Explore Vietnam: Culture and Employability

All DMU undergraduate students that will be in their second and third year of studies in the 2024-25 academic year are eligible to participate in this opportunity. We particularly welcome applications from:

• Students with a demonstrable interest in Vietnam and/or Vietnamese culture
• Students interested in working overseas who wish to gain insight into the working world in South East Asia
• Students who are performing well academically and would be considered excellent ambassadors for DMU

The maximum number of places available is 15. Two DMU staff members will be accompanying the group. Shortlisted students will be invited to a group interview to learn more about your interest and motivations in applying for this opportunity and outcomes will be communicated following the group interview. Please check our eligibility criteria for further details.

In cooperation with our partner, Pagoda Projects, DMU students will spend a week in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam participating in a programme intended to introduce students to the very best of Vietnamese culture and enhance employability skills in a South East Asian context. Students will take part in a series of guided events combining business discussions, company visits and interactive workshops with trips to popular tourists sites, an epic street food tour and a full day exploring the Mekong Delta.

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most exciting cities in Southeast Asia, with a wonderfully vibrant street food scene, cool cafes, local craft breweries, bustling markets and millions of mopeds, the city is a charmingly chaotic whirl of colour, culture and life. According to Lonely Planet ‘Saigon is a city of energy and discovery. Wander through alleys to incense- infused temples before negotiating chic designer malls beneath sleek 21st-century skyscrapers. The ghosts of the past live on in buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but now the real beauty of the former Saigon’s urban collage is the seamless blending of these two worlds into one exciting mass.’

What to expect?

The programme includes UK and in country airport, transfers, return flights, hotel accommodation (x2 sharing in single gender rooms), 24/7 in-country support, full orientation and welcome pack on arrival and admission to activities and events.

Your time in Ho Chi Minh City will begin with a detailed orientation where you will be briefed on the activities, cultural differences and expectations for the programme. During this session you will also be split into teams and allocated an interactive group project that you will be presenting at the end of the week to a panel of Pagoda Projects and DMU staff.

This exciting opportunity is open to students from all academic programmes and will include a mix of employability and cultural activities including:

The cost of this opportunity is £499 (+£5 Carbon Levy) students will be required to pay this amount in two installments via the DMU online store. Students will also need to consider additional costs of any food and activities in the allotted free time.

To learn more about their experience of DMU students that have participated in the programme in the past, check out the video below…

Learning Objectives

Participating in a DMU Global opportunity can help you develop a range of skills and competencies that enhance your studies and boost your employability. Through participation in this employability and cultural opportunity in Vietnam we expect that students will: