At a glance
- Join our Nursing internship in Vietnam and gain work experience. Learning directly from nurses, you’ll work at a hospital and shadow nurses in a department of your choice.
- Broaden your medical knowledge and add value to your CV. You’ll be taught about traditional medicine and learn how to diagnose and treat the illnesses you see.
- In Vietnam, you will live and work in Hanoi, the capital city. Immerse yourself in the culture, eat as much delicious pho noodles as you want, and socialise with other interns.
Start Dates:
Completely flexible dates
See DatesMinimum Duration:
One Week
Age:
16 or over
You should have completed at least one year of medical related studies or training.
Is the Nursing internship in Vietnam right for me?
A nursing placement in Vietnam is perfect for anyone interested in a nursing career, and students looking for work experience. It will give your CV an extra edge, and give you interesting points to talk about in interviews.
You can also use your internship to explore different departments and specialisations. This will give you an idea of what direction you want to take after qualifying. It will also help you become more comfortable in a clinical environment. When you apply, let us know in which department your interests lie, and we'll organise the details.
This internship gives you plenty of opportunities to expand your medical knowledge and do practical outreach work. We encourage you to make the most of it and ask questions and take notes. Doctors and nurses will be happy to share once they see your enthusiasm for learning!
To join this internship, you need to have completed at least one year of pre-medical or other medical related studies.
You can join at any time of year, and must intern for a minimum of two weeks. We always recommend interning for longer periods. This allows you to see more conditions and procedures and to build stronger relationships with nurses and doctors.
What do you do on the Nursing internship in Vietnam?
Your main role on the Nursing internship in Vietnam is to observe. These will be some of your main activities:
- Shadow nurses on their daily rounds through many departments in the hospital
- Help hospital staff prepare equipment and theatres for surgical procedures
- Transfer patients to operating rooms and play a part in the surgical process
- Observe and care for patients after surgery, assisting nurses where you can
- Attend and present at medical research sessions and workshops
The focus of your work during this internship will be observational. Your work can include these main activities:
Shadow professional nurses while they conduct their daily rounds in the hospital
Most of your work is observational. You will watch and learn as nurses and doctors do their work. This internship is an opportunity to expand your medical knowledge by watching experienced professionals in action.
Help hospital staff prepare equipment for surgical procedures
Some of our placements in Vietnam have a large focus on surgery. You can learn how to prepare equipment for different types of surgery, and assist nurses under supervision when permitted.
Transfer patients to operating rooms to play a part in the surgical process
Another practical way to get involved is by helping nurses transfer patients to and from operating rooms. This is a great way to interact with patients, and observe hospital procedures.
Observe and care for patients after surgery, assisting nurses where you can
The treatment of patients after surgery is often crucial to their recovery process. You’ll learn about the intricacies of caring for recovering patients, and help nurses with this if requested.
Attend medical research sessions and workshops
Once a week, you can share your hospital experiences at a research session. You’ll be given a platform to present to other interns and staff, and listen to their stories as well. We also organise monthly medical workshops with lectures by experienced local doctors. They often share their knowledge of traditional medicine at these workshops.
Types of Nursing placements available in Vietnam
This internship gives you the opportunity to spend time in many different departments. You’ll get to explore the many specialisations of the hospital where you are placed, or choose to focus on one or two specific departments.
Depending on where you are placed, the types of departments you can work in include:
- General surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic surgery
- Spinal surgery
- Plastic surgery
- Cardiovascular surgery
- Digestive surgery
- Hepato-biliary surgery
- Traditional medicine
- Paediatrics
You can let us know which departments you would like to explore, and we will place you at the hospital which best suits your interests.
Where you work on the Nursing internship in Vietnam
Hanoi
Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital, and the second largest city in the country. 7.5 million people call it home.
By working at a hospital in Hanoi, you will get to experience how healthcare is practiced in a developing country. You’ll find that facilities will be of a similar standard to hospitals in developed countries.
Navigate your way through thousands of motorcycles - Vietnam’s primary mode of transport for the majority of citizens, and follow the delicious smells coming from street food vendors at nearly every corner. Enjoy lunches of spring rolls and Vietnam’s famous pho - a noodle dish with rice, broth, herbs, and chicken or beef.
Typical day on the Nursing internship in Vietnam
Your internship runs from Monday to Friday. Work hours vary depending on where you are placed.
You’ll begin every morning at about 8am. You will follow nurses while they do their rounds and assist with tasks only if permitted. All your work will be done under supervision. You could also help care for patients after surgery.
Lunch breaks will take place from around 11am to 2pm, after which you will return to work for your afternoon session from 2:00pm to 4:30pm. Mornings are generally busier than afternoons, as most patients are treated in the morning. Be prepared to have a busy start to each day.
Once a month, we organise medical workshops at our office to give you the opportunity to learn from traditional doctors, guest speakers, and other medical professionals. We also run medical research sessions. During these sessions, you’ll prepare presentations based on your experiences, train for outreach events, and create handouts for the local community.
Your weekends will be free for you to explore and discover the exciting Vietnamese culture. You can visit spectacular landmark attractions like Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site within easy travelling distance from Hanoi. You can also choose to visit ancient temples, shop till you drop at night markets, and drink endless cups of Vietnamese coffee.
Aims and impact of the Nursing internship in Vietnam
The aim of the Nursing internship in Vietnam is to give you the opportunity to learn through observation and get work experience.
You will also become part of our efforts to help provide basic healthcare services in disadvantaged communities. 80% of the population of Vietnam still lives in rural, agricultural areas. In these areas, access to healthcare services are limited. Our community outreach programme is helping provide these services. We’re also working to raise awareness of diseases.
We have set the following goals for this project:
- Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge
- Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients
- Improve the quality of specialised or alternative healthcare provided
- Improve hygiene standards
- Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
Join us on this internship to help us achieve these goals, as you gain invaluable nursing work experience in Vietnam.
Medical electives for students
This project is also perfect for university medical and healthcare elective students. The real-world insight and knowledge you gain will help shape you as a future medical professional. You will also learn to work with different people and get a broader perspective of global healthcare systems and issues. This benefits your career for years to come. We can organise a placement that meets all of your university's requirements.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay in shared accommodation with other Projects Abroad volunteers and interns while in Vietnam. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers and interns, share experiences, and explore your surroundings in your free time together.
The accommodation is safe, clean, and comfortable. Your programme fees include three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Vietnam offers a mix of bustling cities and picturesque countrysides. With so many different activities and tourist sites, you’re bound to find plenty of ways to spend your free time.
For a glimpse into the country’s history, you can spend an afternoon exploring the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or the National Museum of Vietnamese History. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is also a major historic site, located in Hanoi.
If you’re looking to buy some souvenirs, there are many markets with locally made products on sale. Evenings in Hanoi are filled with excitement and bright, colourful lights. You can watch street performers and then head to a nearby restaurant for a taste of local cuisine.
The countryside, with its emerald rice paddies stretching to the horizon, provides the perfect escape from the busy capital.
We run many different projects in Vietnam, so there will likely be other volunteers in-country with you. This makes travelling as a group easy to arrange. However, you’re welcome to explore independently if you prefer.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
Meet the team in Vietnam
Not quite what you’re looking for?
Take a look at the following pages where you'll find collections of similar projects:
Enquire Now
Our accreditations
