Students from Southeast Asia share their experiences of embracing cultural exchanges, building connections, and shaping future careers in China.

When 18-year-old Duong Thi Anh Dao first came across a Chinese book in Vietnam, the square Chinese characters immediately caught her eye.

"They seemed like mysterious symbols that sparked my curiosity and motivated me to learn Chinese just to understand them," Dao recalled.

This curiosity opened the door to a whole new world. Now 21, Dao studies at Shenyang University of Chemical Technology (SYUCT) in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province.

"I've always been interested in different cultures, and when I decided to study abroad, I wanted to experience life somewhere completely different from Vietnam," she said, explaining her choice of this northern city over her hometown.

READ MORE: Decade of discovery

Despite cultural differences, Dao never felt lonely. Instead, she was embraced by the warm hospitality of her Chinese friends. At one gathering, she brought homemade Vietnamese spring rolls, and in return, her friends taught her popular Chinese songs.

"My Chinese friends call me 'sis' — it really makes me feel at home," she said.

Lim Jia Yee, a 22-year-old Malaysian student at Shenyang Conservatory of Music, shared similar experiences. She often discussed Chinese and Malaysian music styles with her Chinese friends, finding that casual conversations about music often blossomed into deeper cultural exchanges.

"Chinese youth are open-minded and eager to learn about the world. These exchanges not only showed their respect for other cultures but also gave me the chance to share my own," Lim said.

Heng Vuthy, a 17-year-old student from Cambodia, arrived at SYUCT in October 2024. "With the growing global interest in learning Chinese, I decided to follow this trend and pursue a career as a Chinese language teacher," he said.

Before coming to China, Heng got to know the country through movies and the internet. The captivating world of Chinese mythology in classic literature, along with the vibrant scenes of modern urban China he saw on social media, fueled his desire to experience the country firsthand.

"However, when I actually arrived, I didn't expect the biggest challenges to be the weather and the food," he said with a laugh.

Having grown up in Cambodia's year-round tropical warmth, Heng was unprepared for the biting cold of Northeast China.

He vividly remembers shivering through his first winter and having to buy a thick down jacket and a fluffy hat to stay warm.

He also found Shenyang's food much heavier and saltier than the lighter, sweeter flavors he was used to at home. Despite this, his adventurous spirit led him to try different Chinese dishes every day.

"Now, I've gotten used to drinking hot water, and I've even come to enjoy Shenyang cuisine — especially guobaorou (crispy sweet and sour pork)," he said.

Connecting the world

Tan Chau En, a 23-year-old Malaysian student at the Communication University of China (CUC), has been pleasantly surprised by the convenience of online shopping in China — especially when it comes to ordering flowers through the delivery app Meituan.

"I was amazed that the flowers I order online always look just like the pictures shown by the seller," she said.

Her love for flowers began with her family's garden in Malaysia. "However, due to the climate, we could only grow a limited selection," she explained. "In China, there are flowers for every season — some I had never seen before."

She also noticed that flowers in China are much more affordable. "For example, baby's breath is common here but it's rare and expensive in Malaysia," she said. "Here, I can easily buy it — even at the flower shop on my campus."

Beyond flowers, Tan said one of her most surprising shopping experiences was using the secondhand trading platform Xianyu.

"You can find just about anything there at incredibly low prices," she said, adding that her friend even managed to score a discontinued charge-coupled device (CCD) camera for a bargain.

Tan has observed that in recent years, China has become an increasingly popular destination for young Malaysians looking to study or travel abroad.

Reflecting on her own experience studying announcing and anchoring at CUC, she pointed out that Malaysia once lacked well-developed institutions for art-related examinations. However, after many Malaysians returned from studying in China, they began setting up training centers and programs in anchoring, acting, and other artistic fields.

"For Malaysian Chinese, studying in China is particularly appealing because of the language they share," Tan said. "While I visited English-speaking countries, I often felt like just a tourist. But in China, I feel a strong sense of belonging."

ALSO READ: Young innovators forge global ties

As a student majoring in pop music, Lim said she has been deeply inspired by Chinese vocal techniques and stage performances. "I hope to blend Chinese pop music with traditional Malaysian elements to create a unique, cross-cultural style," she said.

Dao, who studies international economics and trade, plans to build a career in China-Vietnam trade after graduation.

"China and Vietnam are right next to each other, and their economies really work well together, which opens up a lot of opportunities for trade," she said. "I'm planning to do some internships in China, and in the future, I hope to use what I've learned and the connections I've made to help boost trade between the two countries."

Liu Shicheng contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at mengwenjie@i21st.cn