Internship Opportunities

The Embassy receives many requests for information regarding internship opportunities in Vietnam. If you are interested in working in Vietnam, the following are some programs that exist, which you might find of interest. We encourage you to contact the organizations directly:

Please check out these tips for finding an opportunity.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

Service Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES)
As part of Service Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES), funding is provided for organisations and agencies that develop international youth internships for Canadian youth. Several programmes are offered, including some in which the prospective intern can directly approach a potential employer to inquire about setting up an internship. Canadian departmental youth programmes partly funded by YES include the DFAIT and Environment Canada programmes, among others. Prospective interns must ensure that they qualify for these internships based upon the specified YES criteria.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada/YMCA

Federal Public Sector Youth Internship Programme
Young, out of school and unemployed/underemployed Canadians can obtain work experience with the federal government. Aside from listed opportunities, Canadian youth can also directly approach a prospective Department regarding creating an internship. Be creative and create your own internship at a Canadian mission in Viet Nam through the available funding from this programme. In the past, DFAIT has developed Public Sector internships at Canadian missions in Europe, the USA, South and Central America and Asia. Special attention should be paid to the posted eligibility requirements.

Public Service Commission of Canada

Federal Student Work Experience Programme (FSWEP)
FSWEP is similar to other youth internship programmes though the Canadian government, except FSWEP is specifically geared towards current secondary- and post-secondary school students. The Public Service Commission will match suitable candidates with the requesting federal department. Prospective students may wish to consider approaching DFAIT and/or CIDA early to inquire about creating FSWEP-funded openings in Vietnam .

Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada (AUCC)

International Internships
The AUCC coordinates internships with universities and colleges in Canada and national and international organisations in Asia. The AUCC website is also a valuable resource for information on other international work, study and exchange programmes around the world.

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

International Youth Internship Programme
This is an employment programme for young Canadian professionals that offers post-secondary graduates the opportunity to gain international development work experience. CIDA's strategy aims to make young people aware of globalization and to make a contribution to international cooperation. The vast majority of the funded internships are not directly offered through CIDA but through partner organisations listed on the website, including many listed on this page. Interns are encouraged to approach prospective employers in Vietnam regarding establishing a CIDA-funded internship, as many organisations/agencies will not be familiar with this programme but may be willing to take on a CIDA-funded intern.

Environment Canada

International Environmental Youth Corp (IEYC)
The IEYC is designed to provide international internship opportunities for young Canadians in the environmental sector. The programme aims to foster long-term employability; strengthen and expand Canadian environmental concerns with management and trade issues; and engage Canadian youth in assisting other countries to deal effectively with the environment.

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

International Youth Internship Programme
The DFAIT Internship Programme offers young Canadians international work experience relating to trade and economic development. As with the CIDA programme, DFAIT self-funds very few internships at its overseas missions. Instead, it provides funding to partner organisations that have been approved and selected as a DFAIT funding partner. As with the CIDA programme, prospective interns should approach potential employers in Vietnam to inquire about establishing a DFAIT-funded internship. Initial contact with potential employers should ideally be made 6 to 12 months in advance of the proposed start date.

United Nations Volunteer Programme

UNV
The UNV programme encompasses various different other programs, including the International UN Volunteers (IUNV), National UN Volunteers (NUV), UNISTAR and TOKTEN. Typically, all of these programmes require at least five years of work experience. Please see the website for further information on the various programmes.

United Nations Development Programme

Job Links
The TOKTEN programme is typically for overseas Vietnamese professionals with at least five years of work experience. TOKTEN consultants will be expected to serve a contract term from 6 months to 2 years, depending upon the post. A modest stipend will be provided to cover basic living and operating expenses. Prospective consultants submit an application form directly to the Vietnam UNDP office in Hanoi. If a suitable match is made with a requesting organisation/agency in Vietnam, the consultant will be notified.

United Nations High Commission for Refugees

UNHCR
The UN Refugee Agency may offer international internships, at the discretion of the local office. Prospective interns should directly approach the UNHCR office in Hanoi.

United Nations Children's Fund

UNICEF
UNICEF has a separate internship programme from the general UN internship programme. Prospective interns should directly contact the local Hanoi office to inquire about potential internships in Vietnam. Please see the website for additional information.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

UNESCO
UNESCO has a separate internship programme from the general UN internship programme. Prospective interns should directly contact the local Hanoi office to inquire about potential internships in Vietnam. Please see the website for additional information.

World University Service of Canada (WUSC)

Youth Internships and Special Projects
The WUSC programme offers youth internships in developing regions around the world. As well, in the past, WUSC has been a partner organisation with CIDA in offering the Young Canadian Volunteers in Vietnam Project (YCVVP). The purpose of this project was to assist various Vietnamese ministries and institutions in their English and French language training needs and also to promote Canadian culture to teachers and students in Vietnam.

Canadian Society for International Health

International Health/IT Internship Programme
Offers youth internships in developing regions around the world, primarily in the public health sector. Also participates in the NetCorps internship programme; this component offers health-related Information Technology internships.

International Institutes for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Young Canadian Leaders for a Sustainable Future (YCLSF)
The IISD operates the YCLSF internship programme for young Canadians. All YCLSF internships have a focus on sustainable development in developing regions. In the past, internships have been offered through inter-governmental institutions and non-governmental organisations in Vietnam, including recently an environmental economics internship with the World Conservation Union office in Hanoi.

Industry Canada/HRDC

NetCorps
Provides primarily international information technology-related internships for Canadian youth in all regions of the world. On-going recruitment and selection. Check often for the latest updates, particularly in the Top Priority internships section of the NetCorps website. Affiliated with nine separate organisations offering youth internships.

Alternatives Action

Alternatives Youth Internships
Alternatives bills itself as offering "a series of exciting and innovative internships for young people interested in community organisations, international solidarity, and building links with the developing world." Alternatives is one of the partner organisations affiliated with the NetCorps programme. Two types of internships are offered: 1) Alternative Media (background in journalism/communication) and 2) Surfin' the World (background in communication technology).

Canadian Crossroads International (CCI)

CCI
This organization places specially skilled Canadian youth between the ages of 18 and 30 in developing countries for four to six months to work on community projects in health, education and community development. The program includes five weeks of intensive community work on their return to Canada. CCI is a NetCorps internship programme partner.

CUSO

CUSO
CUSO works with overseas local, non-government groups by offering direct people-to-people support, funding and training. CUSO sends volunteer Canadian workers to all regions around the world, depending upon particular regional needs and supply of labour.

Human Rights Internet (HRI)

HRI
HRI is an Ottawa-based organisation that uses technology in promoting international human rights and social justice. A partner in the NetCorps programme, IT-related internships are offered with international organisations active in the human rights and social justice fields.

Oxfam Quebec

Youth Action/NetCorps
Oxfam Quebec is part of the Oxfam International organisation that is active in promoting the rights of individuals around the world. Oxfam Quebec offers two types of internships to Canadian youth. The NetCorps internship is similar to the other information technology-related internships offered through the NetCorps programme, and Oxfam also offers a programme called Youth Action. Please see the website for further information

VSO Canada

Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO)
VSO Canada is part of the VSO international network, which promotes itself as the world's largest independent international development volunteer sending organisation. As well as recruiting and sending volunteers, VSO Canada is also a partner organisation in the NetCorps programme. As with the other NetCorps partners, youth interns can pursue information technology-related opportunities in developing regions.

Canada World Youth

Canada World Youth
Offers and participates in various international exchange and internship programmes, including the Youth Exchange Program, the NetCorps internship programme and other customized/joint group programmes.

Canadian Council for International Cooperation

CCIC
The CCIC is a coordinating agency for approximately 100 non-governmental organisations in Canada. Though the CCIC does not directly send interns overseas, the CCIC website is a good resource to begin the search for an international internship. Also, the website has a section for current employment opportunities in international development.

Canadian Centre of International Studies and Cooperation (CECI)

International Youth Internship Programme (IYI)
The CECI is a Montreal-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated towards fighting poverty and exclusion in the developing world. Aside from offering an extensive resource centre, the CECI also offers an international youth internship programme. Recruitment typically starts in the winter/spring.

Canadian Centre of International Studies and Cooperation

CARE Canada
CARE Canada is a non-governmental, non-sectarian, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping the poor in developing regions and providing relief to victims of natural disasters and violent conflicts. CARE provides international youth internships in development programming through both CIDA and DFAIT.

Doctors Without Borders Canada

Doctors Without Borders Canada (MSF Canada)
Doctors Without Borders Canada is part of the international Medecins Sans Frontieres network. Though international internships are not offered, the organisation does actively recruit individuals with the required experience and skills in a range of health-related professions for international volunteer postings.

World Bank

World Bank Internship Programme
The World Bank Group is an international institution dedicated towards reducing poverty and contributing to global sustainable development. Though the Bank offers an internship programme, most of the placements will be at the Washington D.C. headquarters. Individuals interested in working for the World Bank in Vietnam should consider directly approaching the local office in Hanoi to inquire about establishing an ad-hoc internship.

International Monetary Fund

IMF
The IMF offers economic aid and developmental assistance to developing regions around the world. Prospective interns should directly approach the Hanoi-based representative office to inquire about the possibility of establishing an ad-hoc internship.

World Wildlife Fund

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
The WWF is an international institution dedicated to global conservation. Though internship opportunities are not advertised, they may be available through the local offices, including the Viet Nam office in Hanoi.

World Trade Organisation

World Trade Organisation
The World Trade Organisation is an international institution facilitating greater and more liberalized global trade. The Organisation only offers a limited internship programme for highly qualified post-graduate university students at its headquarters in Geneva. With Vietnam pushing for accelerated accession into the WTO, there may be the potential for openings with the WTO local/regional office. Prospective interns should directly approach the representative office in Hanoi.

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
The Asia Pacific Foundation does not offer international internships but is an excellent resource for those seeking out internship opportunities in the Asia Pacific region. In addition, for those with an academic background in studies relating to Asia Pacific, the Foundation offers term-based Research Analyst positions, both for the summer as well as for the fall/winter.

Ford Foundation

Ford Foundation Vietnam
The Ford Foundation is a private, independent, non-profit, non-political philanthropic organization with a mandate to be a "resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide." Though the Foundation does not offer international internships, the Hanoi-based office could be an excellent resource for those researching potential development-based internship opportunities in Vietnam.