Leaving Chengdu!
Since the first day I arrived in Chengdu I have loved every moment. From my first ride on an ofo to my last. From sweating through my first hotpot to a little brow mop at my last. Chengdu has shown me a completely new way of life, laid back, relaxed, slow paced. When you think of China you think of the crazy hustle and bustle of giant cities. But it doesnât have to be like that. Chengdu despite being the biggest city Iâve ever been to is also the most relaxed.
My initial fears of relentless spice and unbearable huajiao, have ended in me wondering if Iâll ever find a comparable flavour back home. The range of delicious food that can be found here in Chengdu will be one of the things I miss the most.
Alongside getting to know this fantastic city I have also made some fantastic friends! The InternChina family welcomed me with open arms. The office environment is nothing but great fun on a daily basis with great team spirit. As well, all the interns Iâve met in my 3 months have been fantastic in both helping me get to know the city and sharing great stories and experiences together.
My internship has allowed me to pass on the great experience I had previously on my internship in 2015 with the interns Iâve met here in Chengdu. Organising great activities and some extracurricular events have helped me form truly great friendships.
The skills Iâve learnt during my internship are so varied and extensive there is no doubt that I will be able to use them later on in life. From the daily tasks Iâve completed to meetings and marketing, Iâve gained a wide range of transferable skills.
InternChina has given me a platform from which I can only excel. This has truly been an unforgettable experience that Iâm sure I will tell stories about for the rest of my life!
What an unforgettable life-changing experience? Apply now!
Transportation in Vietnam, especially in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, can be chaotic and confusing for foreigners. Many even called it an âorganised chaos!â However, you can easily find services like taxis, Uber, Grab, Easy Riders, among others.
Taxis are really cheap and you can find them everywhere. However you might find the occasional fake taxi, especially around the tourist areas, so be careful.
Did you know that there are more than 38 million motorcycles in Vietnam? That’s 18 times more than cars! That means that mopeds are make up more than 90% of the whole countryâs vehicles. The main reason why there are more motorcycles than cars is certainly because the cities are extremely compact and dense. Also, no license is necessary for motorcycles under 50cc, or electric bikes!
It is quite impressive what Vietnamese locals can balance and transport on just a motorcycle, from live animals to stacks of chairs. If you see 4 dogs and an entire family on just one motorcycle, don’t be surprised!
Uber versus Grab
Uber started operating in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in mid-2014.Â
It offers 5 types of transportation services, UberMoto, UberBlack, UberX, UberSUV and UberTOUR. Since Vietnam loves motorcycles, UberMoto it may be faster to travel with the motorbike due to traffic jams. They are also a very cheap form of transportation. UberX is a low-cost Uber, while you can also use UberTOUR for longer trips.
Prices with Uber are almost one third versus Vietnamese taxi services due to their promotion programs.
Uber not only offers transportation services, but also delivery services. Since September 2017, UberDELIVERY delivers your food from your favorite restaurant to your doorstep.
Uber is not the only company offering transportation services with an app. Grab is their main rival in Vietnam, who also started operating in 2014. It was the top-ranked ride-hailing app in 2017 in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. In this case, Grab has 3 types of transportation services, GrabTaxi which are regular taxis, GrabCar which are private vehicles and, like Uber, Grab also has a motorcycle taxi service, which is very unique to Vietnam. GrabExpress it’s their delivery service.
Bus
Taking the bus is probably the cheapest way to get around Vietnam. The bus network is very extensive and goes across the country.
Every province in Vietnam has a main bus terminal,, mainly in the big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. These are interprovincial buses. Prices always depend on where you want to go and which type of seat you choose. There are travel agencies who can help you buy a ticket in advance.
Wherever you go, I advise only to buy bus tickets of registered booths from large companies inside the bus terminals.
Experience the streets of Vietnam and Apply Now!
After a long week at work, you are probably looking for a weekend trip away from the traffic and the noise in Ho Chi Minh City. You daydream while working about a nice relaxing getaway , and you are not the only one! There are so many places around Ho Chi Minh City which you can explore.
Cat Tien National ParkÂ
At only 3 hours away from Ho Chi Minh City, you can enjoy nature and some fresh air away from the city. The National Park protects around 30% of Vietnam species and it is home to gaur, sun bears, deer, elephants, several species of monkeys, and dozens of bird species. You can explore its wonders by foot, by bicycle, jeep or kayak!
12 km away from the park headquarters you can explore the villages at the Ta Lai Longhouse, where you can find Ma, Tay Sâtieng ethnic minorities.
MĆ©i NĂ©
Mui Ne is a coastal fishing town on the southern side of Vietnam, only 200 km from HCMC, and is the perfect place for a weekend trip at the beach. The beach is very popular among kite- and windsurfers due to its strong wind conditions. But it is also equally popular for its sand dunes located about 10 km from the main resort strip.
Mui Ne is where the famous Vietnamese sauce (fish sauce) is produced. So you can visit their plants!
Ho Tram Beach
Another nearby beach is the Ho Tram Beach, situated about 125 km southeast from HCMC. Thanks to its accessible location, the beach attracts not only locals, but also tourists from all around the world. The Grand Ho Tram Hotel offers a casino and a golf course, which is also open to non-guests. You can either go camping around the beach or have a relaxing day in the hot springs.
Da Lat
Da Lat is located just about 300 km from HCMC, and is a very popular spot for the Vietnamese on the weekend. Someone said Da Lat is a mix between the French Alps and Vietnam, and if you visit you will see how well French legacy is preserved among the streets.
Mekong Delta Villages
The Mekong Delta Villages offer several travel destinations for the weekend. Can Tho, My Tho, Vinh Long, and Ben Tre are some of the villages in the Delta region. The area is famous for its maze of rives and canals with floating markets, and is also known as the “biological treasure trove”.
The region is home to cáșŁi lÆ°ÆĄng, a form of Vietnamese folk opera.
Stu’s Explorer ClubÂ
From the city jungle to the real jungle, some offer two-day long jungle trips from HCMC. These take you through the Äá»ng Nai forest, a natural landscape of Vietnam
BáșŁo Lá»c
Bao Loc is one of the cityâs most underrated weekend getaways. The temperature in Bao Loc is a little bit cooler than in HCMC. Their best-know attraction is the Dambri Falls, the highest waterfall in the province! Another attraction is the Nam Phuong Lake, where travelers love to walk around. You can also visit the BĂĄt NhĂŁ Temple.
Enjoy these weekend trips and Apply Now!
Ho Chi Minh City is also known as Saigon. It is definitely a party city with a variety of bars and clubs to choose from. Of course, Saigon parties to late, and it seems like the perfect place to spend your time is around the Pham Ngu Lao district area. Due to its popularity among foreigners, it is usually called the backpacker district, right in the heart of the city. The Pham Ngu Lao area is made up of two parallel streets, the Bui Vien Street and the Pham Ngu Lao street. In between, there are small alleys connecting them.
The streets are full of light and people. Small shops tend to set up tables and chairs on the street and offer drinks. Pham Ngu Lao is where the expats and the locals come together to eat and drink. The most popular places to go around the area are the Go2 Bar, Allez Boo Bar, Crazy Buffalo Bar and The View Rooftop Bar at Duc Vuong Hotel Saigon, where, rumor has it, you can find beer for US$1!
Because they are the perfect place to enjoy the sunset, rooftops bars are really a thing in Saigon. Enjoy the sunsets in one of the most exclusive rooftop bars in HCMC, Chill Skybar on the 26th floor of the AB Tower. If you can afford it and if you can get past the strict door policy, it is the place for a classy drink or a date. Glow Skybar and MGallery are favourite among expats and tourists.
In case what you are looking for is to dance all night long, then Lush is your place. It is probably the most famous nightclub in the city, especially among foreigners. Ladiesâ Night is every Tuesday!
Live Music
Saigon has something for everyone. In some places in the city you can find good coffee shops with live music. Whether you are into rock or jazz or anything in between, you can go to Abracadabra CafĂ©, House 7 CafĂ©, Yen CafĂ©, CĂșcuta CafĂ©, and others.
Quiet Nights in Saigon
If all of this sounds like too much for you, there are some quiet activities you can do. Good for a quiet night out, the Bonsai Dinner Cruise takes you to a journey down the Saigon River with live jazz music and traditional Vietnamese dance. Or enjoy a play, opera or even ballet shows at the Saigon Opera House.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street is the place you wouldnât want to miss. It is the perfect place for a night walk through the city. The visitors, the performers and the local shops create an upbeat atmosphere.
People say âSaigon never sleepsâ. Well…thereâs only one way to find out. Explore Saigon with us and Apply Now!
Here we are! You have secured a great internship with InternVietnam and you are now impatiently waiting to go. But of course you might be anxious about some things, and one of them is- what should I pack for my Vietnam trip?
Hopefully this blog will answer your questions and you will have nothing to worry anymore as you can prepare your check list to ensure you don’t forget anything!
Recommended items
- Laptop or tablet : It is essential that you bring your laptop, as you will need this for your internship!
- Power adapter: Â Vietnamese plug sockets fit two plug types: 220V flat 2 or 3 pin plug, which is the same across much of Asia.
In Vietnam, the following plugs are used :- Pharmaceutical products:Â Sun cream, insect repellent (Although malaria is rare and seldom found in most areas of Vietnam, Dengue fever can pose quite a problem), Tiger Balm or Cortisone Cream (if you do happen to get bitten by mosquitoes, tiger balm or cortisone cream can prevent the bites from getting infected.) Vitamins and preferred medicines. If you have prescription medicines, then be sure to bring a copy of the prescription with you.
- Clothes:Â Work attire is mainly casual wear due to the warm climate. However, it is necessary to bring at least a shirt, trousers and tie for more formal events in your internship. Clothes are relatively cheap in Vietnam so it is not necessary to bring clothes to last your entire stay, if you want to buy some while you are there!
- Swimwear: This is different in Vietnam than in the West (men wear tight swimwear and women are well covered up) so you may wish to bring your own. For those with a large shoe size, it is advisable to bring shoes for the duration as it may not be as simple to find your size as back home.
Specific Advice
- Bring a light-weight, waterproof jacket. During the monsoon season, it is wise to bring a light jacket to protect you from the rain that can come and go in a flash.
- If you would like to have access to pagodas and temples, modest below-the-knee clothing is a must. Chose below-the-knee Skirts or trousers. Despite the heat, local men and women dress quite conservatively, and you should be expected to do the same by covering your shoulders and legs, especially when visiting sacred places and government buildings.
- Flip Flops. Alongside practical footwear, bring along a pair of flip-flops â or even better, purchase some once youâre there. Not only will these be easy to take off when visiting temples, certain bars and restaurants, but they will also allow your feet to breathe in the hot and humid weather.
Monsoon in Vietnam
We hope this blog has been useful for your pre-arrival packing mission!
Want to discover more about Ho Chi Minh City for yourself? Then apply now!Â
What’s in the InternVietnam Welcome Pack?
If you are reading this you are probably very curious about what kind of treasures are included in our not-so-secret welcome pack! Hopefully for you, this is the right blog.
Below is a list of the essentials we provide when you arrive in amazing Ho Chi Minh City! This list is of course not exhaustive, and your welcome pack may vary, but these essentials will always be provided!
- InternVietnam T-Shirt
- Ho Chi Minh City Guide
- Vietnamese Sim Card
- Some snacks
- Basic Vietnamese phrases
Welcome package InternVietnamWith all of these elements, you’ll be feeling confident and ready for your new internship adventure in Vietnam! You will quickly be living like a local and living the dream.
We hope your internship will bring you success and you will make many unforgettable memories during your time in Ho Chi Minh City!
If you are ready for an adventure in Vietnam, please click here!
It’s now time for me to leave the InternChina team after a 6 month internship in the Qingdao office. It seemed like thanking the team for the amazing time I had will be a nice topic for my “goodbye blog”. However I’ll try to show you that you should definitely consider doing your internship there as well!
First of all, are you passionate about China and want to learn more about how to do business there? Also, the internship of your dreams is one where you’ll have plenty of responsibilities and support? Finally, are you ready to learn more about yourself and your abilities? Well, if yes you should definitely keep reading! But first, enjoy a few pictures of the Qingdao team!
Business in China
When I first arrived in the InternChina team I was asked to choose what I wanted to focus on during my internship. As I wanted to learn more about business and marketing I became a Business Development and Marketing Intern. Indeed. as part of our job here we need to find new partner companies who are seeking foreign interns. First of all, you’ll need to learn and understand to concept of face and guanxi. Then you definitely will always address companies as you should in China. As a result I was even able to assist a meeting with a company all in Chinese and understand it! Thanks to my 8 years of Chinese studies I could understand the language and process of a meeting with a Chinese partner company. Also, it’s definitely a nice way to develop your own network and make connections for the future.
Funny thing about talking to companies here in China: you use WeChat! Emojis and video calls are both easy ways to communicate, and are the keys to a successful and professional relationship! Business in China is full of surprises! Regarding the marketing part of my internship our aim was to promote our services. For example I add to posts on social medias about our activities and internship offers. I even wrote an article about it, check it out! I discovered that Photoshop wasn’t that hard to use and that we could do amazing things with it!
Responsibilities and Support from the InternChina Team
Being a little too shy to use my Chinese and actually go meet companies, I reconsidered my position and wanted to look into another aspect of the company, the one that we call “booking”. It’s basically the process between InternChina and a student who wants to find an internship in China and uses our services to do it. As I am French, I was dealing with French students. They were all dreaming of coming to China and from step 1 to the final details, I helped more than 10 students in a few weeks. By talking to future interns and helping them find the suitable company and internship for them you really feel so useful and talented when you finally succeed! As part of the Qingdao office you’ll be rewarded with a delicious Tsingtao beer!
During the whole process I was never alone. One thing you should know about InternChina when you join the team, is that you’re joining a big family. We are all connected to each other via Skype even if we are all located in different countries. One of the most important part of our services is to offer support to our participants, well within InternChina you couldn’t find a more supportive team. Even if I was probably annoying at some point – by asking too much – I was always given an answer to my questions and never felt left alone. Let’s meet some of them now!
Learn about yourself
Keep in mind that doing an internship with InternChina is the opportunity of developing the skills you wish for. By that I mean that the diversity of tasks you’ll be given will depends on your own abilities and most of all interests! That’s also a way to push yourself into tasks you wouldn’t imagine to be able to do. I didn’t believe 6 months ago that I would be able to understand and take part in a Chinese meeting. Or to enjoy watching the statistics on our Facebook page and try to find ways improving them! I really enjoyed working in the office – and if you’re not an office person well be aware that you’ll have plenty of occasion to work outside the office as well.
You’ll work within an international team, and that’s one of the best way to learn about communication and culture. With the Chinese staff members I was able to learn more about Chinese culture and develop my interest of it. With my British colleagues I learned a lot of new expressions thanks to our weekly “Quiz” – have you ever heard of Hobnobs before? As between offices we are all using Skype to communicate I developed some communication skills that I didn’t know I had before. Moreover you will also learn how to be more organized and how to prioritize your work – that’s super helpful and not only for your time at InternChina! Let me introduce you to the team you’ll have the opportunity to work with:
Even if the fact to answer the question “what’s your internship like” by saying “my internship is basically to help people find internships” is awesome – doing it is even better! Interested of doing that awesome internship, or come to China with our programmes, apply now !
ć€§ćź¶ć„œïŒ Hello everyone, my name is Subin and I am from South Korea. Iâve begun my internship at the fabulous InternChina Chengdu office and I would like to share my story with you!
Having an ambitious and brave mom, I had to travel with her around the world, experience the cultural differences and learn different languages since I was a kid. I left my home country when I was 10.
Among the countries I have visited, China was the country I missed the most. The fantastic landscape, the delicious food and beautiful memories I had with my local friends brought me back to China.
The China in my memory and the China that I am living in now
I was pleasantly surprised by the changes in China: it has developed so fast in the few years Iâve been away! The life here has become so much easier with applications like Wechat and Zhifubao (Mobile Payment App). But the food is still extremely delicious and the local people are as welcoming as before.
Taobao is the best invention ever. We can buy everything on this application at the most unbelievable prices. If you come to China, try to not get addicted to it, because I already am!
Turning Point
The decision to come back to China was a turning point for me: from the timid daughter who followed and listened to her mom to the grown-up who makes decision by her own and is responsible for them. Therefore, nowadays my life is full of adventures and I love it!
If you want to begin a new adventure like me, why donât you have a fresh start with us InternChina? Apply now!Â
So youâve got your ticket booked, internship confirmed. But what can you expect when you step off the plane and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City?
No doubt the first thing that will hit you when you arrive is the heat. Summer is here all year round in Ho Chi Minh! With lows of 21 in the winter and highs of 35 in the summer, you wonât need any thermal clothing!
Upon entering the arrivals lounge youâll be greeted by one of our team members. They will stand out as they will be holding a sign with your name on it, and will have an InternVietnam tshirt on! From here, you will be taken by taxi to your accommodation.
After you arrive at your accommodation and drop your stuff off you will be taken to sort out your new SIM card. This will help you to settle in by setting you up with a mobile so you can use Internet whilst out and about and make texts and calls.
Now youâre all set up to get out there and have fun!
One of the first things youâll want to do is try some of the delicious food. Whether itâs Banh Mi, Pho or something else youâll be sure to love it. Youâll be able to find a variety of different restaurants within a short distance of your apartment with a great selection on offer.
After youâve settled in, on Monday, when you start internship youâll be invited to the InternVietnam office where youâll meet our branch manager. They will give you an orientation on some useful things to know whilst in Vietnam.
Following your orientation, youâll go for lunch with the team from the office, who will no doubt show you one of their favourite spots to dine at. Itâs a good chance to get to know a little more about the InternVietnam team, and Iâm sure theyâll have plenty of questions for you as well!
In the afternoon youâll then be whisked off to your company by a member of the InternVietnam team. They will introduce you to your colleagues, and there will then be a short meeting getting to know what tasks youâll be undertaking and any questions you may have for them.
Inspired to try it out for yourself? APPLY NOW!
In Chengdu this weekend we took a short trip out the city to explore Qing Cheng Shan. This mountain has 2 different area’s. The front mountain, a more touristy location and the back mountain, for serious hikers! We headed for the back mountain!
After arriving on the train we took a short bus ride to the start of the trail for the back mountain. Upon entering the back mountain area you immediately enter Tai’an Ancient Town. This area is full of old-style buildings serving tea, meals and snacks. The contrast between the old style buildings and bright neon lights was quite a spectacle.
Ascent
We then crossed a river on a very wobbly bridge and started our ascent. The climb is not for the weak with thousands upon thousands of stairs leading the way to the top of the mountain. The scenery is stunning with waterfalls and rainforest like jungle surrounding the pathway. After about 2 hours of climbing, we reached an impassable lake. Luckily there was a boat to take us across. In similar fashion to a Venetian gondola, we were punted across the water to carry on our climb.
After a further two hours of climbing, we reached the top and the White Cloud Shrine. At the shrine were Buddhist monks offering to engrave your name on a medal to commemorate your ascent. As well as many people burning incense and offerings. We spent an hour here relaxing and enjoying our lunch.
Descent
It was at this point we planned our route back down. We looked at the map and chose the red route. Little did we know that red meant treachery and difficulty. This way down was a test. Steep steps. Wobbly wooden planks. A challenge. Our descent was nervy and exhilarating.
After we reached the end of the red path we headed into a jungle-like valley with beautiful waterfalls and scenery. This area featured planked walkways hanging onto the sides of the valley. This area was truly beautiful. The constant sound of waterfalls and the overhanging shrubbery created a peaceful atmosphere.
Upon our return to Tai’an Ancient Town, we enjoyed some tea by the river and a game of cards. Before we knew it it was time to return to the hustle and bustle of Chengdu.
Inspired? Apply Now!