Join a medical placement in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, based at a government-run teaching hospital serving the wider Quang Ninh Province. The program is designed for medical students and healthcare-related participants who want to gain firsthand insight into hospital environments and medical practice in Vietnam. Participants spend their time inside a working public hospital, observing daily routines and learning how healthcare is delivered, with department placements arranged according to background, interests, and hospital availability.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive in Vietnam, airport pick-up and transfer to Ha Long City. Settle into the accommodation and meet fellow participants.
Medical Placement – Monday to Friday: Your placement begins with a hospital orientation, covering basic protocols and your observational role. You then spend weekdays shadowing medical professionals across hospital departments in Ha Long Bay, based on your background and availability.
Weekends – Saturday to Sunday: Weekends are free to unwind or explore Ha Long Bay at your own pace. Getting around is easy, and the local team can also help suggest or arrange optional excursions.
Remaining Weeks: Remaining weeks will follow the pattern of volunteering Monday-Friday and having weekends free. Departures are on a Saturday.
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most iconic coastal regions, known for its dramatic limestone karsts rising from calm emerald waters. While the bay itself draws visitors from around the world, daily life in Ha Long City moves at a slower, more local pace, shaped by neighborhood markets, small cafés, and seaside roads.
Participants are based in Ha Long City, where public institutions serve both the city and surrounding communities across Quang Ninh Province. Living here offers a balance between everyday Vietnamese life and access to one of the country’s most striking natural landscapes. Outside hospital hours, participants often explore the waterfront, try local food spots, or simply observe daily life in a northern Vietnamese coastal city.
About the Placement
The medical placement takes place at a government teaching hospital that plays an important role in public healthcare and medical education in the region. International participants join the hospital environment as observers, gaining insight into hospital workflows, patient care processes, and departmental collaboration.
Departments & Rotations
Participants rotate through hospital departments depending on their background, experience, and hospital availability. To allow continuity and meaningful exposure, participants typically spend at least one full week per department.
Departments may include:
Learning Scope & Participation
Learning is based on observation, explanation, and guided discussion with medical professionals. Participants may also receive academic guidance as part of the internship experience.
Participants may:
Hands-on involvement:
This placement is observational by default. Limited, supervised hands-on involvement may be possible for qualified participants, subject to hospital approval, participant credentials, and local regulations. Such involvement is not guaranteed and varies by department.
Typical Weekday Schedule
Participants attend hospital placements Monday to Friday, following departmental schedules. Days usually include morning and afternoon observation periods with a longer midday break. Exact hours depend on department routines and hospital operations.
Public Holidays & Program Schedule
Hospital schedules may be affected by Vietnamese public holidays, particularly Tet (Vietnamese New Year) and other national holidays. During these periods, medical placements may operate on reduced schedules, pause temporarily, or be replaced by alternative activities or free time. Participants may also choose to travel independently during holidays. Full holiday dates, schedule adjustments, and available options will be shared with participants after confirmation.
Participants may choose to add a Culture Week to their stay in Ha Long Bay, either before or after the medical placement. This optional week offers time to explore the region, adjust to local life, and experience Vietnam beyond the hospital setting.
The Culture Week focuses on cultural orientation, food, history, and the natural surroundings of Ha Long Bay. It provides space to slow down, connect with other participants, and gain a broader understanding of everyday life in northern Vietnam.
Highlights may include:
The Culture Week is optional, booked separately, and subject to an additional fee shown in the Dates & Fees section.
