Student-led activities
Student-led activities: VinUnity, VinUnion, Student Council, clubs, competitions, and hackathons, startups
Charity trip by VinUnion & VinUni students + faculties
Overall, VinUniversity (VinUni) prides itself on a “student-led” campus culture where nearly all events and clubs are conceived and organized by students. This vibrant ecosystem spans student governance, clubs, competitions, hackathons, and startups, empowering VinUnians to lead and excel:
1. Student Council & Youth Union: VinUni’s Student Council serves as the voice of the students and spearheads major campus activities. In parallel, the VinUni chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) engages youth in social and patriotic initiatives. Together they organize important events (e.g. cultural festivals, “Green Sports Day”) and represent VinUni in national youth programs.
2. VinUnity – Community Engagement Club: VinUnity is a student-run club dedicated to empathy-driven community service. Its mission is to provide “Comprehensive Education for Everyone” by aiding disadvantaged youth through education and support projects. VinUnity members have led initiatives such as an English Winter Fair for local children, ukulele lessons at a reconciliation center, book donation drives, and even building a recycled playground to sustain these efforts, they host on-campus fundraisers like Christmas markets and calligraphy workshops.
3. VinUnion – Events and Campus Spirit: VinUnion is the student organizing committee that brings campus spirit to life. They coordinate large-scale events and festivals to unite the VinUni community. For example, “Miracle Christmas Night” is an annual winter festival with food booths and live music that VinUnion runs each December, drawing students, faculty, and partners to celebrate together. In 2024, VinUnion (Gen 3.0) hosted Miracle Christmas at the Central Square over two days with 20+ booths and performances, creating unforgettable holiday memories on campus (as teased on social media). VinUnion also collaborates with other groups for meaningful projects – as seen in charity drives below – demonstrating student leadership in action.
4. Diverse Clubs and Competitions: Students have founded 30+ clubs spanning arts, sports, technology, cultural and social causes.
From the VinUni Fashion Club to the Photography/Design club to academic societies, these groups sharpen students’ skills and foster friendships. Many clubs organize competitions and events open to all.
5. VinUni’s first cohorts instituted an annual Hackathon as part of the Agile Innovation course: in 2021 all first-year students across colleges pulled a continuous 36-hour hackathon focused on a sustainability challenge. The event offered $15,000 in prizes to the top 5 teams, catalyzing innovative ideas for real-world impact. This tradition continued in 2022 and 2023 with 100% first-year participation.
6. VinUni students also shine in external competitions – e.g. a VinUni team won 2nd Place Asia-Pacific in a 2023 virtual business market contest, and a nursing student earned a national research award. These successes reflect an environment that encourages healthy competition and creativity.