourism
of authorities.
I have a plan to create a new tourism model. Firstly, this model would like to supply
the services with accommodation such as bicycle tours, seasonal tours (because
every harvesting and kind of weather, the farmer has different activities). Especially,
this model provides tourism destinations as the areas to study practical programs,
apply theories and research on the prominent aspects of local culture capitals
including farming, traditional craft, and Vietnam ancient architecture. As a result,
local people play a key role as local guides are able to increase their income. On the
other hand, I am planning to build handicraft studios in order to display handicraft
products and researching advance of the model products such as wood-carvings,
paintings, and bamboo products. These activities will encourage farmers to generate
creatively the handicraft products. I will propose this model to local authorities and
associate with fund programs.
Increasing the income for the local households and promoting the development of
new craft products ought to bring huge chances of changing lives of the local people
as well as developing traditional villages. This will act as a reference for future work.
4. Why did you decide to apply to study in New Zealand? (max 250 words)
The strength of tourism in Vietnam and New Zealand has lots of things in common.
Both countries have the potentials and strength for developing tourism by various
cultural heritage’s region. In particular, in New Zealand, tourism of Maori and Li
ancient villages were developing sustainability by exploiting many aspects of the
cultural values of the community. In addition, when I see images of the tourism
activities in New Zealand, I really want to find out why New Zealand not only
exploits tourism from natural resources but also reserves all values so well. In
contrast, in Vietnam, tourism exploitation without affecting the environment or
bringing pollution is one of the serious problems that traditional craft villages are
encountering.
On the other hand, as one of the fastest developed tourism destinations with various
tourism activities, New Zealand is the best choice for me to study about tourism
management. Learning at New Zealand is a huge opportunity for me to increase my
understanding of tourism and experience tourist services and models. Lastly, New
Zealand universities are listed as one of the high-ranked ones in the world. There are
many students from all over the world choosing to study here as an ideal academic
environment. To sum up, the knowledge and skills that I am actively collected in the
high standard education system and the global academic community in New Zealand
can become a new practice access on my return to Vietnam.
5. If you are successful in being awarded a scholarship, what challenges do you
think that you will face living and studying in a different country, and how do
you intend to overcome these? Include both study and personal challenges. (max
250 words)
Given the living context in another region, the challenges I think that I will face to
live and study in a country where is completely different from Vietnam include
English language and the study of a different major in a new education system. There
have the helpful and necessary information services such as
isnzready.immigration.govt.nz and newzealand.com, which support me to prepare
from now. In addition, I also have a self-study timetable for every day, this helps me
to improve my English skills although I have been worked in a multinational
corporation.
Intercultural communication is one of my obstacles. Social connection to other
students or local people through joining social activities, local events is one of the
effective ways to increase communication skills and develop close friendships in the
real circumstance in New Zealand. Therefore, I understand more about academic
issues, new life, and New Zealand accent. In the field of tourism management, there
exist certain matters of economic knowledge in the programs included in different
courses that I have not learned before. Because of that, I would like to attend regular
classes and participating tourism study groups more often in this area. I think that I
will certainly receive the support from advisors and the student network with any
issues. For me, the study and the analytical skills I have achieved at university and
volunteer activities will become one of my strength to be able to adapt to a new
environment.
6. If you are successful in receiving a scholarship, and do not intend to return
to your current or most recent position after completing your qualification,
what job do you intend to pursue on your return to your home country?
I am currently working at a garment manufacturing. Hence, I certainly will not return
to the current job. Because of working at the factory, I have had some encounters
workers and realized that they come from traditional craft villages. They have not
chosen pursuit handicraft as their career, like many other young people. They think
that becoming a manufacturing worker will help them to earn more income and the
traditional village is the undeveloped economy. I expect the study more on
developing tourism in Cau river basin could preserve traditional villages and helps
young people realize the potential of handicraft villages.
Situation:
Describe a situation when it was important for you to work with someone you
didn't know. Describe how you built a good working relationship in a school or
work setting.

In 2016, I worked on a project at a company to hold the tour program for children by
the experiential learning method. In my project, the important part was building an
organic garden about the agricultural for children. This job required me to work with
a Muong ethnic woman. However, I had no knowledge of the local natural resource,
crops, the weather condition in the garden area and she does not have much
knowledge about organic gardening standards (soil, water quality, composted plant,
grow organic crops). I decided come regularly to the garden to work in building this
garden with her.
I decided to travel from Hanoi center to this garden to work with her and slept there
for two days weekend. The first barrier I realized that her Vietnamese vocabulary
was not much so she did misunderstand what I said. I tried to simplify in including
the illustrations about the organic gardening requirements. She also shared about
local weather, the natural resource, the yearly harvest which helped me enhance my
knowledge through my recording and observation.
Moreover, knowing the purpose of building organic vegetable gardens, she was very
open to introducing me to some households living in this area. They have outstanding
and unique livestock and agriculture practices. I have identified the strength in this
area to develop and build exciting and diverse tour content such as planting vegetable,
trekking explores natural resource, sightseeing the animals (cows, buffaloes) for
children.

What was the outcome? (100 words)

After several months, I did not come regularly the garden because this Muong
woman understood clearer about organic farm requirement. I understand more about
the importance of building relationships with local communities who I did not know
before starting the project. I realized that it was the root of my project.
We have held the successful tours for kid groups and their parents to the garden. Up
to now, she and some local households have a chance improved their income by
participating in this program based on their strengths.
2. Describe a situation when you had to work very hard to achieve what was
required.
Describe the situation (100 words)
As a part of my graduation thesis, I researched livelihood activities of three minority
villages in Son La province of northern Vietnam. I used the questionnaire and the
community methods to encourage the community to actively participate in sharing
information. In the last village, one of the village elders did not want to support me.
This situation is very difficult for me, and I had only one day to collect and
investigate fully data and information according to my previous plan with the
Commune People's Committee.
What action did you take? (150 words)

What was the outcome? (100 words)

I have worked with a community by knowledge and skills I gained from university.
I learn how important to create the trust of community officials.
I have proposed and analyzed the suitability of some models that could apply in
practice such as growing medicinal plants under the forest canopy, build the local
medicinal plants garden. At the same time, I also sent my research results to a local
non-governmental organization which works about the livelihood and natural
resource) at Son La and received their appreciation. My graduate thesis received
highly appreciated by the teacher and obtained an “A+”.
Other questions:
1. Provide a maximum of four academic study/training related awards,
prizes or publications you have achieved in the course of your studies (not
specific to any particular qualification you hold).
· The third prize (Faculty level) in Science Research for Students "Research on
demand for information access of students with disabilities at University of Social
Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi".
· Scholarship for field research at the Van Ho District, Son La Province by
People and Nature Reconciliation “Research livelihood activities of Thai people,
Xuan Nha, Van Ho District, Son La province”
2. Please provide your work history with your current/most recent
employment/position first
2.1. Position title
· Organization name: Smart Shirts Garments Manufacturing Bac Giang Co.,Ltd.
· Starting date: 1/2018 - present
· Briefly describe the work of this organization
Headquartered in Hong Kong, Smart Shirts Ltd. has been a global leader in the design,
manufacturing, and merchandising of premier dress shirts and sportswear for almost
60 years. The company operates three (Hung Yen, Nam Dinh, Bac Giang)
manufacturing facilities in Vietnam.
· Briefly describe your duties/responsibilities
As an assistant of Deputy General Director at Smart Shirts Garments Manufacturing
Bac Giang, my duties are translating the documents from English into Vietnamese,
supporting to resolve office-related department requests, issues and organize office
documents before they were approved.
· Which Priority Sector is this employment most aligned to?
Private sector development
· If this is your current employment, will you be returning to this role?
· ☐ No
· If no, why won’t you be returning to this job?
Almost of employees in my hometown are industrial company. However, it is only
a temporary job to help me financially to cover my life. It is not what I studied before.
I want to leave job and work at a tourism company in the future.
2.2. Position title
· Organization name: Live & Learn for Environment and Community
Organization.
· Starting date: 10/2015; Ending date: 8/2016 - Part-time & paid work as
volunteer.
· Briefly describe the work of this organization
Live & Learn is a member of Live & Learn Environmental Education, with rich
working experience in sustainable community development and education in the
Asia-Pacific. Live & Learn Environmental Education in Vietnam’s mission is to
reduce poverty and improve knowledge towards a sustainable future through
education (children and young people), community mobilization and supportive
partnerships in Vietnam and other countries.
In Vietnam, Green Generation (launched by Live &Learn) is a popular group for
Vietnam young people. The network of Green Generation helps connect Vietnamese
people, youth organizations who share concerns and are willing to learn and take
action for a sustainable way of life to action on climate change.
· Briefly describe your duties/responsibilities
As a Communication Internship at Ninh Thuan province:
Assisting in community activities on the social media;
Collected images, video and documents to write reports of programs;
Build up a database of partners who working about children education
Volunteer for event about environmental education program at Hanoi
· Which Priority Sector is this employment most aligned to?
Education
2.4. Position title
· Organization name: BOOVironment Department of BOO Co., Ltd
· Starting date: 3/2015; Ending date: 11/2015 - Volunteer.
· Briefly describe the work of this organization
BOOVironment - a non-profit corporation under BOO Trading Co., Ltd, is the
representative of the company to carry out social and environmental activities.
BOOVironment is a Green Business Pioneer show their corporate social
responsibility in Vietam. Every year, they hold many projects such as “Turn Off the
Light - Turn on the Ideas” Campaign (save electricity), “I will if you will” campaign
(mangrove planting), “I ride a bike today” project.
· Briefly describe your duties/responsibilities
As a Communication Volunteer at “I ride a bike today” and “Hanoi Free Bike Tour”
project.
Assist in environmental projects on the social media (Facebook, Web)
Collected images, video and draft article
Organizational project and recruitment planning

· Which Priority Sector is this employment most aligned to?

Private sector development

Situation 1: Describe a situation when it was important for you to work with
someone you didn't know. Describe how you built a good working relationship
in a school or work setting.
Năm 2016, tôi làm việc tại một công ty về tour du lịch và học tập trải nghiệm cho trẻ
em. Tôi phụ trách chương trình về mảng nông nghiệp, trong đó phần quan trọng là
xây dựng một khu vườn hữu cơ. Công việc này yêu cầu tôi phải làm việc với một
người phụ nữ dân tộc Mường. Tuy nhiên tôi thì không có kiến thức về điều kiện tự
nhiên ở địa phương còn cô ấy thì không có nhiều có kiến thức về tiêu chuẩn vườn
rau hữu cơ
Mỗi cuối tuần, tôi sẽ đi từ Hà Nội - Vườn, làm việc với cô và ngủ tại đó trong hai
ngày cuối tuần. Rào cản đầu tiên tôi nhận ra là vốn từ vựng tiếng Việt của cô ấy
không nhiều nên cô ấy không hiểu nhiều thứ tôi chia sẻ. Tôi cố gắng đơn giản hóa
khi nói về các yêu cầu vườn rau hữu cơ và kèm hình ảnh minh họa. Tôi đã áp dụng
việc sử dụng giống cây, thời tiết và khí hậu trong vùng và hình thành kiến thức của
riêng mình thông qua ghi chép và quan sát.
Biết được mục đích xây dựng vườn rau hữu cơ là gì, cô đã rất cởi mở giới thiệu tôi
với một số người sống khu vực này; những người có mô hình hoạt động chăn nuôi
và nông nghiệp nổi bật. Tôi đã xác định được điểm mạnh tại khu vực này để phát
triển và xây dựng nội dung chương trình tour thú vị và đa dạng: tạo sự gần gũi với
các động vật trong nông trại, và trải nhiệm và quan sát môi trường tự nhiên cho khách
du lịch.
Sau vài tháng, tôi đã không cần đến vườn thường bởi vì cô ấy đã hiểu rõ hơn về của
một cầu trang trại hữu cơ. Nhờ các hoạt động của tour này, cô ấy và một số hộ gia
đình xung quanh đã cải thiện thu nhập khi tham gia vào chương trình này của chúng
tôi dựa trên thế mạnh của chính họ.
Tôi đã hiểu hơn về tầm quan trọng của xây dựng mối quan hệ với cộng đồng địa
phương, những người mà tôi không biết trước khi bắt đầu dự án. Tôi nhận ra rằng đó
cũng là điều gốc rễ giúp tôi làm tốt dự án này.

2. Situation 2 Describe a situation when you had to work very hard to achieve
what was required.
Đề tài khóa luận tốt nghiệp của tôi là nghiên cứu sinh kế của tại ba bản dân tộc Thái
tại một vùng núi phía Bắc Việt Nam. Tôi sử dụng phương pháp bảng hỏi và thảo luận
nhóm đại diện cộng đồng để khai thác thông tin. Tại ngôi làng cuối cùng, tôi đã bị
một trong những người già làng từ chối không cho phép làm việc theo phương pháp
thảo luận nhóm. Tình huống này rất khó khăn đối với tôi, và tôi chỉ còn một ngày
làm việc ở đây theo kế hoạch trước đó giữa tôi với UBND Xã.
Tôi quyết định đi bộ và tìm tới nhà người già làng kia, ông ấy từ chối gặp liên tục
nhưng tôi vẫn cố gắng kiên nhẫn để được gặp ông ấy. Tôi gặp và đưa ID thẻ và thông
tin cá nhân chứng minh với ông ấy rằng tôi chỉ là một sinh viên nghiên cứu. Tôi cũng
chia sẻ nghiên cứu của mình rằng nó là một nghiên cứu về sinh kế người dân hiện
nay tại địa phương. Tôi chia sẻ ông ấy, một số nơi hiện nay tại Việt Nam có đặc điểm
kinh tế và địa lý tương tự tại địa phương, mà người dân kiếm thu nhập rất tốt bởi mô
hình sinh kế mới và bản thân tôi hy vọng cũng đề xuất mô hình sinh kế thiết thực
thông qua được làng tạo điều kiện khai thác đủ thông tin.
Sau cuộc nói chuyện chân thành, ông ấy không những đồng ý, còn giúp tôi liên lạc
và tìm kiếm các cá nhân nòng cốt và đại diện cho cộng đồng để tôi làm việc nhóm
với họ. Qua buổi làm việc cuối cùng này, tôi đã có một số đề xuất mô hình sinh kế
từ những điểm yếu và hạn chế trong khai thác tài nguyên rừng tại địa phương.
Tôi nhận ra tạo sự tin tưởng ở các cộng đồng rất quan trọng. Tôi đã đề xuất và phân
tích sự phù hợp của một số mô hình có thể áp dụng tại địa phương như trồng thuốc
dưới tán rừng, làm vườn thuốc bản địa. Đồng thời, tôi đã gửi kết quả nghiên cứu tới
một tổ chức phi chính phủ (hoạt động mảng sinh kế và tài nguyên) tại địa phương
này, và nhận đánh giá cao của họ.