ciee - council on international educational exchange
apply now for a ciee study abroad program

Search this site:
are you an advisor?
  
CIEE Annual Conference
Sign up for our newsletter
featured programs

Study in China
beijing - chinese language + culture

Study in France
paris - critical studies

Study in Nicaragua
managua - liberal arts

Study in the Czech Republic
prague - film studies

Study in Italy
naples - liberal arts

Study in Italy
naples - classical studies

Study in Germany
berlin - language + culture

Study in Thailand
khon kaen - community public health

Study in Australia
perth - sustainability + the environment

Is this program right for you?

The program in Vietnam is designed for students interested in developing a solid foundation in the economics, political science, and history of Vietnam and Cambodia while immersing themselves in the local communities of Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap.

Program Snapshot

  • Exploration of issues concerning post-conflict reconstruction and nation building; development, urbanization and globalization; and social/environmental issues
  • CIEE classes in English; five weeks field study in English at a Phnom Penh university; language tutoring program; volunteer and internship opportunities; choice of on-campus accommodations or homestay
  • Educational excursions throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos; reimbursement for cultural events, activities, and performances

Subject Areas

  • Art History
  • Asian Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Economics
  • History
  • International Relations
  • Khmer Language
  • Sustainability
  • Vietnamese Language

About Ho Chi Minh City

A riverine society that formed a natural meeting point between the great world civilizations of China and India, Ho Chi Minh City has for centuries been a melting pot of ethnic Chinese, Khmers, Viets, Indians, and Chams. Over the past hundred and fifty years, colonialism and the Cold War brought heavy French and American influences to the city. The result today is a bustling, multilingual metropolis where, amid modern skyscrapers and exquisite French colonial architecture, you can enjoy espresso and croissants alongside Vietnam’s famous pho noodle soup.

Where You'll Study

Vietnam National University

The Vietnam National University (VNU) is the premier higher education institution in Vietnam. CIEE classes are offered at a downtown campus of the VNU branch called the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH). USSH is within easy walking distance of many major shopping centers and cultural attractions and offers convenient on-campus student accommodations. During the last five weeks of the semester, students are based at the prestigious Paññasastra University of Cambodia (PUC), an English-speaking university located in downtown Phnom Penh.

Thoughts From Abroad

The CIEE Language and Culture program gives you the opportunity to experience two societies in the midst of sweeping transition. Vietnam and Cambodia are case studies in different models of development. Ho Chi Minh City has changed profoundly since the socialist period following the Vietnam War, with the country adopting market-oriented reforms and opening up to the rest of the world. Today, Vietnam is poised to become one of the leading Asian economies, yet its development has come with many social and environmental costs. Your five weeks in Cambodia will be an experience in sharp contrast with your studies in Vietnam. There, the perpetrators of the Khmer Rouge atrocities are finally being brought to justice, while Cambodia is still struggling to handle the shocks of rapid transformation and growth. Globalization has brought both countries the hope of new prosperity, along with new challenges for their impoverished, mostly rural populations. By studying with CIEE and immersing yourself in the cultural life of these two countries, you will learn about the challenges of rapid development in post-conflict countries, while having an unforgettable life experience.

— Brian Zottoli, Resident Director

Staff Bios

Dr. Brian Zottoli, Resident Director, completed his M.A. in Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and completed his Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan in 2009. Dr. Zottoli joined CIEE after serving as a director for another study abroad organization in Vietnam. He speaks fluent Vietnamese and has been living and working in Southeast Asia since 2000. He has worked with UNESCO in Hanoi and Bangkok, where he served as program officer for cultural heritage conservation programs, including the preservation of Vietnam’s World Heritage Sites. Dr. Zottoli is also the Resident Director for the CIEE summer program in Cambodia and frequently teaches in both programs.

Mr. Tran Ky Phuong is the Academic Coordinator of the CIEE Study Center in Ho Chi Minh City. He graduated from Van Hanh University, Saigon in 1974, and was the curator of the Museum of Champa Sculpture in Danang from 1978 through 1998. He was a Henry Luce Fellow at the Asia Society Museum in New York from 1996 through 1998, as well as a Visiting Fellow at Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore, from 2003 to 2004. Mr. Tran Ky Phuong has written numerous books and articles on the art and history of Champa.

Ms. Kim Sokny coordinates the CIEE homestay program and civic engagement projects while students are in Phnom Penh. She is currently the coordinator of the International Study Programs and secretary of the Peace and Conflicts Studies Institute at Paññasastra University of Cambodia, where she also received her B.A. in Business Administration and is currently working on an M.B.A.

Recommended Credit

semester: 15 semester/22.5 quarter hours
academic year: 30 semester/45 quarter hours

Eligibility Requirements

  • Overall GPA 2.75

Program Dates

Fall 20099/1/2009 - 12/20/2009
Academic Year 2009-109/1/2009 - 6/14/2010
Spring 20102/24/2010 - 6/14/2010

Application Deadlines

Fall 20094/1/2009
Academic Year 2009-104/1/2009
Spring 201011/1/2009

Click here to check for deadline extensions.

Duration

Fall 200917 weeks
mid-August - mid-December
Academic Year 2009-1044 weeks
mid-August - mid-June
Spring 201018 weeks
early January - late May

CIEE Costs

CIEE program fees, inclusions, and estimated additional costs, are outlined below. Please note that CIEE reserves the right to adjust its fees in the event of significant change in exchange rates or other factors beyond its control. The actual cost of the programs may vary slightly for students from different institutions.

For comprehensive fee breakdowns and estimated additional costs, click the costs below:

  • Fall 2009 $13,500
    The CIEE program fee includea an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing, orientation, cultural activities, local and regional excursions, local bus pass, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits. *Evening Meals provided for students placed in homestays.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$11,307
    Housing*$2,000
    Medical Insurance$74
    Visa$119
    Total$13,500

    The CIEE program fee includea an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing, orientation, cultural activities, local and regional excursions, local bus pass, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits. *Evening Meals provided for students placed in homestays.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Meals (guest house option)*$900
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. West Coast departure)$1,600
    Personal Expenses$1,300
    Books and Supplies$50
    Local Transportation$250
    Total$4,100

    **Students in the homestay option should budget $500 for meals per semester.


  • Academic Year 2009-10 $24,300
    The CIEE program fee includea an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing, orientation, cultural activities, local and regional excursions, local bus pass, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits. *Evening meals provided for students placed in homestays.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Housing*$4,000
    Medical Insurance$74
    Visa$119
    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$20,107
    Total$24,300

    The CIEE program fee includea an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing, orientation, cultural activities, local and regional excursions, local bus pass, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits. *Evening meals provided for students placed in homestays.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Local Transportation$500
    Meals (guest house option)**$1,800
    Books and Supplies$100
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. West Coast departure)$1,600
    Personal Expenses$2,600
    Total$6,600

    **Students in the homestay option should budget $500 for meals per semester.


  • Spring 2010 $13,750
    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing, orientation, cultural activities, local and regional excursions, local bus pass, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits. *Evening Meals provided for students placed in homestays.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$12,148
    Housing*$1,400
    Medical Insurance$74
    Visa Fees$128
    Total$13,750

    The CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing, orientation, cultural activities, local and regional excursions, local bus pass, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits. *Evening Meals provided for students placed in homestays.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Books and Supplies$75
    Local Transportation$300
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. West Coast departure)$1,450
    Personal Expenses$1,300
    Meals (Dormitory Option)**$900
    Total$4,025

    **Students in the homestay option should budget $500 for meals per semester.


Scholarship Information

For a complete list of scholarships available, please vist our Scholarships section.