Nursing Internships in Vietnam

Get a headstart with your nursing career by learning directly from nurses in Hanoi

Destination

Vietnam

Age

18+ y/o

Minimum Stay

1 week

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

Requirements

You should have completed at least one year of medical related studies or training

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request Info

Starting at £1,420 for 1 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Learn from qualified nurses

Gain work experience by shadowing nurses in a hospital setting, picking a specialisation that interests you and following their daily rounds.

Enhance your nursing knowledge

Take part in critical nursing operations, including preparing surgical equipment, transfering patients to operating rooms, and post-surgery care.

Attend nursing workshops

Learn from experienced nurses and other interns in medical research sessions, with regular lectures from experienced doctors on traditional medicine.

Make a stand-out CV

Enhance your CV with this international experience, gaining vital knowledge in nursing and ensuring that your school or job applications get seen.

Discover Vietnam and yourself

Explore this incredible country and its scenery, immerse in a totally new culture, and develop your skills while making friends from around the world.

What you need to know

Overview

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 we always recommend interning for as long as you can in order to see more conditions and procedures and to build stronger relationships with nurses and doctors.

Nursing Departments

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.

Activities

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 the 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.

A Day in the Life

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 & Impact

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.

Map & Location

Filled with natural beauty urban adventure, Vietnam is an incredible country bordering China, Laos, and Cambodia. Home to the world’s largest cave, the stunning Ha Long Bay, and remnants of the brutal Vietnam war, there’s so much to discover.

Vietnam’s tourism sector is growing rapidly and it is now one of the most popular Southeast Asian nations to visit. Floating markets, striking karst mountains, endless rice paddies, and imperial history are all on your doorstep — see it for yourself!

Hanoi

The capital city of Vietnam and second most populous, Hanoi, is located in the north of the country in the Red River Delta. Home to more than eight million people, Hanoi is a true blend of ancient tradition and modern influence. It has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters.

The famous old quarter dominates social media feeds, but the city is filled with incredible landmarks, including stunning lakes, museums, temples, and more. You will never run out of things to see!

Food & Accommodation

Prepare for an extraordinary adventure in Vietnam! You’ll stay with a carefully selected host family, ensuring a comfortable room, three meals a day, and safe drinking water. This is all designed to make your experience truly remarkable.

Your host family will serve you authentic local cuisine and introduce you to fascinating Vietnamese culture. We always place you with other Projects Abroad participants of a similar age and gender, and we’ll also organise daily transportation to and from your placement!

Your home will be a clean, secure, and welcoming base, perfectly situated for exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Vietnam. You’ll also find it easy to stay connected with friends and family back home, thanks to readily available internet cafes nearby.

Free Time and Leisure

Vietnam is famous for both bustling cities and picturesque countryside. From Train Street in Hanoi to emerald mountainside rice terraces, you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied no matter what kind of person you are.

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.

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.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Vietnam Arrival Procedures page.