ABROADER/ Student Exchange Vietnam

Before I left for this trip I could not help but feel nervous. It was my first time travelling overseas and I was about to leave my home country for ~one month. I did not know what to expect from Vietnam/Singapore, the people I was travelling with, or the countless people I would meet overseas. Since the very first moment that I arrived the local buddies welcomed me with open arms. The entirety of the group that I came over with also bonded so much quicker than I thought possible. From the start we were exploring Ho Chi Minh City, while introducing ourselves to the locals and the nightlife. All of the activities on the trip were great and we were all kept busy. This was a really big positive in my opinion as, had a tentative schedule not have been organised, it may have become easy to 'waste' a day or more relaxing. That being said, there were some free days designated throughout the trip should you wish to catch up on some sleep ;). The industry visits provided real-world experience and foresight into our future careers. The field trips gave us a new insight into a rich, deep culture, and the Abroader organised parties were heaps of fun... They usually ended up turning into a very late night as well. During the trip I always felt safe thanks to the local buddies and our program coordinator. Provided you use a little bit of travelling smarts I cannot see any problems that should arise on your trip. Each and every one of the local buddies, (our coordinator included), were so kind and caring. You should really give it your best effort to open up and engage with each of them. They are all such great and unique people and provide the best way to truly immerse yourself in the adventure. Furthermore, they are so selfless and are always able to provide advice or help you out with literally anything. You have a golden opportunity to make some truly long-lasting friendships. Both Vietnam and Singapore themselves were amazing countries to visit. There is an aura about both that gives you the feeling that something is always happening. Particularly in Vietnam, most local places are open at almost all hours of the day and deep into the night. However, this never left me feeling as though the cities we visited were too busy. Being in a largish group of good friends and exploring was completely fun and pretty relaxing too. The visits to more discrete locations were also beautiful and completely peaceful. Finally, the local civilians were so kind, welcoming and genuinely happy that we were experiencing their culture and lifestyle. Now that the trip is over all I can think about is how I wish it had gone for longer. How I wish I had extended my trip even further, and how I am already planning to meet with the friends I have made on this journey for further travel. So, if you are worried or nervous about any parts of this trip, all I can say is that it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity. There are so many friends and stories to be made. Get out there, take every opportunity you can, don't overthink it and just do it!

The 5 months spent in Vietnam was not only enjoyable but also felt enriching. I have become many times more independent than before and thoroughly enjoyed working at Vinmec General International Hospital- A conducive and enjoyable workplace for those interested in a career in Healthcare.

Doing my internship Vietnam will be an unforgettable experience for me because reflecting back to the past 4 months staying in Vietnam I have learned quite a lot in Vietnam in terms of culture, people, work ethics and values, it grows me as a person to become a better person with the way I interact with people, working with them on a project and how to deal with problems whether big or small. At the end of the day, people are people, they are not going to be your ideal circle of friends or co-workers that is going to go your way all the time, but what you can do is to make the best out of it and always end on a positive note :)

Special thanks to Abroader and my intern company, MCD for making this experience once in a life-time. Huge thank you for everyone who made this dream into a reality. I made new friends and was immersed into the beautiful culture of Vietnam and was able to apply and adapt techniques i learnt in school at work.

Thanks to SE Vietnam, my nursing internship at the Orthopedic & Rehabilitation Hospital is a treasure experience that I will never forget. I was also able to use my skills as a nurse, from helping nurses with drug rounds, administering medications, injections and intravenous injections infusions, wound care and management of wounds. The techniques used are very similar to clinical skills I was taught in England, but there will always differences when apply what I learned in school to the real world, so I really appreciate this opportunity which really helps me practice and improve my nursing skills.

Coming to this internship in Vietnam, I wanted both to explore a culture completely different from my own and gain a head start into my career as an environmental engineer and I was not disappointed. I felt that even when I am not here for a long enough period of time to do something of great importance, I contributed to the host organization with my research into potential donors and other youth initiatives in climate change adaptation. Being one of the more fluent speakers of English, I was also given the task to check and edit the Municipal Waste Recycling Program materials for the organization and I was able to complete the task within a relatively short time because the deadline was shortly after I joined as an intern. in Vietnam and my particular help with the MWRP (checking English) was of great importance to them as the deadline approached. They have given me feedback and said that some of my research into potential donors and other youth initiatives in climate change adaptation has been of use to them too. Overall, I have been able to experience a lot of different elements of the company’s culture, helping different people and learning new things about not only the company but also working in general. The experience I had in Vietnam will definitely an asset for me to start my career as an environmental engineer.

During my time here, the local buddies and the coordinator were very helpful. I felt like there was always someone available to help or talk to when I wasn’t feeling well. They were very helpful in communicating and explaining anything that I found confusing. Had I not had any local buddies or a coordinator that are so caring about each and everyone else, I am not sure I would have had such a great experience and the program would have been intimidating. I personally would’ve liked a little more flexibility and time during the weekends to explore further part of the city and to research and investigate the final project. However, the activities overall were good and informative.

Before the coming to Vietnam, the information about the country I found was mostly very “touristy” stuffs and stereotypical warning about pickpockets and being stared at. However, I did not find any difficulties staying here because I enjoyed learning about the country without expectations. Besides that, the local students are all open to getting to know me personally, and especially are open and comfortable to discuss a lot of controversial topics – this says a lot about how non-selfish they are because they are willing to learn from us as well as try to teach us. This program is best for students who are open to learning new things. Along the trip, the students will likely be challenged by new opportunities or ideas and one needs to be open-minded to explore these.

The program coordinator and local buddies were the best and they contributed greatly to the amazing experience of studying abroad. I loved how caring the program coordinator was, whenever I have slight health problems, she was always available to make everything okay. The local buddies were always readily available and eager to interact with us. The activities within the program were planned and well-coordinated. Activities were fun and informative and they were great opportunities getting to know the city, Vietnamese culture. They all contributed in a positive and supportive fashion to my overall study experience.

My greatest learning experience abroad was learning from the local buddies and my peers. I don’t think I can simply put everything I have learned in Vietnam into words because there are no words to describe how much I have learned I love and appreciate all the local buddies and the program coordinators; I am incredibly moved and grateful for their dedication to the program and to us. I can honestly say that I have learned so much in these past weeks more than I have at UCSD. I won’t ever forget the first day I arrived here; it was beautiful and I felt welcomed immediately. At the second I arrived I was amazed by the traffic, at how everything moved so perfectly and everything is so structured, everything just comes together so perfectly.

Study Abroad trip in Vietnam taught me many things, your acquaintances became your best friends, including your lecturer. You experience actually living in a country and exposed to it culture, not just there on a holiday. Besides, the several industry visits give you a new perspective into your everyday products, after knowing the design and manufacturing process.

It was an outstanding job from the part of the program coordinator and the local buddies to help us immerse in the culture and made us feel very safe and welcome in every aspect; they went beyond their required responsibilities to make the study and travelling period in Vietnam memorable and fun experience. This trip is a unique experience to make new friends, experience different cultures and broaden one’s perspective. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

My internship in Vietnam with SE Vietnam was a life changing experience. My marketing internship was with a travel company in Hanoi and now I work for the same company as a full time employee. Being in Vietnam has taught me so much about different people and cultures, as there are many other foreigners working here as well from all over the world. My internship coordinator at SE Vietnam was so helpful, and was always there to support me whenever I needed. I would definitely recommend SE Vietnam if you are looking to do an internship here. They really cater to your needs and care about what you want and search for.

I really love my home stay. The people are some of the kindest I have met in Vietnam and extremely helpful in helping me navigate through the city and experience a local perspective of life in Hanoi. As for my internship, the staff has been very supportive and encouraging. They have helped challenge me and encourage me at the same time to contribute in any way I can to the company. After only a few days there, I could tell that I would really like my co-workers. They are a young, energetic, and sarcastic bunch who truly care about the company. It definitely feels like a team at the office. I know that I can talk to them about any questions I may have, and they are patient in letting me learn along the way. The experience that I have so far at SE Vietnam has been helpful in get a better idea of what I want to pursue after I go back home to the U.S., and my experiences overall in Vietnam that were very much made possible by SE Vietnam are experiences that are invaluable and that I will cherish for a lifetime. Vietnam is a beautiful country, with its breathtaking nature and tropical beaches, there is no doubt about it. But what really makes Vietnam feel like home and a place that I have become fond of is the people, the friends that I have made along the journey.

At first, I was quite nervous about going somewhere overseas alone to do internship but it was definitely worth it. I did not only receive work experience but learnt about the culture in Vietnam which I would never had a chance to do if I hadn’t come. Overall, I think I had a really fun time and enjoyed the many different kind of activities, I recommend this program to any student who is interested in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam.

I am grateful to everyone who has helped organize my internship in Vietnam this summer. I am grateful to SE Vietnam for finding me the best placement that I could ever hope for and for being so caring, accountable and responsive during my whole internship duration. I am grateful to my supervisor and all the coworkers at my host organization for being so hard-working, responsible, encouraging and supportive. Without their kindness and support, my holistic learning experience while in Vietnam would not be that worthwhile. I would definitely recommend this internship in Vietnam program to anyone that is interested in doing an internship abroad.

The cultural experience I had while working in Vietnam was valuable, my host mother and father were all very friendly and helpful; they really made me feel at home. My local buddy, even though she lived 2 hours away, she still made efforts in taking me on day-trips that catered to my interest in Vietnamese Cuisine. During my internship, the host company staffs were very friendly and welcoming, one chef at the restaurant was in charge of my internship. However, due to perhaps unforeseeable needs in the company, my supervisor was not able to spend more than a day with me. SE Vietnam found an excellent opportunity for internship in Vietnam for me; however, the host company was not able to fully deliver the experience I was looking for.

The host company I was working with in Vietnam made great effort in provided clear instructions about the responsibilities & rules expected of me to accomplish & follow. It was very helpful for my field that I received on-the-job training from my supervisor. I tried to learn whenever I work, to be attentive, and to talk with the guests as much as possible. Thanks to this experience, I was able to learn and grow up. :)

There are few words that could describe my time here this summer. The time I have spent here has been priceless and life changing, even more than I thought it could be. I learned so much from my nursing internship in Vietnam that will help me very much in my future. However, the life experience I’ve learned, through adapting to another culture, traveling alone to beautiful places and having a sense of home here is something I’ll never forget. The people here have touched my heart, and I’ll have these memories forever.

Everyone from the program coordinator to my local buddy was extremely supportive! The experience would not have been as great as it has been if I was by myself. I felt very satisfied with the service SE Vietnam provided for my Nursing Internship in Vietnam at Ho Chi Minh Hospital of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation. I was clear about the rules and expectations required of me during my placement.

In general, I am satisfied with the internship program provided by SE Vietnam. The internship placement was ideal and my local buddy was great. During the internship, I was working as a surgical intern at a public hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and was clear about the responsibilities & rules that I was expected to accomplish & follow. I had a lot of supervisors who were all very caring. The doctors at the hospital were very gracious and explained a lot of cases to me. All in all I was well equipped to perform the job at my best.