Programs > Study Abroad
Choose your Vietnam experience
The Center for Global Business Education offers two Vietnam study abroad opportunities designed for students ready to explore global business, culture, and community.
Vietnam: Culture, Society and Economy
March 26–April 2, 2027
Winter Quarter 2027 virtual class and workshops with experts, students, and business professionals from Vietnam and Washington. Meet local peers and business leaders while learning about Vietnam’s culture, society, and dynamic economy.
Program fee: $1,200. Includes round-trip flight, accommodations, ground transportation, and a significant portion of meals. Apply by December 1, 2026.
Eligible colleges: Columbia Basin College, Highline College, Lake Washington Institute of Technology, North Seattle College, Shoreline Community College, Tacoma Community College, and Wenatchee Valley College.
Follow the Supply Chain Study Abroad
September 2027
Get an up-close, practical look at supply chains, Vietnam’s economy, culture, and politics through virtual programming, visits to companies and organizations in Washington, and travel in Vietnam.
Applications open January 2027
Vietnam: Culture, Society & Economy Study Abroad
March 2027
We are launching this new study abroad program to Vietnam Winter Quarter 2027. Students from the seven participating community colleges will do a deep dive on Vietnam—its culture, society and economy. During virtual workshops, students will hear from experts on Vietnam and learn about this vibrant Asian country and economy.
Program Description
In this short-term study abroad program, students will learn about Vietnam’s culture, society and economy through virtual programming and a week-long trip to Vietnam. Students will travel to and explore Ho Chi Minh City and its environs, spending an immersive day with students at a local university, exploring the Mekong Delta, and meeting with local experts on the economy.
Topics include:
History and national identity, from dynastic eras through the wars to today
Cultural traditions, religion, and daily life
Food culture and regional diversity from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
Đổi Mới reforms and Vietnam’s rapid economic rise
Manufacturing, trade, and Vietnam’s role in the global economy
Urbanization, youth, and a changing society
Follow the Supply Chain Study Abroad
September 2027
Each year, our Center organizes a Follow the Supply Chain Study Abroad program with seven community colleges—Columbia Basin College, Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Highline College, North Seattle College, Shoreline Community College, Tacoma Community College and Wenatchee Valley College. Students from these colleges receive an up-close, practical look at how supply chains work and learn about the economy, culture and politics of Vietnam. They participate in virtual programming about supply chains and Vietnam and travel to companies and organizations in Washington state. It all culminates in a nine-day trip to Vietnam where the students tour factories and ports, meet with their Vietnamese student peers and more.
Program Description
In this short-term study abroad program, students will gain first-hand knowledge of the supply chain while exploring the country and culture of Vietnam. The rapidly developing city of Ho Chi Minh City will serve as our laboratory for an investigation of the supply chain and how the unprecedented growth in the Vietnamese economy is impacting the environment and changing the lives of working people.
Topics include:
International trade
Economic growth
Government policy
Labor markets
Social change
Applications open January 2027
Founded on Three Tenets
Having a specific academic focus
Traveling to a country with relevance to Washington state
Being affordable for community college students
About Vietnam
With its unique layout of land and location in Southeast Asia, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is currently considered to be one of the most significant geoeconomic countries in the world. Vietnam has a communist government that has been transitioning the economy since 1986 from being highly agrarian to one that is largely based on industry and market. Vietnam has a young population and is looking to diversify its economic profile. To continue its economic development to middle income level, Vietnam is working to build its infrastructure and move up the value chain. The current population is 103 million (CIA World Factbook, 2022), with an average annual income of US$3,560 (China: US$11,890; U.S.: US$70,430) (World Bank 2022) .
“
It was such an extraordinary and splendid experience!
I got to know a lot of new people since I traveled with 11 other students who have remarkably diverse backgrounds. Getting to know them was one part of the trip that made it even more memorable. We bonded together even before then since we met twice for orientations, and we also visited two companies that are based in Washington – Brooks Sports and Columbia Marketing International (CMI) orchards.
Blaine Marc Relatado
B.A.S. International Business student, North Seattle College
