Former Tauranga Boys' College head boy Mungo Mason has just arrived in Hanoi for a five-day leadership symposium on social change.

Mr Mason said the trip to Vietnam was part of his leadership development.

The University Scholars' Leadership Symposium by Humanitarian Affairs UK brought together 1000 of the world's young leaders to discuss and explore social sustainability and service leadership.

Mungo was one of four University of Waikato students attending the event.

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No stranger to leadership, Mungo has achieved a lot in his four years at university.

The open-side flanker was known for his skills on the field and has a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship to show for it.

"Right now I'm playing club rugby for Hamilton Old Boys and training hard to make the Waikato Development Squad next season," Mr Mason said.

As well as being a student ambassador for the University of Waikato and volunteer sports mentor for the Waikato Academy of Young Achievers, Mungo has also started a social initiative with two friends that lets university students be charitable in a small way.

"It's called Flatting for Change and makes donating to social, animal and/or environmental causes more affordable for students," he said. "It's all about education, awareness and accessibility."

Mr Mason was studying for a Bachelor of Laws with a second major in International Management. He said his qualification paired with experiences such as the leadership symposium were just what he needed to make positive change happen.

"I'm excited to meet people from all over the world who share my dreams for change but have totally different perspectives on how to make it happen. I think that will be the real eye-opener for me at the symposium and I'm so grateful to the University for supporting me to get there," he said.

While Mungo was away, he would be logging his experiences through SnapChat, Instagram and Facebook. Follow WaikatoUni on SnapChat to keep up with his adventures.