Author: Dariu-Admin

In Vinh Long Province, a heartland of Vietnam’s traditional brick and red-pottery kilns, much of this local heritage survives only in memory as the old kilns fall silent and younger generations turn to their screens instead. A student team from My An Secondary School’s AI Club set out to bridge that gap: Awakening Heritage takes traditional bricks, red pottery, brick-kiln models and student-made craft pieces as its starting point and connects them to a living digital learning ecosystem, using QR codes, 3D models, AI and STEM so students can explore their region’s history and culture through technology rather than textbooks alone.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Students document artifacts through high-resolution photography, QR codes, video and digital maps, building a cloud-based heritage repository that AI helps classify, caption and narrate. Each object becomes the start of a learning journey — real artifact, QR code, AR view, 3D model, AI explanation, then a hands-on STEM task with sensors, 3D printing or simple programming — while an AI tutor and heritage chatbot let students ask questions and create their own digital content. The rollout follows a three-stage roadmap: a digital foundation of records, stories and dashboards in 2026; AI-, AR- and IoT-powered “Heritage STEM” learning in 2027; and by 2028 a full virtual heritage space with 360° VR tours, a digital museum and multilingual AI narration — a model the school hopes other schools can eventually adopt as “One School, One Heritage Space.”

Vinh Long Province — newly merged from Vinh Long, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre — draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Mekong Delta each year with its historical sites, cultural heritage and local cuisine. Yet up-to-date information about the region’s destinations remains hard to access, and paper maps are bulky and quickly outdated. Ho Phuong Tram, a 16-year-old student at Tieu Can High School, set out to close this gap: an interactive, voice-controlled tourism map that combines artificial intelligence, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity and a mobile app.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

A layered foam-and-acrylic board represents the province’s geography, with LED lights marking each commune and district. Users pair their smartphone via Bluetooth and speak commands through the Smart Answer app to explore four themes — tourist attractions, heritage sites, local specialties and notable figures, and a district-by-district guide. An Arduino Mega processes the voice commands, lights up the relevant areas and responds with voice narration. A solar panel charges the onboard batteries, enabling outdoor use without mains power. AI tools supported code generation and data analysis during development. In surveys of over 500 teachers and students, more than 90% rated the map “satisfied” or “very satisfied” — and beyond tourism, it now serves as a STEM teaching tool that brings hardware, software and AI together in the classroom.

In Vietnam’s hot and humid Mekong Delta, classrooms depend heavily on fans, lights and other electrical devices — yet most schools have no way to track energy use or room conditions in real time. Electricity is wasted, and teachers lack the tools to keep temperature and humidity at levels comfortable for learning. A student team at Nguyen Binh Khiem High School for the Gifted in Vinh Long Province set out to change that: EcoTwin Class creates a real-time “digital twin” of the classroom — a connected system of sensors, dashboard and AI that monitors energy use and environmental conditions, flags problems, and helps teachers run a greener, safer, smarter learning space.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Sensors continuously measure electricity consumption, temperature, humidity and light. A microcontroller sends the data to a computer, where it is processed in Python and displayed on a live dashboard — giving teachers and administrators classroom conditions at a glance. AI analyses the data to detect unusual patterns, forecast energy trends and send alerts when values exceed safe limits. Sustainability runs through the build itself: roughly 70% of the model is made from reused or eco-friendly materials, including recycled sensors and wiring from earlier STEM projects and biodegradable 3D-printed parts. At around 748,000 VND per classroom, the system is designed to scale — from a single room in Vinh Long to schools across Vietnam.

In the fertile farmlands of Vinh Long, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, vegetable cultivation is part of daily life — yet most farmers still rely on manual care, dependent on weather and experience. The result: uneven yields, high labor costs and unpredictable quality. A student team at Tra On High School designed the Automatic Crop Care System, a model that applies IoT and renewable energy to help farmers grow clean, safe and sustainable crops. The system monitors and adjusts temperature, humidity, soil moisture, light and water salinity automatically, creating an optimized microclimate for plants to thrive.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Powered by solar energy and controlled by an ESP32 microcontroller, the system collects real-time data through a network of sensors: air temperature and humidity, soil moisture, water quality and sunlight levels. Based on this data, it automatically activates fans, sprinklers and misting systems for cooling and irrigation, and controls sunshades and artificial lighting. A solar panel and battery serve as the main power source, cutting energy costs and ensuring continuous operation. Sensor data is shown on an LCD display and in the E-Ra mobile app, so users can monitor and control the system remotely via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth — with audio alerts when values drop below optimal levels. An affordable, eco-friendly solution that reduces manual labor, conserves water and electricity, and improves the quality of produce.

In many schools, technology is still used mainly for basic learning support. Inspired by the Industry 4.0 revolution, a team of students set out to change that — by building a physical robot integrated with an AI-based chatbot. The robot can assist teachers and students in quickly accessing lesson-related information, make learning more interactive and enjoyable, and act as a friendly classroom companion capable of recognising emotions and responding to users’ moods.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The robot combines AI, IoT and voice recognition to enable natural, two-way communication. Built on the Yolo:Bit programmable board with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, it uses a chatbot engine with natural language processing to generate conversational responses across multiple subjects — from Math and Science to English. The hardware includes a mini-computer, touchscreen interface, 4G SIM module, power board and sensors. The system can also monitor classroom conditions such as temperature and lighting, and can be controlled via smartphone. Students program multi-topic responses themselves, making the robot a versatile educational assistant that can help with homework, answer questions and interact in a friendly, engaging way.

Flooding and saltwater intrusion are growing challenges in the Mekong Delta, particularly in Hau Giang Province. Seasonal flooding combined with irregular high tides and rising sea levels causes water levels to fluctuate unpredictably, leading to residential flooding and damage to daily living environments. During the dry season, saltwater intrusion threatens freshwater storage in tanks, ponds and household systems. Manual monitoring is time-consuming, inaccurate and ineffective under rapidly changing conditions. A team of students developed this automated system to help communities protect freshwater sources, reduce flood risks and respond promptly to environmental changes.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Water level sensors continuously measure the height of water in tanks, ponds or drainage areas and send data to a central microcontroller. The controller compares incoming data with pre-set safe thresholds and, when water rises above or drops below these limits, automatically activates pumps or drainage valves to regulate the water level. By maintaining water within a safe range, the system helps prevent flooding during high tides and reduces the risk of saltwater entering freshwater storage. An integrated IoT module (ESP32) uploads data to a web or mobile application, allowing users to monitor water levels remotely and receive timely alerts. This automated approach ensures continuous protection, faster response times and improved water management for households and flood-prone communities.