Culture, Social Change, and Development

Vietnam’s rising status as a nation of extraordinary growth and socioeconomic change is matched only by its ecological and cultural attractions, which include 11 biosphere reserves and eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. Study Vietnam’s rich history, overcoming decades of war and isolation to become one of Asia’s strongest economies through social, political, and economic transformation. Meet government officials, Vietnamese National Assembly members, and well-known professors at the Vietnamese national universities in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi Capital University. Local university students will also attend SIT lectures and can help you experience their culture. While all classes are taught in English, students can choose to learn either the Vietnamese language or Chinese language during the semester. Observe international and local NGOs such as Oxfam and Vietnam Union for Science and Technology Association (VUSTA), an umbrella organization for research and professional associations. Experience Indigenous music, arts, dress, and traditions. Visit the capital city of Hanoi, the cradle of Vietnamese civilization. Explore Hue, Vietnam’s last imperial city and home to the Forbidden Citadel and its tombs. Trek to the Phong Nha cave system and see the oldest karst mountains of Asia, formed 400 million years ago. Experience the unique landscape of Ha Long Bay, where more than 1,600 islands of different sizes are clustered around this UNESCO World Heritage site. Live with a Vietnamese host family in Ho Chi Minh City, the program’s base, and assist in a community-led service project.