Undergraduate

Beginning with lines of code and ideas powered by artificial intelligence (AI) at the ASEAN AI Hackathon 2026 finals, students gathered in Da Nang from across ASEAN discovered that they shared much more than an interest in technology. Cultural encounters, shared experiences, and heartfelt conversations brought the region’s young people closer together.

Students from ASEAN universities take part in cultural exchanges

and visit heritage sites in Da Nang. Photo: LAN ANH

When lines of code lead to meaningful encounters

For many students from leading universities across ASEAN, the conclusion of the ASEAN AI Hackathon 2026 finals in Da Nang also marked the beginning of new opportunities for future collaboration.

Throughout the competition, the teams not only refined their products and presented them to the judging panel but also enthusiastically participated in a wide range of cultural exchange activities. Accompanied by DTU Buddies, student volunteers from Duy Tan University (DTU), the young ASEAN participants had the opportunity to explore Da Nang, experience distinctive aspects of Vietnamese culture, and share stories about their homelands.

From a visit to Linh Ung Pagoda to cultural music nights, the distance between the teams gradually faded. Their conversations may initially have revolved around technical matters, technology, or approaches to developing an AI product, but they quickly expanded to include food, customs, everyday life, and the unique cultural experiences of each country.

Familiar Vietnamese dishes such as pho and banh mi became a bridge, encouraging the students to speak openly about their own cultures. Differences in language, religion, and lifestyle were no longer barriers; instead, they became rich sources of insight, helping each participant develop a deeper appreciation of ASEAN’s diverse identities.

 Seh Jia Jun, a Singaporean student and member of the ITE-AwareGuard team, said: “AI provided a starting point for young people from different countries to meet. However, the connections and friendships formed throughout the journey are what will have lasting significance.”

“This was my first time visiting Da Nang, an extraordinarily beautiful coastal city in Central Vietnam. The local people are very friendly and hospitable. I had the opportunity to visit a number of scenic attractions, which helped me learn more about the Vietnamese people and their culture.” 

Karl Vincent Suayan, a student representing the Philippines’ NCF ApexNode team, said the trip had helped team members recognize the vastness of ASEAN and its diversity in religion, cuisine, and perspectives on life. Through these firsthand experiences, young people had further opportunities to learn to respect differences and seek common ground.

“Vietnamese cuisine is wonderful. If I have the opportunity, I will certainly return to Da Nang and visit other major Vietnamese cities, such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Lat,” Karl Vincent Suayan said enthusiastically.

The visit to the Son Tra Peninsula and other attractions in Da Nang gave international

students an opportunity to learn more about the Vietnamese people and their culture. Photo: LAN ANH

P2A and its mission to connect ASEAN’s younger generation

Working quietly behind these lively exchange activities was Passage to ASEAN (P2A), an international organization dedicated to promoting educational cooperation and cultural exchange while strengthening mutual understanding among countries in the region.
The ASEAN AI Hackathon 2026 was far more than a technology competition. Through the event, P2A created a platform where students from different countries could learn from one another, compete in a spirit of fair play, and, above all, experience the shared human values of a diverse ASEAN community.

This approach is fully consistent with the “Glocal” philosophy, thinking globally and acting locally, that P2A has long pursued. Through cultural exchange programs, academic exchanges, and career connections, the organization strives to create more opportunities for students, lecturers, and educational administrators across the region to meet and strengthen solidarity.

For students, initiatives such as P2A Journey and P2A Hybrid Mobility by Disciplines have opened doors to cross-border learning, new experiences, and cultural exchange. At the same time, the ContactASEAN.org platform serves as a bridge connecting young talent with promising career opportunities throughout the region.

In research, the ASEAN Research Network (ARN) actively promotes collaboration among scientists, lecturers, and educational institutions. Meanwhile, the ASEAN AI Council (AAIC) provides strategic direction on key technological and educational issues in the era of digital transformation.

These initiatives demonstrate that P2A’s role in building connections is not limited to a single event. Every competition, exchange program, and cultural activity becomes a meaningful point of contact, helping to foster lasting relationships among young people and educational institutions across the region.

Understanding through differences, connecting for shared development

ASEAN is a community rich in identity and diverse in its cultures, languages, religions, and historical development. These differences not only give each country its distinctive character but also create a need for greater interaction and deeper mutual understanding among the region’s younger generation.

Against this backdrop, events such as the ASEAN AI Hackathon offer a uniquely effective approach. Technology, with its global reach, serves as a common language through which collaboration can begin. The cultural experiences that follow, however, are the true catalyst for deeper mutual understanding, from differing worldviews to shared community values.

On stage, the teams may compete fiercely, but beyond the competition, they become close companions. Their shared experiences in Da Nang, informal conversations, and stories about their homelands exchanged during cultural activities will become priceless memories that remain with them long after they return home.

If AI products are the tangible outcomes of the competition, then mutual understanding, friendship, and cross-border bonds are the invaluable achievements quietly nurtured throughout the journey.

The ASEAN AI Hackathon 2026 is a technology competition for students from ASEAN countries, where participating teams develop and present ideas and AI-powered products designed to address real-world challenges.

The finals in Da Nang brought together outstanding teams for both the competition and a series of sightseeing, experiential, and cultural exchange activities. Through these activities, technology became a common language, while culture served as a bridge connecting young people across ASEAN.

(Media Center)