{"id":3398,"date":"2026-11-10T13:39:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T18:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/business\/?p=3398"},"modified":"2026-11-11T14:49:41","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T19:49:41","slug":"growing-in-independence-thanks-to-vietnam-internships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/business\/2026\/11\/10\/growing-in-independence-thanks-to-vietnam-internships\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing in independence thanks to Vietnam internships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Students<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ask most people what an ideal trip looks like and you might get answers like: all-inclusive, spa days, fine dining or stellar views. If you asked the same question to students who signed up for the 2026 study abroad trip to Vietnam, you\u2019d get responses like: getting outside of your comfort zone, figuring out who you want to be or connecting with cultural roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accounting major Thanh Pham and Management major Elly Ramos are roommates in their fourth year at UTC. They were both accepted into the 2026 Vietnam study abroad program through the Gary W. Rollins College of Business<\/a>, yet they went for totally different reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanh was born in Vietnam and moved away when she was an infant. Half of her family still lives there, and she wanted to connect with them and experience the culture that her parents grew up in. On the other hand, Elly was used to traveling, but it was often to familiar places with familiar people. She was eager to travel somewhere new alone, specifically in a place where she didn\u2019t speak the language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two friends boarded the same plane for their eight-week internships in Vietnam, but their experiences couldn\u2019t have been more different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nine-to-five<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Vietnam abroad program includes an eight-week internship at local businesses to truly immerse students in the global business landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Thanh<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thanh was a business intelligence analyst intern at Payoo<\/a>, a fintech company focused on processing and billing. She spent her working hours researching competitors and developing reports to support growth throughout the country. After hours, she spent time with her cousins, who introduced her to life as a local in Ho Chi Minh City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Elly was a marketing intern at Pencil Group Localis<\/a>, a marketing and tourism agency. Her goal was to increase tourism in Vietnam by creating a guidebook to target audiences in specific countries, including the U.S., Canada, China and South Korea. Outside of work, you could find Elly practicing Muay Thai, rock climbing or traveling to new locations around Vietnam and Japan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Elly<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lessons learned<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While neither of their internships were directly related to their majors, they both learned skills to apply to the workplace. \u201cI got to analyze financial reports from around the world,\u201d said Thanh. \u201cIt was cool to see other options outside accounting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both ladies said the most surprising part was the lunch break nap time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a designated nap room in the office,\u201d said Elly. \u201cEveryone would clear out at lunch and go take a two-hour nap in the middle of the day.\u201d That allowed employees and friends to better connect after hours. It was normal to see friends gathered at patio tables talking, playing games and hanging out late into the night, even during the work week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the business landscape and best practices learned through their internships, the students also learned some life skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n