Hoai Thu, a second-year student, participated in the A80 event, commemorating 80 years of National Day, in August. Following the event, Hanoi Tourism College requested student bank account details to disburse support funds.
After 22 days of participation, Thu received 940,000 VND in cash mid-last week.
She questioned the amount after discovering that students from other institutions received between 1.6 and 2.2 million VND for comparable participation periods. Thu was also uneasy about signing a document that did not clearly state the amount.
When she inquired with the accounting department, staff explained the lower support was due to "meal deductions". Thu found this justification unsatisfactory, as the college had previously informed participants that meal and travel expenses would be covered.
"It's not just about receiving less; we are concerned about the fairness and transparency of the amount we received," Thu stated.
Trung Anh, also a second-year student, voiced similar frustrations regarding the payment amount and process. "I am very concerned and hope the college will clarify this matter soon," he said.
The issue gained significant traction on online forums since yesterday afternoon, drawing tens of thousands of interactions. Many comments suggested a lack of transparency in the disbursement of support funds for students participating in the A80 event.
Responding to VnExpress at noon on 30/11, Pham Van Long, Principal of Hanoi Tourism College, dismissed the issue as a "misunderstanding" stemming from unclear communication.
According to him, the 940,000 VND was only the first installment. An additional sum exceeding 500,000 VND is expected to be disbursed along with participation certificates at a commendation ceremony for outstanding students, anticipated between 15/12 and 25/12.
"The benefits and rights of students will be fully guaranteed," Long stated.
Long noted that over 980 students from the college participated in supporting the A80 event. Addressing student grievances, he will personally clarify the basis and methods of support payment during a dialogue scheduled for 14h tomorrow (1/12).
Hanoi Tourism College, established in 1972, originated as the Hotel Tourism Workers School. Currently, the college offers 9 majors, including: Tourism and Travel Service Management, Tour Guiding, Hotel Management, Restaurant and Food Service Management, and Accounting. The enrollment target for 2025 is nearly 2,100 students.
By Thanh Hang
*Student names have been changed.
