Abstract
The trend of urban-to-rural migration in Vietnam among young people aged 20 to 35 has emerged in recent years in Vietnam, especially post-covid 19. This paper explores how these individuals keep enhancing their skills and knowledge through online platforms or short-term courses, even after relocating from urban to rural areas. Based on data acquisition from two fieldworks in Vietnam Central Highland since 2016, along with follow-up interviews in Hanoi, the study examines the motivation and experiences of these migrants when they seek and take part in different learning settings. The findings indicate that while big cities are often perceived as hubs of learning opportunities that attract young people to migrate, my interlocutors even demonstrated a stronger motivation for self-improvement upon returning to rural areas rather than to urban centers. Particularly, they frequently participate in online courses, travel within Vietnam and abroad, and engage in a diverse range of educational activities. The study also aims to explore the concepts of Susanne Klien’s experimental ground as these individuals show an ongoing process of learning and acquiring new skills and knowledge in each moving journey. The research compares the context of the post-growth society in Klien’s work with that of developing countries like Vietnam. It argues that despite a lack of government incentives, accumulated capital, or the societal maturity found in developed countries, these individuals still display a self-learning commitment to overcome rural life’s precarity and sustain their relocation.
Author Information
Tran Mai Huong, Vietnam National University, Vietnam
Paper Information
Conference: ACEID2025
Stream: Learning Experiences
This paper is part of the ACEID2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
Full Paper
View / Download the full paper in a new tab/window
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress