SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

GLOBAL HEALTH (VIETNAM)


A 4-credit Global Field Engagement Program in Vietnam

AT A GLANCE

  • Global Field Engagement Program
  • Disciplinary Track: Global Health
  • Study Abroad Destination: Vietnam
  • 2026 Dates: June 6-26 (3 weeks)
  • Credit: 4 U.S. credit hours (~ 8 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
  • Eligibility: Any field and level of study

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Explore public health innovation in Vietnam
This 3-week, 4-credit Global Field Engagement program immerses students in Vietnam’s public health environment, leveraging the country’s position as a leader in cost-effective, community-driven health solutions. The course combines pre-departure e-learning with immersive fieldwork, enabling participants to engage with essential global health themes such as the burden of disease, health systems, governance, infectious disease, maternal and child health, and mental health.

Students collaborate with Vietnamese partners - including clinics, public health centers, NGOs, and university researchers - through structured site visits and community-based activities. Guided by weekly reflective colloquia and professional mentorship, students refine their understanding of global health strategies in real-world contexts. The experience culminates in a team-based community project and a comprehensive digital portfolio.
Program Highlights
  • Intensive field engagement blended with preparatory e-learning
  • Collaboration with leading Vietnamese health stakeholders
  • Site-based learning featuring diverse urban and rural health environments
  • Team-based capstone project and digital portfolio synthesis
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ACADEMICS

Program Structure
The Global Field Engagement Course in Global Health is an intensive, 4-credit program spanning three weeks plus pre-program eLearning. Students undergo a transformative learning journey, engaging with critical global issues through an interdisciplinary approach. The program is delivered in a sequence that builds from theoretical understanding to practical, hands-on experience. This progression ensures that students not only learn about global issues but also apply their knowledge in real-world settings.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
  • Analyze global health systems and public health challenges using Vietnam as a case study
  • Apply theoretical frameworks in real-world health settings through field-based inquiry
  • Collaborate with local stakeholders to co-design solutions for global health issues
  • Reflect ethically and culturally on professional practice
  • Document learning progression in a polished digital portfolio
Further Details
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YOUR DESTINATION: VIETNAM

The Asian Dragon is undergoing some of the fastest socio-economic changes any country in the world has seen. It is a major development success story with remarkable rates of economic growth since the start of massive political and economic reforms in 1986. But the lure of modern living has a deep impact on the traditional networks of family and community that continue to play a pivotal role in society.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Immersive public health fieldwork
Students gain firsthand experience in Vietnam’s healthcare contexts - through visits to urban clinics, rural health centers, NGOs, and research facilities. They analyze health service delivery in resource-challenged settings and observe community-driven health strategies in action.

Collaborative community project
Working in small teams, participants design and implement a public health intervention - such as a health education session, sanitation campaign, or needs assessment - in partnership with Vietnamese organizations, gaining practical experience and local insight.
Weekly reflection and mentorship
Weekly colloquia, guided by GEI facilitators and local health professionals, encourage students to reflect on cultural dynamics, ethical issues, and health systems challenges, building intercultural competence and situational awareness.

Cultural immersion in Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta
Based in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, students experience local life through street food sampling (pho, banh mi), navigating floating markets, language practice, and cultural experiences like making rice paper or visiting rural villages. Optional weekend excursions offer deeper exploration of sites like Cu Chi Tunnels, rural Mekong communities, or day trips to Hoi An or Phnom Penh.
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HOUSING & MEALS

The program includes 3 weeks in Vietnam. For this time, GEI Vietnam offers different housing options that students can choose from, pending availability. These include:
  • Homestays: Typically single rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • Serviced apartments: Single or shared double rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • University residence halls at our local partner universities: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities
  • Simple guesthouses: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities


Homestay host families typically provide breakfast and dinner. Students in serviced apartments, university residence halls, or guesthouses are usually responsible for all meals outside of core course meals.

You can find additional information in the following blog post: Accommodation – What to expect.

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Program Dates

Application Due Date

Fees

Summer 2026 (3 weeks): June 6-26

April 1, 2026

Summer 2026: US $3,650 (3 weeks)

At GEI, we strongly believe in equal access to academic opportunities in study abroad. In order to help eliminate financial barriers, we offer a variety of merit scholarships, trailblazer scholarships, and opportunity scholarships and grants, ranging from $500 to full tuition awards. Each year, GEI is awarding several hundred thousand dollars in scholarships. You can find further information as well as additional resources for external funding opportunities in the following blog post: Scholarships & Grants.

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STAFF

All of our staff are highly experienced and resourceful professionals.
Thuy Phan, MA
Center Director
Dang Huynh, BA
Program & Student Services Coordinator
Cuong Nguyen Thai (Nick), MA
Program & Student Services Coordinator

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