Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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About the Location

Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula. With an estimated 97 million inhabitants as of 2019, it is one of the most populous countries in the world. Vietnam shares its land borders with China to the north, and Laos and Cambodia to the west.

The nation has 30 national parks and has long been popular on the backpacking circuit due to its rich culture, history and incredible exchange rate. A U.S. dollar is worth about 23,000 Vietnamese dong. Much of the country is warm and humid throughout the year, though the northern mountainous regions near the town of Sapa can get chilly in the wintertime. Travelers will have much to explore in the country, from lush green forests and high, walkable peaks to clear, scuba-friendly waters. Major Vietnamese cities are compact and bustling, full of life, cuture, amazing food and some of the world's most welcoming people. 

Americans are treated with extreme hospitality in Vietnam, and with so many English-speaking Vietnamese, the language barrier is quickly eroding, and students who intern in Vietnam will definitely benefit from it. Getting around Vietnam is easy, which is fortunate since there are so many wonderful places to see!

Interning in in Vietnam will provide you with a rare opportunity to explore a unique, historic, exciting, and rapidly-developing country. 

Why Intern in Ho Chi Minh City?

Ho Chi Minh City's personality is found in its unique dichotomy, as it is the perfect blend of traditional and modern. The city boasts everything from fine dining to street food, upscale hotels to inexpensive guesthouses, and premium shopping centers to the cheapest of markets. Ornate pagodas and temples can often be seen right around the corner from large, modern skyscrapers. The streets are bustling, the people are friendly, and the coffee is strong. Between its rich culture, economic importance, and deep history, studying in Ho Chi Minh City is sure to give you an educational and eye-opening experience abroad that will leave a lasting impact.

What's Included

  • Internship placement
  • Housing
  • Professional Development Toolbox
  • Bridging Cultures Program
  • Comprehensive advising and support
  • Pre-departure orientation materials
  • 24/7 on-site support
  • Airport reception
  • Visa support
  • Insurance
  • 24-hour emergency support
  • Academic credit options
  • On Site Workshops & Professional development event
  • Cooking day & other cultural activities 
  • Pairing with local buddy (volunteer)
  • Mekong Delta excursion 

Academic Credit

Participants looking to earn academic credit for their ISA Internship experience can explore the following options.

Transfer Credit from Carroll College

ISA Internships has partnered with Carroll College in Helena, Montana, to offer a U.S. transcript and award 6 academic credits for ISA Internships set-date, 8-week programs. Students willl be enrolled in SA425: International Internship. Credit awarded will be based on the successful completion of written academic assignments, evidence of reflective learning, and an evaluation from your host organization supervisor. The additional cost of academic credit is $300, and includes a transcript with an A-F letter grade from Carroll College.

Academic credit is only available for ISA's standard 8-week programs. 

In order to be eligible for transfer credit from Carroll College, participants must be full-time students who have completed at least 30 credit hours, or recent graduates from a bachelor degree program. Participants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Please note that some placements may have more stringent eligibility requirements.

Learn more about Carroll College at www.carroll.edu.

Credit From Your Home Institution

Students may work with their home university to receive academic credit for their program.  Each academic institution has a unique policy for granting internship credit, thus students should inquire about receiving academic credit with their home university advisors, professors, and/or academic department heads.

Interns earning credit through their home institution will still have select assignments required to be completed by ISA as part of their program. 

Prices & Dates

Program CodeDurationDates (mm/dd/yy)Application Due DatePriceApply
JAN-20216 Week02/18/21-04/04/2110/01/20$3950N/A
JAN-20218 Week02/18/21-04/18/2110/01/20$4250N/A
JAN-202112 Week02/18/21-05/16/2110/01/20$5250N/A
MAY-20218 Week05/20/21-07/18/2101/15/21$4250Apply Now
JUN-20216 Week06/17/21-08/01/2102/15/21$3950Apply Now
JUN-20218 Week06/17/21-08/15/2102/15/21$4250Apply Now

Housing Details

Your accomodation will be a comfortable and model apartment in the center of the city. Students typically have their own rooms in an apartment shared with other interns/international students. The apartment includes a living area, bathroom and equipped kitchen. ou will recieive an apartment description prior to your departure to Ho Chi Minh. 

ISA Housing provides the opportunity for interns to experience aspects of the local lifestyle that are inaccessible to the average visitor. The experience of living in another culture will be both educational and rewarding so long as you stay open-minded. There are many differences in culture and lifestyle between life in Vietnam and the U.S. Remember: the key to a positive experience is flexibility!

Visa Info

A majority of incoming students will need a Business (DN) Visa (Single-Entry) which allows any person to enter Vietnam for interning or working up to 90 days. Please let us know if you would like it changed to multiple-entry. The visa application requirements and procedures are different depending on students’ nationalities.

U.S. Citizens

As an American citizen, you will be asked to provide the following documents when applying for a visa at any foreign embassies or consulates of Vietnam (click here for the Directory of foreign embassies and consulates of Vietnam):

a. Original passport valid for a minimum of 6 months at the date of entry and with at least one blank page available for the Vietnam visa

b. Vietnamese visa application form (click here for the online visa form)

c. Passport photo(s) taken within the last 01 year and 4 x 6cm in size

d. An official letter of acceptance/invitation from the Vietnamese host school/company

e. A proof of tuition fees payment (usually for study in Vietnam applicants who wish their host schools in Vietnam to sponsor their visa applications only)

*Important Note: Students interning at NGOs in Vietnam can get a different type of visa with the support/sponsor from the NGOs.  

Visas to Vietnam are usually processed from 5 to 14 (2 weeks) business days. The process might be longer depending on the foreign embassies and consulates of Vietnam. It is also possible to ask for rush or emergency visa service with additional fees.

Non-U.S. Citizens

Please note that non-U.S. citizens should contact their Consulate to verify specific entry requirements. As these requirements vary based on citizenship, non-U.S. citizens may not be permitted to travel to IReland without a visa or outside of their visa dates. Also, visa fees for non-U.S. citizens may differ so please be sure to check specific Consulate's website for the most up to date information.

Note: Embassy and Consulate contact information is subject to change without notice. Please refer to the website of the Embassy or Consulate to verify information.