In the winter of 2024, the temperature in Shenyang, Liaoning province, was -20 C. Duong Thi Anh Dao, a Vietnamese student studying at Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, extended her palms out of the window of her dormitory to catch the first snowflake in her life, which fell just on her 20-year-old birthday.

"At that moment, I felt the snowflake melt in my hand, and I suddenly understood why I chose to come to northeastern China from tropical Vietnam," recalled Dao, who was enrolled at the university in 2024.

The snowfall brought the most special birthday experience for her, she said. "Since I decided to study abroad, I wanted to choose a place completely different from Vietnam to experience a drastically different life."

"Here I experienced the first snowfall in my life in China, which happened to fall on my birthday," she recalled. "We quickly put on thick clothes and ran outside to run in the snow, build snowmen and have snowball fights."

However, adapting to the cold weather was not easy at first.

"I still remember the moment I stepped out of the airport. Despite wearing what I considered 'thick clothes' in Vietnam, the wind easily penetrated through my body and made me shiver," she said.

Despite the challenging weather, the central heating system in northeastern China surprised her the most — inside the dormitories it was as warm as spring, something unimaginable in Vietnam, said Dao. As time passed by, she began to try activities unique to northeastern winters.

"The first time I walked on a frozen lake, I was so afraid of falling that I carefully followed my classmates. Two Chinese classmates supported me on both sides, patiently teaching me how to walk on the ice."

"While Vietnam is warm all year round, northeastern China gave me completely new experiences with its four distinct seasons, especially the winter snow scenes, which showed me a different kind of natural beauty."

As a student who had passed Level-5 examination of Chinese Proficiency Test, or HSK, Dao initially had confidence in her Chinese language abilities. However, the northeastern dialect quickly presented new challenges for her.

"Once, I was on the subway and heard several people talking loudly with serious facial expressions. I thought they were arguing," Dao recalled. "But shortly after that, they all burst into laughter, which made me realize that I had completely misunderstood the situation."

At the university, Dao majors in international economics and trade, which was a choice based on her own vision and aspirations. "China and Vietnam are geographically adjacent, giving them natural advantages in trade. Through my studies, I learned that the Belt and Road Initiative provides a broad platform for cooperation between China and Vietnam."

While studying in Shenyang, Dao had the opportunity to visit several Chinese enterprises, witnessing firsthand China's development in technological innovation.

"I visited an intelligent manufacturing enterprise and found their automated production lines to be quite impressive. Vietnam is also gradually developing its manufacturing industry, and these technologies and experiences from China provide valuable references for us."

She also learned about the practical situation of China-Vietnam trade through courses and internships.

"I discovered that Vietnamese coffee, fruits and handicrafts are very popular in the Chinese market, while Chinese electronics and machinery are important imported goods for Vietnam," she said.

After graduation, she plans to work in China-Vietnam trade, hoping to "introduce Vietnamese specialty agricultural products and handicrafts to China, or help Chinese enterprises enter the Vietnamese market, building bridges of communication and cooperation between the businesses of both countries".

Moreover, Dao has gradually become an enthusiastic promoter of the culture of northeastern China, and she is eager to introduce the charm of this region to her Vietnamese friends.

Liaoning has a long history and rich culture. The Imperial Palace, the East Tomb and the North Tomb in Shenyang allow visitors to closely appreciate the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient Chinese architecture and its unique historical significance.

The Fossil Museum and the Niuheliang archaeological site in Chaoyang, Liaoning, are also on her recommended list. "When our teacher took us to visit Chaoyang, I learned that this land is known as 'the place where the first flower bloomed and the first bird flew in the world'. These places are like bridges connecting the past and present, well worth exploring and experiencing," she said.

"I aspire to become a note in the melody of China-Vietnam friendship, using my strength to play the pulsing rhythm of friendship between our two countries," said Dao.

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