HCM-UTE Youth Festival 2026 Connects Students, Spreads Youthful Spirit

On October 4, 2026, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (HCM-UTE, formerly Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education) held HCM-UTE Youth Festival 2026, featuring a series of networking and hands-on activities for students and a Gala Night attended by a large number of first-year students of the 2026 intake. The program gave students a space to connect and settle into university life, while showcasing the energy, creativity and enthusiasm of HCM-UTE’s young community in the first days of the new academic year.

HCM-UTE Youth Festival 2026 is an annual program held at the start of each academic year. It includes a series of networking and hands-on activities for students across the University and a meeting between the University’s leadership and first-year students of the 2026 intake. This year, the program also celebrated the 64th Founding Anniversary of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (October 5, 1962 – October 5, 2026) and the 28th anniversary of the founding of the University Student Association (October 19, 1998 – October 19, 2026).

Throughout the day, the festival offered a range of activities for students, including mini games, team building, booths run by clubs, teams and partner organizations, as well as check-in spots and interactive activities. The festival space allowed students to meet, connect and learn more about the learning environment and student activities at HCM-UTE. In particular, it gave first-year students of the 2026 intake more opportunities to get to know one another, settle in and explore the University’s activities from the very beginning of their university journey.

The Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) – Tan Binh Branch served as Gold Sponsor of HCM-UTE Youth Festival 2026, while many other organizations and businesses supported and sponsored activities within the program. These included PMP English Center, the HCM-UTE Center for Foreign Languages, the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) – Ky Dong Branch, Phong Vu Trading – Service Joint Stock Company, TotalEnergies Marketing Vietnam Co., Ltd. and the Hai Duong Motorbike Technical Center chain, among others. Their support provided additional resources for the University to organize the festival’s activities effectively, strengthened the University’s ties with businesses and partners, and opened up further opportunities for cooperation that bring practical value to students.

Following the daytime activities, the HCM-UTE Youth Festival 2026 Gala Night took place that evening at the University Stadium as the highlight that brought the festival to a close. Attending the program were Dr. Truong Thi Hien, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee and Standing Vice President; Ao Hong Thanh Vi, Deputy Head of the Youth and Children Affairs Board, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and Member of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union; representatives of partner organizations and sponsors; representatives of the University Youth Union and Student Association; leaders of the University’s units; and a large number of HCM-UTE students.

Speaking at the Gala Night, Dr. Truong Thi Hien, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee and Standing Vice President, encouraged students to take charge of their learning, continuously build their professional knowledge, develop their skills and apply what they learn in practice. In an era of rapid advances in technology and artificial intelligence, students were advised to make good use of new tools to strengthen their abilities while upholding honesty, responsibility and independent thinking. Beyond their studies, students were encouraged to take part in clubs, Youth Union and Student Association activities, academic competitions and volunteer programs to gain experience, develop teamwork skills and build positive relationships.

Dr. Truong Thi Hien also reminded students to manage their time well, look after their health and seek support when facing difficulties, noting that the University, its lecturers and its functional units are always ready to accompany them on the journey ahead. The Standing Vice President expressed confidence that, with youthful energy, a desire to improve and the ambition to rise, every HCM-UTE student will steadily prove their abilities, contribute positively to the community and help carry forward the University’s 64-year tradition of building and development.

One of the highlights of the Gala Night was the traditional flame-lighting ceremony. The flame symbolizes the passing on of the University’s traditional values from generation to generation, and carries a message of unity, determination and the responsibility of today’s students in their journey of learning, training and growth.

After the flame-lighting ceremony, the Gala Night came alive with performances by HCM-UTE students and guest artists Erik, Huynh Cong Hieu and Van Mai Huong. The high-energy performances drew an enthusiastic response from students, creating a lively music experience and bringing HCM-UTE Youth Festival 2026 to a memorable close.

HCM-UTE Youth Festival 2026 was more than a festival for students. It was also one of the first activities to mark the start of the university journey for first-year students of the 2026 intake. From the daytime networking and hands-on activities to the lively atmosphere of the Gala Night, the program gave students opportunities to connect, express themselves and settle into the learning and training environment at HCM-UTE. In doing so, it promoted a youthful, dynamic, creative and close-knit spirit within the University’s student community and set a positive tone for the new academic year.

Photos from HCM-UTE Youth Festival 2026: