Semester abroad in Ho Chi Minh City
- 02.02.2023
- International
Erik Stuckenberger, a student at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, on his exploration of Vietnam. Ha Long Bay has been the absolute highlight of his stay abroad so far.
A semester abroad in Vietnam – this was Erik Stuckenberger's deliberate choice – the student wanted to gain experience outside Europe. Erik is studying International Business & Management and will soon be graduating with a bachelor's degree.
Erik Stuckenberger began his bachelor's program in International Business Studies at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol in the fall of 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. He deliberately chose a country he had never been to for his semester abroad – and it had to be outside Europe. As a nature lover, he was also inspired by Vietnam's breathtaking vegetation.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR STAY
Just living in Ho Chi Minh City itself is a real highlight for Erik: “The former Saigon is a very lively city that has a lot to offer. It's also a great base from which to explore Southeast Asia,” says the student. A trip to Ha Long Bay was the highlight of his stay so far. Ha Long Bay in north-eastern Vietnam is famous for its emerald-green water and the limestone islands rising thousands of meters high, covered by rainforest. “The nature is unique and this place is rightly one of Vietnam's landmarks,” summarizes Erik Stuckenberger.
LIFE AT THE PARTNER UNIVERSITY
Erik is studying at the University of Economics (UEH) in Ho Chi Minh City, right in the heart of the capital. The higher education institution has no campus of its own, being based in a high-rise building. The individual courses that the economics student attends always take about three hours, so the day starts either at 8 a.m. or 11 a.m. During the breaks, he goes to one of the many nearby restaurants: the choice of cuisine is Vietnamese, Korean or Western. As a business school for economics, the subjects taught focus on the economy of Asia. On a personal level, you learn a lot about inner peace, says the student: “The Vietnamese way of life is characterized by a high degree of serenity. However, openness towards foreigners is greater in Europe,” Erik suspects based on his experience so far.
SUPPORT & LIVING IN SAIGON
The students experience the support situation as excellent: “The support from the FH Kufstein Tirol is excellent. Mr. Kurt Hoffmann, the supervisor of our degree program and the team from the International Relations Office take care of any problem immediately.” The distance to Kufstein is not an issue. “The support from the partner university is mostly good, although it takes a few days to get an answer to questions,” says the student.
Erik Stuckenberger is also satisfied with his living situation: “I live with two other exchange students in an apartment in an outer district that is a bit quieter than the city center. Thanks to many Facebook groups, finding accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City is easy,” describes the student.
CHOICE NOT REPENTED
The business student still feels that his semester abroad and choice of country were the right decision: “I would definitely recommend Vietnam, especially Ho Chi Minh City, as a country for an exchange, because you can immerse yourself in a different culture that you would never experience as a tourist. I would also recommend the UEH as a partner university,” he sums up. As a tip for students following in his footsteps, Erik adds: ”You should just be open to countries that you hadn't considered before, so you'll have less stress when it comes to choosing and ranking. With the right people, you can experience anything, anywhere.”