1. AIESEC Vietnam Intern Guide www.aiesec.org
Welcome to Vietnam
This guide will provide you with basic information
you should know about Vietnam. It is intended as a
very general guide, so do not limit yourself to it. You
should do more research to be well prepared for your
stay in Vietnam. The Lonely Planet about Vietnam
can be a good resource. Visit the links at the end of
this guide.
July, 2008
Content
Welcome
Congratulations on being matched as an
intern in AIESEC Vietnam! We welcome you with open arms and
Welcome Message look forward to both learning from you, and helping you to learn more yourself!
AIESEC in Vietnam is a new AIESEC country full of challenges and opportunities,
and we can’t wait to share it with you! Best of luck for in your preparation, and we
General Information look forward to working and partying with you soon!
The following information is designed to help you to prepare for your internship
experience. It should be a starting point to learn more about AIESEC in Vietnam,
Google Group Contacts some basics about living in Vietnam, and what you can expect from your
experience. Please use it as a resource to discover what kinds of questions you
need to be asking yourself and your host LC to make the most of your time
with us!
We recommend that you read as much as possible about Vietnam
(guidebooks, history, fiction, books by Vietnamese authors and
information from the embassy). Look at maps, talk to people who have
been here or live here.
Vietnam, just like any foreign country, can be frustrating at times, f
especially to a new visitor but believe us when we say the good times o
more than make up for it! We have found that the most important r
ingredients of a successful internship are a positive receptive
attitude and a lot of tolerance. Once you gain the confidence to
handle any situation here, you will have a really great time. So
AIESEC Vietnam Family welcomes you
to join us!

2. AIESEC Vietnam Intern Guide July, 2008
Your Responsibilities as
Our Responsibilities as Hosts
an Intern the LC and many other interesting people.
Communicate with you before you arrive to ensure you are
- Facilitate cultural exchange and discuss your prepared for your trip.
problems with AIESEC members
- Do your job with a positive attitude and to the - Pick you up at the point of your arrival
best of your abilities - Help you with arranging accommodation
- Complete expectation setting with us so we both - Help you with all the regular daily functions (shopping,
can ensure we are meeting each other’s taking the bus, getting a bank account, how to use the
telephones, how to order food etc.)
expectations. - Take you to the organisation on the first day of your
- Fill in the measurement surveys and give us internship
feedback - Be there to answer questions and provide support
- Help us help you  this is only possible if you whenever we can
communicate with us about any problems, - Help you get integrated into the culture
concerns and expectations. Many things may not - Provide activities that can teach you about the
be obvious to us and we need you to tell us. Ask Vietnamese culture and lifestyle
us lots of questions!!! - Provide you with names and a telephone list of the
- Never miss a party, because this is where you AIESEC members in your LC as well as information about
upcoming events or activities.
get to interact with the members and interns in
General Information
Visa Medical information
You will need a business visa to work in You will find all the medical assistance you could need in Vietnam.
Vietnam. Contact the Vietnamese There are a couple of international clinics, but it is cheaper to go to
embassy in your country for the details. Vietnamese hospitals and they are just as qualified. Make sure you
You will be able to get a 6 month
buy health insurance which covers you for your whole stay in
business visa and you can extend it once
Vietnam. Scan and email yourself a copy of your health booklet in
you are in Vietnam. Scanning and case you lose it. Also bring it with you to Vietnam. In Hanoi and Ho
emailing yourself with your passport and
Chi Minh City, you do not need malaria tablets.
visa is a good idea in case you lose your
passport.
2

3. AIESEC Vietnam Intern Guide July, 2008
Vaccination
Here is a link with information on which shots you will
need:
Flying to Vietnam
There are many international airlines flying to Vietnam, but it
can be expensive. If you're from the West, an option can be to
fly to Shanghai (China), Singapore or Hong Kong, and fly
another Asian airline from there (you can look on
www.elong.com). You might need a visa for that though. There
are also direct trains from Beijing to Hanoi (2 days ride), or
buses from Hong Kong (about 24 hours to Hanoi).
Money
Registration Toilets
The local currency is the
Vietnamese dong. 1 USD is worth Once you have found your At home or at work, you will most
approximately 16,000 VND. You accommodation, your host will likely have a Western-type toilet. In
can use your bank card from your need to register you at the public places however, squat toilets
home bank account at most ATMs police station. Make sure they are not uncommon.
to withdraw money. Check with do.
your bank to see if your card is Temperature
usable abroad. Credit cards Food and Drinks
(mostly Visa and MasterCard) are The temperature in the North (Hanoi)
taken in tourist places and upper Food is one of the best things is quite different from the South
end restaurants and boutiques. It about Vietnam! Generally, a (HCMC). In the North, it is hot and dry
is more common to use cash. meal consists of rice or noodles in the summer and cool and wet in the
AIESEC will help you open a with other food like meat and winter. Bring warm clothes for the
Vietnamese bank account so you vegetables. You can also find winter. In the South, you will be
can get your paycheck. Bring many international restaurants. wearing summer clothes all year long.
cash in a major currency to Some small restaurants can be It is hot and wet in the summer and
exchange for VND in Vietnam, as a little bit dirty, but the food is hot and dry in the winter. The humidity
VND is hard to obtain outside the good nonetheless. Your can be hard to bear. You will need a
country. stomach will get used to street raincoat for the rainy season.
food. Generally, food in the
Accommodation North is salty and food in the
Shopping
South is sweeter. Do not stick
AIESEC will help you find a place your chopsticks in your rice
bowl. This reminds people of When shopping in stores, articles will
to stay. Generally, you will share often have price tags. When going to
an apartment with other interns incense sticks burning for the
dead. Tap water is not drinkable markets or smaller stores, prices are
and you will have your own room. not displayed, so make sure to learn
You can expect to pay 250$ a in Vietnam. Boil it first, or buy
bottled water. You can find the prices so you don’t get ripped off
month for your room. Apartments (ask an AIESEC member to help you
are not luxurious, but they are many different types of alcohol,
local and international. with that). Sometimes, you can also
clean and comfortable.
bargain.
Vietnamese students usually stay
in places that cost 30-75$ a
month.
3

4. AIESEC Vietnam Intern Guide July, 2008
Clothing Transportation Going out
A Western size S corresponds to a Use the public bus (3,500 To have fun, Vietnamese youth likes to go sing
Vietnamese size L, so it might be hard VND) to go around the city, karaoke like in many places in Asia. It is not
to find clothes that fit you. It is or take a xé ôm (motorbike the Western concept of karaoke where people
however possible to get tailor made taxi). Make sure to agree sing on a stage in a bar while they're drunk.
clothes which will be cheaper than if on the price before taking Instead, your party rents a karaoke room in a
you buy them back home. This would the xé ôm ride. Usually a karaoke place with many rooms like this, and
not be convenient for things like bras ride will cost you between sing one after the other. Vietnamese people
though, so make sure you bring what 15,000 and 30,000 VND, like to sing well. Another thing they will do is
you will need. Finding big shoes can depending on the distance. go out for dinner together. Drinking is not a
also be a problem. Most people travel The best thing to do is buy common activity for girls. Guys like to drink
by motorbike or bicycle, so women a bicycle (new or second beer or vodka in eateries or street side
don't wear skirts very often as it is not hand) to travel around. restaurants. Ask them to take you there, it’s
convenient for this type of They are cheap, good fun to skull beer against old Vietnamese
transportation. Make sure to bring convenient, almost as fast men. There are many Western-type clubs in
your swimming suit to enjoy the nice as motorbikes, pollute less big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but
beaches of Vietnam! and give you exercise. they mostly attract the foreigners.
In your everyday life, just try to be Traffic Most Vietnam AIESECers are 18 to 22 years
decent. Wearing a t-shirt and shorts is old, and to some interns they might appear
fine, tank tops and short skirts are not ‘childish’. Most of the Vietnamese students
so common. At work, you will most To a newcomer, (especially in AIESEC) still have parties with
likely wear formal pants and a shirt, Vietnamese traffic can orange juice, and never touch a cigarette.
seem quite scary and
depending on the company’s culture. Most Vietnamese people consider the people
A suit and a tie is not required since it chaotic. Don’t worry who go to bars and night clubs as just wanting
is so hot, however, some of the larger though, you will get used to to hook up, therefore not a very positive
companies, such as MNCs, may it. Cars usually have opinion (this usually doesn’t apply to foreigners
priority since they are
require you to wear a tie sometimes. as the Vietnamese don’t have the same
bigger, so be careful as a
expectations of foreigners as they have of their
pedestrian. To cross the compatriots). So if you want to go to a bar with
Hygiene products street, just walk slowly at a
a Vietnamese AIESECer, tell them in advance
constant pace and
where exactly you want to go. If going to a bar,
In general, you can find most products motorbikes will go around most of your Vietnamese friends will not be
like toothpaste and shampoo with the you. able to stay with you late (family rule). Some
same big international brands. P&G have a curfew of 8 or 9 PM. Better call the
and Unilever are well established in other interns if you want to go out to a bar.
Vietnam.
Dating, Relationship, Sex
The Vietnamese take relationships seriously, so they won’t be dating someone just for fun
usually. Sex is usually kept for after marriage. Kissing in public is strange. You might
find the Vietnamese to be ‘childish’: holding hands, having ‘teenager’
relationships.
A note about ‘childishness’: In China, we had a discussion between Chinese
AIESECers and foreign AIESECers as to how each group perceives the
other. One surprising finding was that each group perceived the other to be
childish: The foreigners thought the Chinese were childish because they
giggle, hold hands, have teenager relationships; the Chinese thought the
foreigners were childish because they have no discipline: eat junk food
and candy, party out late, do things bad for their health, don’t study, do
things they want without caring about what others think.
4

5. AIESEC Vietnam Intern Guide July, 2008
In the workplace
Holiday in Vietnam
The working style will be very different depending on if you are in a
January 1 - Western New Vietnamese company or an international company. You can expect
Year's Day international standards in an international company. Vietnamese
companies will often take long lunch breaks because it is common to take a
January or February - Tet; nap after lunch. In Vietnamese companies, you might feel like you do not
Vietnamese and Chinese New have much direction and constructive feedback. You will need to be
Year celebration; this most proactive in engaging in communication with your company.
important Vietnamese festivity of
the whole year is celebrated an Be careful with your attitude at work. Colleagues will respect you because
entire week from the first to the you’re a foreigner, but if you screw up you will lose their respect and it is
seventh day of the new year hard to get back. The Vietnamese expect a lot from you since you are
according to the traditional moon getting paid more than a Vietnamese employee.
calendar; as the celebration
depends on the phases of the Language can be a barrier, so try to speak slowly with your Vietnamese
moon, not the sun, it is colleagues. Also, sometimes they will act like they understood, but they
celebrated on different dates of really haven’t. Make sure they understand you by making them explain
the Western calendar; what you want them to do.
traditionally, during the Tet days
large amounts of food are
consumed, because the Tet Language
days are considered an omen
for the course of the entire year; Vietnamese is the official language, but there are many other dialects. The
the belief is that if you eat a lot accent in the North is different from the South. Nowadays, Vietnamese
during the Tet days, there will be people learn English as a second language in school, so the younger
enough food during the whole generations have some knowledge of English. The AIESECers can all
year. speak English very well. People who work with tourists also
speak English. Other than that, most people won't be
February 3 - Founding Day of able to speak English. You can also find
the Communist Party of people who speak French, as it is a
Vietnam; national holiday very common language to
study due to
March - day to
commemorate the Trung
sisters, who in the year
41 of Christian reckoning
led a rebellion against
the Chinese rulers;
movable holiday, as it
depends on the moon
calendar.
March 8 - International
Women Day, which is
pretty much like Valentine’s
Day for Vietnam. Companies
often organise events for
female staff, and most men
give presents to the women in
their life (sister, mother,
daughter, wife, girlfriend, etc.)
April 30 - Liberation Day of
South Vietnam and Saigon;
national holiday
May 1 - Labour Day; national
5

6. AIESEC Vietnam Intern Guide July, 2008
Communication
Holiday in Vietnam
Vietnamese are very literal when it comes to language, so you need to express
clearly what you mean. They don’t understand sarcasm. Here are a few tips on
May 19 - Ho Chi Minh's birthday;
communication to make your life easier.
national holiday
1. Double negatives:
May 28 - holiday in
commemoration of the birth, the
enlightenment and the death of Q: You don't want to be late, right? A: Yes. (Meaning: no, I don't want to be late)
the Buddha; national holiday Correct question: Do you want to be late?
August - Trung Nguyen; Day of Q: I think we shouldn't do it. And you? A: Yes. (Meaning: yes, I think we shouldn't do
the Wandering Souls; on this it)
day the souls of the dead are Correct question: Do we have to do it?
believed to wander to the ...or even better: we don't do it.
habitats of their offspring;
celebrations in Buddhist 2. Literal interpretation:
temples; food is spread on
house altars for the souls of the Another great share of misunderstanding with local people also derives from literal
deceased and fake money is interpretation. Never expect them to be empathic, never expect anyone to
burnt in honour of them; understand something not evident. This is just a cultural difference; the
moveable holiday, as it depends communication just doesn't always work on the same way all over, especially here.
on the moon calendar.
September 2 - National Holiday Q: Did you receive that email I sent you last week? A: Yes. (Meaning: yes I received
it. Attention, it does not necessarily mean it has been read)
September 3 - Day to Correct question: Did you read and follow up my email of last week?
commemorate the death of Ho
Chi Minh in 1969; national Q: I asked you last week to do this, can it be done this week? (meaning: “you are
holiday freaking late and I’ve been waiting for a week, can you do it quite fast, max for the
end of the week?”) A: Yes (meaning: “yes, I remember you asked it. Yes it can be
September - Trung Thu - done this week.” Attention: it does not necessarily mean that it WILL be done on this
autumn celebration at which timeframe.)
children parade through the Correct Question: not a question. Please, do what I asked you last week by this
streets with lanterns; for this Wednesday 2 PM.
celebration moon cakes are
baked; moveable holiday, as it In other words, avoid any double negative and rhetoric questions. Ask clearly about
depends on the moon calendar. any possible side of the problem, especially that obvious side you think is "normal".
November - Birthday of
Confucius; moveable holiday, as
Safety
it depends on the moon
calendar. You do not face big dangers other than being scammed or robbed in Vietnam.
People who work with tourists will often try to rip you off. There are also many
pick pockets. There are even thieves on motorbikes who will grab your bag
while passing by. Watch your stuff in public places or on the bus.
6

7. AIESEC Vietnam Intern Guide July, 2008
Cultural aspects
Collectivism: Vietnam is a collectivist society, meaning the group is more important than the individual. In everyday life, it
means people will always consider the opinion of family, society, peers in general before taking a decision. The notion of
privacy and personal space is very different since many people live in a concentrated area. This notion of collectivism is
also observed with food: dishes are often shared.
Family: Family is very important in Vietnam, like in most of Asia. It is normal for the Vietnamese to ask you about your
family or if you're married. It is a way of showing interest in you.
Don’t feel weird when you ask a Vietnamese friend to go out at night and they respond: “Sorry, I have to be at home by
10pm, sorry I have to go with my mom, sorry I have to have dinner with my family, I have to stay home do housework.” As
other Asian people, Vietnamese students live with their parents until they get married and sometimes even forever (a
man can live with his wife and his family). Contrary to Western countries, Vietnamese students rarely stay out
independently. As a result, family takes a very important role in their lives and they need to take a lot of responsibilities in
their family.
Age: Don't be offended if people ask about your age. Age is very important and people will address each other differently
depending on if they are older or younger. Always show respect to someone who is older than you, even if they are
working under you. It is very common for Vietnamese managers to be younger than the people working under them, as
the younger generation is more educated. However, they always show respect to people older than them. Even though
you are a manager but you lead an older man, a nice and respectful manner to him is always highly appreciated. One
Vietnamese saying goes: ”you can live longer if you respect the old people”, thus, old people are the most respected.
When you meet an older person, don’t forget to nod your head with a smile and greet them.
Hospitality: Most Vietnamese are very friendly to foreigners. They are proud of their country as they have a great history
of victories against the invaders (Chinese, Mongols, French, Americans). They will be very happy to help you discover
their culture. A host will always do everything to make their guests happy, so do not abuse this. A host most likely won’t
tell you if you’re doing something they don’t like, but you will look bad in their eyes. A good present to bring to a host is
fruits, a cake or souvenirs from your country. Do not bring milk, as milk is something you usually bring to sick people. If
you are invited to sleep over, hosts will often give you their bed and sleep on the floor. It might seem weird to you, but you
should just accept because it is very important for them to be good hosts.
Non-confrontation: Vietnamese people are non-confrontational, meaning they won’t tell you if they have a problem with
you. For Westerners, this can sometimes be interpreted as hypocrisy, but it is really because they do not like
confrontation and do not want to hurt you. If they don’t like the way you are behaving, they won’t tell you “You shouldn’t
do this, you should do that”, etc. Instead, they assume you should be aware of the basic ethical norms and acceptable
behaviours. This means you have to be alert for clues and pick up on very subtle messages. Also, they hardly say no if
their answer could offend you. If you ask them to do something, they won’t say no since they don’t want to confront you,
but it doesn’t mean they want to do it, or that they will even do it! Be careful not to pressure people to do things too much,
because sometimes they will end up doing it to satisfy you, but they will be highly annoyed by you (but won’t tell you).
Hiding feelings: Due to the non-confrontational aspect of Vietnamese culture, Vietnamese people are more closed, they
hardly express what they feel and think in fear of making someone feel hurt, disliked, looked down upon, etc. For
example: if you invite a Vietnamese friend to your house, you have food, and you invite your Vietnamese friend to have a
meal with you, most of the time your Vietnamese friend will respond:”I’m ok, I don’t feel that hungry”. Well, it is not as
simple as what the Vietnamese speak out. They may feel hungry, but feel shy if you share food with them. If you ask
twice or more, or convince them, they may say YES (when they feel you are really willing to invite them).
Another story: a Western guy invited an Asian girl to go to a movie. She responded:”Sorry, I have work to do that day”
even though she really wanted to go with him. Well, the guy thought she really couldn’t come, then answered: “Well, ok,
hope you work well”. That girl felt really disappointed.
Saving face: Honor is very important in Vietnam, so people do not like to lose face. This means you should be careful not
to criticize someone in front of other people, as it will make them lose face in front of everybody. It is best to give negative
feedback in private. Making someone look bad in front of other people is highly humiliating.
Customer Service: In your home country, you might be used to the customer being king, but don’t expect the same here.
7

8. Google Groups
We have Google Groups for the AIESEC
community (members, interns, alumni and
friends) in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to
communicate. Join them!
Hanoi:
http://groups.google.com/group/aiesechanoi
Ho Chi Minh City:
http://groups.google.com/group/aiesechcm
Useful Links
http://www.intercultures.ca/cil-cai/country_overview-en.asp?lvl=8&ISO=VN
Cultural information from the Canadian perspective
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/
Viet Nam News, Vietnam's news in English
http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/
The New Hanoian: resources for expats in Hanoi
http://so-saigon.xemzi.com/
So Saigon: resources for expats in Ho Chi Minh City
http://www.livinginvietnam.com/
Another Guide for Expats in Vietnam
There is a TV program on VTV4 at 10PM which talks about how to live in Vietnam. The name is Living in Vietnam.