Explore Vietnam: Improve Your Employability and Discover South East Asian Culture

Undergraduate students that will be in their second and third year of studies in 2022-23 are eligible to participate in this opportunity. The maximum number of places available is 18, and the minimum number of students required for this trip to go ahead will be 10. Two DMU staff members will be accompanying the group. We encourage all eligible students to apply, and particularly welcome applications from:



• Students that are in receipt of hardship funding or are from a widening participation background
• Students that haven’t participated in DMU Global in the past
• Students that may not have travelled much previously and can demonstrate the potential benefits of the experience

Please check our eligibility criteria for further details.

In cooperation with our partner, Pagoda Projects, this DMU Global opportunity aims to give students an insight into the working world in Asia. Students will spend a week in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), the largest city in Vietnam and one of the most dynamic and fastest growing in South East Asia.

The exciting programme will consist of a guided group project focusing on employability skills in the Asian context. Students will develop their capabilities through a series of guided events, workshops, and visits to tourist sites, markets, and local businesses, tailored around what students on the programmed are studying. The programme culminates with students presenting their progress to an expert panel of local businesses.

Whilst in Ho Chi Minh City, the students will participate in a week-long programme that may include the following activities:

Back in November 2019, DMU students travelled to Vietnam to participate on this programme. To learn more about their experiences watch the video below…

Application process

More and more employers are asking for video applications as part of the recruitment process, and this DMU Global opportunity will offer students the chance to put in practice something they may be required to do in the job market. Thus, for this opportunity all students are required to submit a 2-3 minute video application.

Once you have finalised your video, we kindly ask that you apply and upload it using the link 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 develop the following:

We also aim for participants to come away from the programme with some tangible elements which assist them as they become global graduates, such as guidance on producing an international-facing CV and a list of funded international graduate programmes in Asia.

Cultural Activities

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most exciting destinations in Southeast Asia! Bursting with cafes, craft breweries, street food, markets and mopeds, the city itself is full of colour and character.

According to Lonely Planet 2018 ‘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.’

As part of the itinerary, students will have free time to explore the city independently, and there will also be a range of cultural activities provided, such as:

What’s included?

DMU Global will book all student flights for this opportunity, and students will be expected to pay the £350 contribution via the DMU Online Store within 14 days of receiving an offer of acceptance. All programme fees and accommodation will be booked by DMU Global. Included in this package offered by Pagoda Projects is:

Travel to Vietnam is permitted according to the travel rules for England as listed on UK Government website. Students are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 vaccine prior to travel, and will need to present proof of a negative COVID test (except for children under 2 years) done within 72 hours prior to departure for RT-PCR tests or within 24 hours for rapid-flow antigen (lateral flow) tests. 

All students that are offered a place on this DMU Global opportunity will receive further COVID-19 advice and guidance by email and in pre-departure briefing sessions. More details and COVID-19 Travel Information can be found here.