At a glance
- People are still suffering from the effects of chemical warfare during the Vietnam War, so there’s high demand in this field.
- Learn directly from experienced physical therapists at rehabilitation and care centers.
- We'll teach you how to diagnose and treat the disabilities you observe.
Start Dates:
Anytime
See DatesMinimum Duration:
One Week
Ages:
18 or over
You should have completed at least two years of physiotherapy related studies or training.
Is the Physical Therapy Internship in Vietnam right for me?
Our Physical Therapy internship in Vietnam will add plenty of work experience to your resume. This is perfect if you're a student and want to gain experience in the field. It’s also useful for interviews. Talk about what you saw and learned, and the challenges you overcame. This will help give your application an extra edge.
In Vietnam, there is a large number of people who need treatment to improve their quality of life. You’ll watch as experienced physical therapists help their patients. We encourage you to ask questions and take notes to learn as much as possible.
To join, you should have completed at least two years of physical therapy related studies or training. The project runs throughout the year. You can join at any time, and must commit to a minimum of two weeks.
What do you do at your Physical Therapy placement in Vietnam?
Your role on a Physical Therapy placement in Vietnam can vary depending on where you are placed. These are some of the main activities you take part in:
- Work alongside professionals in rehabilitation centers to treat patients with disabilities
- Assist teachers with educational development at child care centers
- Work in a vocational department to teach children skills to use for income
The specific tasks you can help with during your internship include:
Work with patients at rehabilitation centers
You’ll shadow physical therapists at a rehabilitation centre for children and teenagers. The patients here have conditions like autism, down syndrome, intellectual delay, and cerebral palsy. You will work in an exercise room and a gross motor room. Here, you’ll observe how physical therapists perform massage and other passive treatments on patients. You can also help take children in wheelchairs out for walks. These activities are an excellent way to learn and gain physical therapy work experience in Vietnam.
Assist teachers with child care development
You can work at a center for children with disabilities. You’ll focus on educational games and running fine motor skills workshops. You can also help children develop skills in art and dance, or teach mathematics classes. Your input here will help support the local teachers.
Teach children vocational skills
You can run vocational training classes to teach some of the older teenagers skills like weaving, making incense, bags, paper flowers, cooking, and other craft items. These activities encourage creativity and hand-eye coordination, and the skills learned can be used in future careers to secure an income.
Where you will work on the Physical Therapy Internship in Vietnam
Hanoi
You will work in Hanoi, either at a rehabilitation center or hospital, to provide therapy to patients.
In Hanoi, you’ll navigate your way through thousands of motorcycles, Vietnam’s primary mode of transport for most people. Follow the delicious smells coming from street food vendors at nearly every corner. Enjoy lunches of spring rolls and Vietnam’s famous pho, a noodle dish with rice, broth, herbs, and chicken or beef.
A typical day on the Physical therapy Internship in Vietnam
Your schedule in Vietnam is slightly different depending on where you’re placed. Your day generally runs from about 8:00am to 4:00pm. You’ll have a lunch break from about 11:00am to 1:00pm.
At the rehabilitation center, you’ll work with a physical therapist in an exercise room or the gross motor and massage room. You’ll focus on helping with physical rehabilitation exercises, and observing physical therapists as they treat patients. You’ll spend most of your day in these spaces at the rehabilitation center.
At the care center, you’ll also work in a rehabilitation room. This room has equipment like mattresses, exercise balls, toys, a trampoline, and a parallel bar. You’ll help the physical therapist treat children. This placement also has a swimming pool used for therapy exercises.
During your free time and weekends, you can explore the city of Hanoi and surrounds. Visit ancient temples, shop till you drop at night markets, drink endless cups of Vietnamese coffee, and sing your heart out at karaoke bars. We encourage you to organize a weekend trip to the spectacular Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Aims and Impact of the Physical Therapy Internship in Vietnam
The aim of the Physical Therapy internship in Vietnam is to give you the opportunity to learn and develop your skills in physical therapy. You’ll also be able to contribute to important work being done to help people with various disabilities and improve their quality of life.
Chemical warfare used in the Vietnam War continues to affect people in Vietnam, young and old. This is because symptoms caused by Agent Orange exposure are passed down biologically. Physical therapists have a significant role to play in Vietnam, and you’ll learn a lot from them.
We have set the following goals for this project as indicated in our Medicine & Healthcare Management Plan:
- 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 specialized or alternative healthcare provided
- Improve hygiene standards
- Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
Join us as we strive to reach these goals to assist those in need, and advance your career in physical therapy.
Medical practicums
These programs are ideal for medical or healthcare science students looking for a practicum experience abroad. As a practicum student, learning comes to life as you observe doctors and participate in healthcare outreaches. You’ll get a first-hand insight into medical practices in developing countries and actively learn from professionals in the field.
Contact us so we can help organize a specific practicum placement for you.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Hanoi. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Vietnam and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your program fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Vietnam offers a mix of bustling cities and picturesque countrysides. With so many different activities and tourist sites, you’re bound to find plenty of ways to spend your free time.
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.
The countryside, with its emerald rice paddies stretching to the horizon, provides the perfect escape from the busy capital.
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.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
Meet the team in Vietnam
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