A Standout Student Adventure Across Southeast Asia

In January, SEE welcomed over 160 students and teachers from JESS, one of the UAE’s leading high schools, for an immersive educational adventure through Vietnam. A highlight of the program was the Gold (International) Award expedition, where students took on a four-day challenge involving hiking, mountain biking and abseiling across rugged terrain.

During this expedition, students were fully self-reliant, carrying all their food and camping gear as they navigated roughly 60 kilometres of Vietnam’s highlands. Using detailed topographic maps and compasses, they put their advanced navigation skills—developed through their Bronze and Silver Award training—to the test. While the emphasis was on independence, a local guide travelled with the group for support when needed.

Beyond the expedition, the itinerary was packed with enriching experiences, including kayaking, historical site visits and meaningful interactions with local communities. These activities gave students a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s rich history and cultural heritage.

The program also featured a powerful outreach component in one of Vietnam’s remote northern provinces. Here, students worked side by side with local peers to help build durable homes for underprivileged families. From erecting timber frames to sourcing and shaping bamboo, students took part in a range of hands-on, physically demanding tasks to construct homes designed to last more than 30 years.

Like all these community projects, these service-learning projects are not simply a ‘feel-good’ exercise. but carefully constructed programs, arranged with the local government and local communities. They are based on the intention and respect, and while originally intended to be of most benefit to the community, provide students with a powerful opportunity to work in genuine solidarity with a community, not as saviours, but as partners. These meaningful projects arose from addressing tangible local needs, ensuring that students’ contributions have a lasting, positive impact. t’s through this groundwork that students, it is hoped, gain a richer understanding of cultural context and are better equipped to contribute thoughtfully and respectfully to the communities they serve.

As one parent reflected after the trip:

“The trip provided my son with such a gift — memories, experiences, and opportunities they will never forget.”

The successful delivery of this complex, large-scale, and deeply meaningful program was made possible through the collective efforts of all involved. It stands as an exemplary model of student travel and experiential learning.