Vietnam
Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economy, and one of its best-kept secrets for interns
Extraordinary food, a booming tech scene, ancient culture, and a cost of living that stretches every pound further than almost anywhere else. Vietnam rewards the curious.
Your day in Vietnam
A realistic weekday for a marketing intern in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1.
Early energy. Grab a ca phe sua da (iced milk coffee) from a street vendor for 30p. Watch the city wake up.
Pho bo from a street stall for £1. Or banh mi for 50p. Vietnamese breakfast is an event, not a chore.
Real projects at a co-working space or startup office. Vietnam's tech scene is booming and interns get stuck in from day one.
Com tam (broken rice) with pork for £1.50. Office lunches are communal. Your colleagues will teach you what to order.
Rooftop drinks with city views for £2-3, or explore the alleyways of District 4. Every corner is a discovery.
Street food crawl, night markets, or quiet evenings by the river. Weekends: Ha Long Bay, Ha Giang, or beach escapes.
Experiences that define your time in Vietnam
Vietnam's weekends are as unforgettable as the internship itself. Two experiences that every intern puts at the top of their list.
Ha Long Bay Cruise
A UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 1,600 limestone karsts rising from emerald waters. Cruise through floating villages, kayak into hidden caves, and fall asleep on deck under a sky full of stars. This is the image that defines Vietnam for most people, and it lives up to every expectation.
- Overnight on a traditional junk boat with panoramic bay views
- Kayak through limestone caves and hidden lagoons at sunrise
- Visit floating fishing villages and local pearl farms
- Fresh seafood dinner on deck as the sun sets over the karsts
- Swimming and snorkelling in secluded coves
The Ha Giang Loop
A 350km motorbike loop through Vietnam's most dramatic mountain scenery. Winding roads cut into sheer cliff faces, terraced rice paddies cascade down mountainsides, and remote ethnic minority villages sit in valleys untouched by mass tourism. This is the ride that every traveller in Vietnam talks about for years afterwards.
- Ride the Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the most spectacular roads in Asia
- Stay in homestays with Hmong, Tay, and Dao communities
- Rice terraces at their most vivid during harvest season (September-October)
- Nho Que River canyon, a turquoise ribbon 800m below the road
- Option: hire an experienced local rider (Easy Rider) if you don't ride
Internship in Vietnam: The Honest Guide for UK Students
Why students choose Vietnam
Vietnam is Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economy, with GDP growth consistently above 6%. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are buzzing with startups, international companies, and a young workforce (70% of the population is under 35). For UK students, Vietnam offers something rare: genuine professional experience in a country that feels dramatically different from anything at home, at a cost of living that's almost hard to believe.
The food alone is worth the trip. Street food culture here is arguably the best in the world, and you'll eat better for £3 a day than you would for £15 in London. If you're drawn to Southeast Asia but want more of a beach and resort hospitality scene, Bali is worth comparing. For a bigger city with more NGO roles, look at Bangkok.
Our Vietnam team has been building partnerships since 2022, with verified placements across Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Hoi An. Every company is personally vetted for learning quality, working conditions, and mentoring culture.
What you should know before applying
Honest information helps you make a better decision:
- The language barrier is real. Outside of international companies, English proficiency is lower than in Thailand or the Philippines. This is part of the experience, but expect some frustration in daily life. Learning basic Vietnamese phrases goes a long way.
- Traffic is intense. Ho Chi Minh City has 9 million motorbikes. Crossing the road is an acquired skill. Most interns adapt within a week, but it can be overwhelming at first.
- Some internships offer stipends. Unlike Bali where nearly everything is unpaid, Vietnam has more companies willing to offer small stipends (£100-300/month) or cover accommodation. Not guaranteed, but more common.
- The heat is no joke. April-August in the south hits 35-40°C with high humidity. If you have a choice, plan around the cooler months (November-February).
- Bureaucracy can be slow. Vietnam's administrative processes can be frustrating for those used to UK efficiency. Patience is required.
Vietnam is one of the most rewarding destinations we offer. The students who get the most from it are the ones who embrace the chaos and stay curious.
What you can do in Vietnam
Our local team places students across six core fields. Vietnam is strongest for business, hospitality, tech, and marketing. For finance or law, consider New York or Dublin.
Marketing & Communications
Social media, content creation, SEO, and digital campaigns at agencies and growing Vietnamese brands.
Hospitality & Tourism
Hotel management, F&B, guest experience, and tour operations. Vietnam's tourism industry is booming with 18M visitors in 2025.
Tech & Startups
Web development, product management, UX/UI, and growth at Vietnam's fast-growing tech ecosystem.
Sustainability & Environment
Conservation, sustainable tourism, ocean cleanup, and community development projects across the coast and highlands.
NGO & Education
Teaching English, community outreach, women's empowerment, and social enterprise support.
Creative & Media
Photography, videography, graphic design, and content production. Vietnam's visual culture is endlessly inspiring.
Real monthly costs for UK students
Vietnam is one of the most affordable internship destinations we offer. These are researched 2026 figures.
Visa, safety & what to expect
Visa-free entry: UK citizens can enter Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days (since August 2023). This works for shorter internships but limits your stay.
e-Visa: Valid for 90 days, single or multiple entry. Apply online, costs approximately £20. Processed in 3 working days. This is the most common route for 3-month internships.
Business visa: For longer stays or formal work arrangements. Requires a sponsoring company. Our team coordinates with your host company to arrange this.
Work permit: Technically required for paid work. Employers hiring foreign interns for paid positions should arrange this. For unpaid/educational placements, the e-visa is standard practice.
What we do: Our local team guides you through the entire visa process, including which option suits your placement duration and whether your host company can sponsor a business visa.
Ho Chi Minh City has approximately 9 million motorbikes. The traffic is a living organism. There are traffic lights, but they're treated as suggestions. Crossing the road for the first time is a rite of passage.
The trick: Walk slowly and steadily. Don't stop, don't run, don't hesitate. The motorbikes will flow around you. It sounds terrifying. After three days, it becomes normal.
Getting around: Grab (Vietnam's Uber) is cheap (£0.30-1 per motorbike trip, £1-3 by car). Many interns rent motorbikes (£30-40/month) after settling in. Hanoi traffic is worse than HCMC. Da Nang is considerably calmer.
Our recommendation: Use Grab for the first 2 weeks. If you want to ride, our team connects you with a safety course and vetted rental companies. Helmets are legally required and actually enforced.
Street food is generally safe if you follow the golden rule: eat where locals eat. High turnover means fresh ingredients. The busiest stalls are the safest.
Water: Don't drink tap water. Bottled water is everywhere (5p per bottle). Ice in restaurants and cafes is factory-made and safe. Ice from street vendors varies.
Stomach adjustment: Most interns experience mild stomach issues in the first week. This is normal. Stay hydrated and carry Imodium. It passes.
Healthcare: International hospitals in HCMC and Hanoi are excellent (FV Hospital, Vinmec). Costs are lower than Bali but still significant for foreigners. Travel insurance with £500K+ medical cover is non-negotiable.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): The economic capital. Most startups, agencies, and international companies. Fast, loud, energetic. District 1 (central), District 2 (Thao Dien, expat area), District 7 (new developments) are popular. Room: £200-400/mo.
Hanoi: The political capital. More traditional, cultural depth, French colonial architecture. Cooler weather (20-25°C in winter). Strong NGO and education sector. Old Quarter is atmospheric but noisy. Room: £180-350/mo.
Da Nang: Beach city in central Vietnam. Growing tech hub, more relaxed pace. Best quality of life for the price. Close to Hoi An (30 min). Room: £150-280/mo.
Hoi An: UNESCO town, 30 minutes from Da Nang. Ideal for hospitality, tourism, and creative roles. Beautiful but small. Room: £130-250/mo.
Vietnam stretches over 1,650km from north to south, so weather varies dramatically by region.
South (HCMC, Mekong Delta): Hot year-round (28-35°C). Dry season: Nov-Apr. Rainy season: May-Oct (afternoon downpours, not all-day rain).
Central (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue): Dry Feb-Aug. Typhoon season: Sep-Nov. Can be wet and windy Oct-Jan.
North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ha Giang): Four seasons. Cool/cold Dec-Feb (10-18°C). Hot and humid May-Sep. Best weather: Oct-Nov and Mar-Apr.
Best overall timing: October-December gives you pleasant weather in HCMC, autumn colours in the north, and the best conditions for Ha Giang.
Vietnam is a weekend adventure paradise. Domestic flights are £20-40, overnight buses are £8-15, and trains are slow but scenic.
From HCMC: Mekong Delta floating markets (day trip), Mui Ne sand dunes (4hrs), Phu Quoc island (1hr flight), Cu Chi tunnels (1.5hrs).
From Hanoi: Ha Long Bay cruise (2-3 days, £80-200), Ha Giang motorbike loop (3-4 days, £60-150), Sapa rice terraces (overnight train + 2 days), Ninh Binh "Ha Long Bay on land" (day trip).
From Da Nang: Hoi An ancient town (30 min), Ba Na Hills/Golden Bridge (day trip), My Son temples (1.5hrs), Hai Van Pass motorbike ride (2hrs).
What UK students say about Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City is the most alive place I've ever been. My internship at a Vietnamese startup taught me more about hustle and adaptability than any module at uni. And the food - I spent less on food in 4 months than I would in 2 weeks in London.
The Ha Giang Loop was the single best experience of my life. I did it with three other interns on a long weekend. The mountains, the homestays, the people. Nothing prepares you for how beautiful northern Vietnam is. Go during rice harvest season if you can.
I worked at a boutique hotel in Hoi An and it felt like living inside a fairy tale. Lantern-lit streets, the best banh mi in the world for 40p, and colleagues who genuinely wanted to teach me. My Vietnamese is terrible but they loved that I tried.
Common questions
Some are. Vietnam has more companies willing to offer small stipends (£100-300/month) or cover accommodation than destinations like Bali. It's not guaranteed, but we actively negotiate with host companies. Our team will be transparent about compensation for each specific placement.
No. All our placements operate in English. However, Vietnamese colleagues will deeply appreciate any effort you make. Learn "xin chao" (hello), "cam on" (thank you), and "bao nhieu?" (how much?) at minimum. Language apps like Duolingo have decent Vietnamese courses. The tonal system is challenging but locals are patient and encouraging with learners.
Minimum 8 weeks, ideally 3-6 months. The first 2 weeks are settling in and adjusting to the culture. By month 2 you're comfortable and productive. By month 3+ you're genuinely embedded. Shorter stays are possible but you'll spend proportionally more time adjusting and less time contributing meaningfully.
Vietnam is generally very safe for women. Violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare. The main concern is bag snatching from motorbikes in HCMC. Standard precautions: carry your bag on the building side of the pavement, avoid walking alone very late at night in quiet areas, and use Grab rather than hailing taxis. Our local team provides a safety briefing and is available 24/7.
Potentially, yes. The Turing Scheme funds international placements through participating UK universities. You cannot apply directly. Check with your university's placement or international office. Given Vietnam's low cost of living, Turing funding can cover a significant portion of your total expenses. We provide all documentation your university needs. Read our complete Turing Scheme guide.
Vietnam has excellent internet infrastructure. Average speeds in HCMC and Hanoi are 80-120 Mbps. Coffee shops with fast Wi-Fi are everywhere. Co-working spaces (The Hive, Toong, Dreamplex) cost £50-100/month. Most accommodation includes Wi-Fi. Mobile data is extremely cheap: unlimited 4G for about £3/month.
Sample placements in Vietnam
Examples of active placements. Stipend availability noted where applicable. New positions added weekly.
Digital Marketing Intern
E-commerce Startup
Guest Experience Coordinator
Boutique Heritage Hotel
Software Development Intern
Fintech Startup
Sustainable Tourism Intern
Eco-Resort & Conservation Project
Content & Videography Intern
Travel Media Agency
Community Education Lead
Youth Development NGO
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