Studying and Living Abroad in Vietnam

A Worry-Free Guide

惠特尼·考克斯（Whitney Cox）的文章和照片

我偶然去了越南。我在大学的第二年，计划在荷兰在国外度过一个学期。我的学校举行了一次下一年国外计划的会议，我偶然地到达了错误的房间。照片通过的不是木制鞋子和风车，而是圆锥形的帽子和宝塔。与最近返回的学生交谈花了二十分钟，以说服我申请申请，在六个月内，我乘飞机去了越南河内。

在我离开之前，熟人向我讲述了土地矿山和枪支。有人告诉我看我的钱包，永远不要相信出租车司机。我被警告了绝望的贫困场面。我期望对战争的身体和情感影响感到不满。对于许多人来说，对越南的理解开始并以他们的战争结束，即美国从1955年至1975年参与其中。

What I found in Vietnam was nothing even close the dire warnings I had received. Instead, I found a country in the throes of economic and social development and a populace looking towards the future. And while the country is an overload of new sights, sounds and smells, this is exciting rather than frightening.

有越南的表达，không sao, which literally means "no stars," but is used colloquially to mean "no worries." I heard this phrase often when I was in Vietnam, and I only wish I had been so self-assured and worry-free before I left. With the right preparation, it’s possible to jump right into your experience abroad without any hesitation.

Vietnamese Culture

Vietnam may have a tragic history, but it is a forward-looking place and you are more likely to have conversations about pop music and iPhones than you are about war or colonialism. There was a population boom after the war, and over half of the population is under the age of 25. This generation has no memory of conflict or famines, but rather seems single-mindedly focused on progress.

这country has developed at a dizzying pace, though that’s not to say it has abandoned its traditions. Family values are strong in Vietnam, and piety is extended to relatives who have passed away. Most Vietnamese homes include an ancestor shrine, and pagodas are active with people lighting incense in the hopes of grabbing the attention of someone up above. A rich cultural heritage underlies the country’s development and will doubtlessly remain important to the Vietnamese way of life.

Boat ride to Perfume Pagoda in Vietnam.

两个城市的故事：河内和胡志明市

1965年至1967年，南越军政府总理Nguyen Cao Ky说：“在1954年日内瓦国际会议之后，越南分为两部分。从表面上讲，越南北部和南部是同时出生的双胞胎国家。”这种“双线”导致了不同的历史，这导致了一个国家内两半。

Almost anyone studying in Vietnam will find themselves in one of the country’s two main urban areas: Hanoi in the north or Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Both cities are densely populated and prosperous, but cultural differences are notable. In general, northerners are thought to be more formal and traditional, while southerners see themselves as more dynamic and progressive. Hanoi also feels more controlled, with bars being forcibly emptied by police every night, while in Ho Chi Minh City commerce seems to be king.

Why Study in Vietnam?

我的出国留学小组由一个多样化的小组专业组成，代表了从政治学到建筑的一切。越南有东西可以教每个人。

Learn what you can—as a rising power in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is a country to keep an eye on. To the United States government, Vietnam is an important trade partner and strategic political ally; to private business, Vietnam is an investment opportunity; to many more, the country is exploding as a travel destination. No matter where you intend to take your life, Vietnam is likely to show up on your radar.

Organizing Your Study Abroad Program

我的出国留学课程是通过我的大学进行的，但是如果您的学校不在越南运营计划或交流，则有很多公司这样做。询问您学校的出国留学办公室，是否有与他们合作的公司，或者在旁边的酒吧检查组织。

For students to wish to enrol in a degree program at a Vietnamese university, the Australian-ownedRMIT University在胡志明市，城市提供英语课程，并鼓励国际入学率。

Language Study

越南人并不是一种容易接受的语言。有八种音调和11种不同的元音声音，仅仅通过沉浸式学习就几乎不可能学习。如果您希望成为对话，您可能需要正式的课程to teach you how to hear the differences between sounds.

气候

越南北部和南部之间的天气不同。该国北半部被认为是“亚热带”，有四个不同的季节。冬季的温度可能会降至接近冰点（甚至在山区较冷），并且在夏季的90年代中期（35摄氏度）可能会达到高点。秋末的秋季降雨最为常见：秋天：八月至11月。

这southern half of the country has a tropical climate, and you can expect temperatures to hover around 75-85F (25-30C) throughout the year. This area is subject to heavy rains from May to October, which usually occur in short bursts in the afternoons.

What to Bring (And What to Leave at Home)

除了适合气候的衣服外，这里还有一些必不可少的旅行：

• 橡胶拖鞋（用于热带雨的理想鞋类）
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Women should pick up an extra box or two of tampons (they can be found in some stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but it’s easier just to bring your own)
• A good book (English language books are available, though the selection is limited and most are poor-quality photocopies of the originals)

虽然不要打包！这是您应该留下的一些物品：

• Expensive electronics. If you don’t absolutely need your smartphone, don’t pack it. The risk of losing it (see below) isn’t worth the fun of playing Angry Birds at the airport.
• Candy. Many people want to bring treats for the kids on the street, and while they enjoy a lollipop as much as any kid, they don’t necessarily have access to dentists. Stickers or pencils make better gifts.

Crime

An unfortunate by-product of rapid development and a steady stream of wealthy tourists is an increase in petty crime. Theft is not uncommon, and you should be wary of how you carry your valuables.

• 保留安全护照的影印本
• Leave expensive electronics like iPods and laptops at home, if possible. If you must bring them, see if your accommodation has a safe where you can keep valuables when you go out.
• 考虑一条钱皮带或另一个隐藏的袋子来携带现金。

Scam artists are also widespread. Be sure to agree on the price before accepting a ride from a cyclo or motorbike taxi driver, and that you agree on the currency (a common scheme is to agree on a price and then, after the ride, learn that your driver was expecting $20 American dollars, not 20,000 Vietnam dong).

Violent crime is very uncommon in Vietnam, but students should be wary of your surroundings just as you would anywhere.

成本

来自西方国家的汇率将非常有利，生活成本将非常低。一顿美味的晚餐通常会在6-1美元之间的价格之间，而一顿街头食品的价格仅为1美元。河内或胡志明市的摩托车出租车不会花费4美元。

由于廉价的房间和董事会，我在国外的学期实际上是我大学最便宜的学期，甚至包括来自纽约的机票。

Bargaining

Haggling over prices is a hallmark of the Vietnamese shopping experience. It may feel strange to argue with someone over what amounts to a few cents, but it is expected and you should give it a try (it’s also a good way to practice your Vietnamese!).

Not every price is negotiable though, and there is a time and a place to argue. A good rule of thumb is that if something has a price tag on it, the cost is fixed. Brick and mortar stores (as opposed to market stalls) usually have fixed prices.

工作/实习/志愿服务

要使外国人在越南工作，雇主需要能够向政府证明您的技能在当地无法提供。这确实限制了很少具有高度发达的专业技能的学生的兼职工作选择。

It may be possible to earn some extra money in a hospitality position (where fluency in English can be considered an essential skill), but the most available opportunities are for under-the-table employment as a private English tutor. The best way to find short-term, private tutoring jobs is simply to ask around—locals and expats may have some leads for you.

Some unpaid internships and volunteering work may be available, and can be arranged before you arrive. Try searching theIdealistwebsite, or contacting organizations operating in Vietnam to find them.

运输

Within the towns and cities, taxis andXE OMS（摩托车出租车）将带您去任何地方。刚开始时似乎很可怕（尤其是一旦您看一下胡志明市和河内的交通），但自行车是四处走动的好方法。

Traveling around Vietnam (and into its bordering countries) is easy and cheap. Buses and vans run to every major and minor destination in the country, and tickets are only a few dollars. Regional flights are also very affordable.

疫苗接种

In addition to routine vaccinations (such as MMR or DPT vaccines), visitors to Vietnam should be vaccinated against Typhoid, and Hepatitis A. Risk for malaria is low in Vietnam, though it does exist. If you plan on spending time in the rural areas, you should consider preventative drugs like Malarone or Larium.

如果您的课程由您的大学运行，则您的校园健康中心可能有能力为您提供这些疫苗接种。如果没有，请找到专门从事旅行医学的附近诊所。这Center for Disease Controlcan help you find a location in the United States

Visas

If you are coming to Vietnam through a study abroad program, your visa will likely be organized for you, prior to arrival. If you plan on traveling around Southeast Asia, be sure to apply for a "Multiple Entry" visa. This will allow you to come back to Vietnam after leaving.

If you are arriving independent of a program, it is possible to enter the country as a tourist and then obtain a student visa after enrolment with a school.

Whitney Coxis currently a post-graduate student at the University of Canterbury (2012). The study abroad program she describes was operated through her undergraduate institution, Hobart and William Smith Colleges (from which she graduated in 2007).