Exchange Report

Pay close attention to the semester dates because it can differ from the ones at WU. When applying for a visa, start early as it can take some time depending on the embassy you're applying at.

You don't have to start looking for accomodation early, a lot of people go there having no place to stay permanently and living in hotels until they find a place. It is important that you take a look at the apartment before renting it. The best place to look for an apartment are Facebook groups. There is not really a student dorm, most students live in private apartments or Airbnbs. I lived in the 3rd district which I found perfect because it was just a short 15 minute drive away from campus but was still central, only a 20 minute walk from the city centre, full of lovely coffee shops and was generally safe.

There are multiple campuses but in general everyone has courses at campus B in district 10. There are just 2 building right next to each other and you have all your courses on the top floor. There are only a few elevators for a lot of students so make sure you get there on time. There are a lot of group works which were significantly different than what I'm used to. There is a team leader in every group and they have all the roles and dates properly assigned, often in an excel file that they always update. They use Messenger to communicate and they chat all the time.

The public transport (bus) is pretty unreliable, you never know when the bus comes. But it is only 3000 dong (10 cents) per ride so if you have time it is worth it. Everyone uses Grab bikes to get around the city which is also affordable (1-2 euro per ride) and convenient. The university didn't really organise many activities outside of school but in the city itself there are plenty of events/sport activities, so you'll never be bored.

What made my exchange special are the people. Vietnamese people are definitely the most kind and generous people I've ever met, both at the university and just around the country.