This summer, I spent eight weeks interning in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam through the university’s business research program, and as a result of my time abroad, I underwent much personal and professional growth. Not only did I assimilate into the local work culture, but I was also able to explore Vietnam and its rich history, leaving a lasting impression on me and my perspective of the country. Having now returned, I hold this experience to have had a profound impact on me as a person, and as a future professional.
One of the highlights of my study abroad experience was getting to travel around Vietnam during the weekends, as not only was it fun seeing more of the country, but it was also very affordable, making for a great use of my time. My trip to Hà Nội, for instance, enabled me to visit a very culturally distinctive part of Vietnam that is often contrasted against Ho Chi Minh City due to its more reserved nature. This, combined with Hà Nội’s surrounding region of natural beauty, made for a very intriguing trip. This was also true with other cities I visited such as Đà Nẵng, Hội An, and Nha Trang, where I’d get to see destinations that are often overlooked by foreigners and thus experience a more genuine time away. Examples of this included getting to see Hội An’s ancient city, Nha Trang’s white coasts, and Đà Nẵng’smany pagodas. When combined with my daily excursions during the workweek, traveling immensely enhanced my time in Vietnam and forever changed my opinion of the country’s tourist potential.
Another important aspect of my time abroad was my internship, of which I hold to be the most important factor for my professional development over the summer. As an intern at my host organization, I was responsible for working under my supervisor and alongside my coworkers on various tasks and projects. And, while this was immensely challenging given the cultural differences and contextual barriers, I came out of my internship feeling more confident in my cross-cultural communication skills, as well as in my ability to adapt to unfamiliar scenarios incredibly quickly. During my time there, I garnered new skills in financial analysis and several new software programs, of which will prove useful in future applications. Despite this being my first exposure to a professional working environment, I accredit my internship as being one of the most fulfilling aspects of my study abroad experience, and one of my sole motivations for wanting to continue upon my career path.
After deciding to take an internship opportunity in Ho Chi Minh City, I faced many uncertainties surrounding the host organization, cultural differences, and geographical disparities. Ultimately, though, I chose my program for its potential to elevate my career to the next level, both by providing me with a chance to study abroad and conduct research, of which I had never done before. I was able to experience a part of the world that is often underexplored by many, and it is for that reason that I feel so fortunate to have been a part of such an amazing program.
Will Richmond (BS Management) spent the Summer 2024 semester studying abroad in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam through WorldStrides. Will had the following to say about studying abroad, “This summer, I spent eight weeks interning in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam through the university’s business research program, and it was one of the most memorable and fulfilling experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Not only did I get to live like a local and explore an unfamiliar culture, but I made many new connections that I treasure forever. If you are considering studying abroad, I cannot recommend it enough – you will have the time of your life!“
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