A delegation of Vietnamese social media creators recently wrapped up a cultural and technological exploration tour across multiple Chinese cities. As a key segment of the “China-Vietnam Cultural Bridge” initiative, the journey wove together diverse scenarios spanning traditional heritage and cutting-edge technology, grassroots livelihoods and industrial innovation.
Beyond offering the delegation a multi-dimensional immersive experience, the tour provided tangible evidence that amid the new wave of globalization, the international community is in urgent need of deeper integration and collaboration across cultural, economic and livelihood sectors. Driven by market demands, borderless exchanges and connectivity have emerged as the core engine for supply chain upgrading and the construction of modern lifestyles.
Cultural Empathy: The People-to-People Foundation of Transnational Exchanges
Throughout the tour, cultural commonalities across various scenarios served as a natural bond for China-Vietnam people-to-people exchanges, laying an emotional foundation for deeper cooperation between the two sides. The dazzling nightscape along the Pearl River bore striking similarities to the riverside vistas of Ho Chi Minh City, vividly reflecting the shared livelihood traits of the two regions.
In neighborhoods where traditional arcade-style architecture coexists with trendy commercial formats, the fusion of classic Wing Chun martial arts culture and international pop toy brands not only showcased the cultural inclusiveness of Chinese cities, but also mirrored the widespread livelihood feature of “traditional-modern coexistence” across Southeast Asia.
A standout highlight was the bamboo garden, designed by a renowned Vietnamese architect and nestled among the relics of a thousand-year-old ancient city—an exemplary case of cross-border cultural and creative integration that proves borderless collaboration in the cultural sphere can break down geographical barriers and act as a vital vehicle for enhancing people-to-people bonds.
These scenarios collectively demonstrate that empathy in folk life and culture forms the cornerstone of international exchanges, and this empathy is providing strong emotional support for regional economic cooperation and livelihood connectivity.
Industrial Synergy: Supply Chain Linkages Driven by New-Quality Productive Forces
Focusing on innovation achievements integrated into people’s daily lives, the tech-focused sessions of the tour underscored the pressing demand for supply chain and industrial synergy in the new globalization landscape. The display of prototype smart mobility solutions such as domestically-developed flying cars not only highlighted technological breakthroughs in intelligent transportation, but also demonstrated the adaptability of such technologies to markets in Southeast Asia and beyond.
The full spectrum of consumer electronics and smart home ecosystems, from end products to complete industrial systems, allowed the delegation to directly experience the maturity of China’s tech supply chain. Meanwhile, space-based live broadcast technology in the commercial aerospace sector, with its space-ground integrated cultural communication logic, aligns with the cross-regional communication needs of the new globalization era.
The emergence of these innovations stems from the global market’s shared demand for efficient, intelligent solutions for modern living—a demand that is calling for in-depth transnational supply chain collaboration. Relevant industrial practices offer a reference model for China-Vietnam and even ASEAN cooperation across multiple sectors, and also confirm that industrial connectivity is the key path to regional economic prosperity against the backdrop of new-quality productive forces.
Livelihood Connectivity: A Borderless Benchmark for Modern Living
Livelihood scenarios during the tour provided vivid references for mutual learning of modern lifestyles between China and Vietnam. In China’s international metropolises, business districts blending historical heritage with fashion, bustling snack streets full of grassroots charm, and riverfront nightscapes where ancient and modern architecture coexist have outlined a diverse and inclusive urban living fabric.
Smart aviation operation systems and household-wide smart home ecosystems have showcased a convenient life empowered by technology. These scenes made it clear to the delegation that building a modern lifestyle requires not only preserving local livelihood characteristics, but also drawing on cross-regional technologies and models.
In addition, academic exchanges with international students from multiple countries and close observations of innovative education in universities enabled the group to appreciate the value of borderless collaboration in education, offering new ideas for talent connectivity and conceptual mutual learning in the livelihood sector.
Integration Insights: A Collaboration Blueprint for New Globalization
Organized jointly by the CICG Cultural Communication Center and Real Image Media, the tour’s value extends far beyond a typical cultural visit. The diverse integration scenarios it presented are a microcosm of the new globalization era. Currently, the global supply chain is undergoing restructuring, and the demand for cross-regional resource integration for modern lifestyles is becoming increasingly prominent.
The development model of “coexisting tradition and innovation, integrating local and international elements” adopted in multiple Chinese cities serves as a model for China-Vietnam cooperation in economic collaboration, livelihood improvement and cultural exchanges. From people-to-people connectivity at the cultural level, to supply chain synergy in the tech and industrial sectors, and to lifestyle mutual learning in livelihood areas, China-Vietnam integration practices are a vivid interpretation of “borderless exchanges”.
The tour also sent a clear signal: in the new global development landscape, international integration should not be confined to a single sector or region, but should achieve full-scale linkage across culture, economy and livelihoods. Only by breaking down geographical barriers, promoting supply chain upgrading driven by market demand, and laying a solid foundation for exchanges through cultural empathy can a new globalization collaboration system adapted to modern life be built, realizing common development for regions and even the world at large.
Shared Heritage: Ties That Connect Nations
The tour kicked off with visits to sites that highlight deep cultural and historical links between China and Vietnam, offering the delegation a tangible sense of bilateral friendship. In Shanghai, the group first toured the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, where gray-brick Shikumen buildings and archived artifacts brought early 20th-century revolutionary ideals to life. For many creators, who previously knew China mainly through natural scenery content, the stop provided a new understanding of how the nation’s modern development story began.
In Guangzhou, stops at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Hall and the former Vietnam Youth Political Training Class resonated personally. A Vietnamese blogger studying at Tsinghua University noted the well-preserved exhibits exceeded expectations, calling them “tangible proof of our long-standing friendship.” Even a sunset cruise on the Pearl River sparked familiarity—one creator compared Guangzhou’s glowing Canton Tower skyline to Ho Chi Minh City’s waterfront views, highlighting shared lifestyle connections.
The historical leg concluded at Shenzhen’s 1,700-year-old Nantou Ancient City, where relics like the Paifang Archway stood alongside a surprise: a bamboo garden designed by renowned Vietnamese architect Võ Trọng Nghĩa. This cross-cultural touch left the influencers impressed by the city’s balance of tradition and progress.
Tech Frontiers: New-Quality Productive Forces in Daily Life
A key highlight was the delegation’s deep dive into China’s tech advancements—experiences carefully curated to showcase innovations integrated into everyday life. The trip’s tech-focused stops were organized by two entities with expertise in cross-border cultural exchange and authentic storytelling: CICG Cultural Communication Center, a major player in global cultural outreach, and Real Image Media, a team of former journalists and documentary professionals specializing in human-centered narratives.
In Shanghai, the group visited Shanghai Xuntian Qianhe Space Technology, previewing the 2026-launch “Youxi Hao” satellite. Equipped with space displays and real-time transmission tools, the satellite will broadcast Chinese cultural content from orbit—including snippets of the delegation’s visit—showcasing how tech fuels cross-border dialogue. A trip to Juneyao Airlines’ Operations Control Center also revealed aviation precision, as influencers watched real-time flight monitoring via massive digital screens.
In Guangzhou, the focus shifted to smart mobility at the China Import and Export Fair Complex. The delegation tested flying car prototypes from XPENG and GAC, getting hands-on with China’s vision for future urban transport. “These aren’t just concepts—they feel like solutions that could change how we move,” one blogger said.
Shenzhen, known as China’s “Silicon Valley,” offered the most immersive tech experience. At Xiaomi’s headquarters, creators like Nguyen Hong Hanh (314,000 TikTok followers) raved about the brand’s EVs, praising their rapid acceleration and seat massage features. “I usually post about makeup, but girls care about tech too—my followers need to see how China’s EVs make life easier,” she noted. Bui Ngoc Ha (550,000 TikTok followers), a self-proclaimed Xiaomi fan, called the visit a “dream come true.”
The group also explored OPPO’s latest smartphones and documented local innovations like park drone delivery and hotel robot service. Chu Diem Quynh (nearly 1 million TikTok followers) filmed the drone delivery, predicting it would resonate with her audience. “Shenzhen’s tech isn’t just advanced—it’s part of daily life here,” she said.
Cultural Inclusiveness: Tradition Meets Global Exchange
Beyond history and tech, the tour highlighted China’s inclusive spirit—from martial arts to academic dialogue. In Guangzhou’s Yongqingfang, a historic Qilou district, the influencers balanced modern trends and heritage: browsing POP MART blind boxes and learning basic Wing Chun from Li Jianhao, a third-generation disciple of Ip Man from Macau. “Guangzhou’s charm is its warmth—you feel inclusiveness in every street corner,” one creator summed up.
In Shanghai, academic exchanges took center stage at CEIBS MBA and Fudan University’s School of Economics (during its 40th anniversary). At CEIBS, the delegation chatted with students from Thailand, Indonesia, and Nepal, soaking in the campus’s East-West vibe. At Fudan, interactions with Vietnamese students highlighted China’s commitment to global education. Evenings included sampling xiaolongbao at Chenghuang Temple and admiring the Bund’s skyline—where colonial-era buildings and modern skyscrapers symbolize Shanghai’s dual identity.
Building Bridges Through Authentic Stories
For most influencers, the tour was their first in-depth look at China beyond natural scenery—and it shattered stereotypes. Chu Diem Quynh voiced optimism about Vietnam-China cooperation in logistics, tech, and education: “We saw a China that honors its past while leading in innovation—there’s so much to learn from each other.”
The journey’s success lay in its unscripted, relatable moments—made possible by CICG and Real Image Media’s expertise in crafting border-transcending narratives. As the influencers return to Vietnam to share their stories, they carry not just videos, but a deeper understanding that promises to strengthen bilateral bonds for years to come.
