Guro explored beautiful Vietnam without taking a break from her bachelor's degree

– The first time I heard about Kulturstudier was probably when I was in high school, but at that time I didn't really delve into what it actually was.

After high school, I spent two years at a folk high school before I began my studies.

– I started a bachelor's degree in psychology in Trondheim. The second year of the bachelor's is a breadth year, meaning a year where you can study whatever you want, as long as you take 30 credits (full-time studies) per semester.

Someone I studied with had traveled with Kulturstudier to Vietnam and integrated the semester into their gap year. The prospect of being able to travel without having to take a break from my studies was very appealing.

It was primarily the country of Vietnam that tempted me more than the study itself, although that also sounded very appealing.

Kulturstudier organizes information meetings and departure gatherings in Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim. If you do not live near the major cities, you can participate in a webinar, which we organize every third Monday.

– I brought a friend with me to an information meeting with Kulturstudier in Trondheim, even though I didn't really have a plan to apply. My friend wasn't going to apply at all – she mostly came for the free pizza at the meeting, haha!

At the information meeting, they talked about Vietnamese culture, all the experiences previous students had, and showed pictures from the country.

– I also fell for the fact that Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia, which is perfect for backpacking after studies. So this was a win-win situation for me! So now it was actually decided, and both my friend (who came for the pizza) and I ended up applying for a study place!

Hoi An is a popular destination, with cozy restaurants, cafes, and bars lined up. Our manager Vinh will tell you more about what you can experience in the city here:

• Hoi An seen through local eyes

– Hoi An offers a very wide range of things to do and places to eat. My absolute favorite restaurant is Toans Restaurant, which is run by Kahn and the family!

Kahn is used to receiving students from Kulturstudier, and here we had dinner, took exams in the garden, and not least had pre-drinks before a night out (I recommend the bucket cocktail...)!

– Otherwise, I spent a lot of time at Rivia and Paddy, which are two great places for breakfast and lunch, both for sitting and chatting, but also for writing exams.

On my way to school, I often bought Banh Mi and coffee along the way, where Banh Mi Phuong became my favorite!

Many students wonder what opportunities they have to engage in activities and exercise that they are used to from home at their place of study. In Hoi An, you have many opportunities to continue with routines and hobbies that are important to you, while also taking the chance to try something new:

– Life in Vietnam might look very magical and surreal, but in reality, you will still live an ordinary everyday life, where at least I needed to maintain certain routines from home, such as exercise and alone time.

Therefore, I really appreciated finding good gyms (Healthfit gym), yoga studios (Omday Yoga, which is located with a panoramic view of the rice fields), swimming pools (Shining riverside hotel), and the like.

– My recommendation for prioritizing some alone time while still experiencing the city and culture is to hop on a bike and take a short evening ride to the beach for a swim, or just cycle on one of the endless roads through the rice fields!

Everyday life in Vietnam naturally includes activities that are not usually done in Norway, and I highly recommend trying out coffee courses, cooking classes, Memorie Island, visiting a tailor, and not least experiencing the local market!

– We spent a weekend on fieldwork in Ka Tu Village, which is a small mountain village. We went there to conduct interviews with the local population on various topics, including education, healthcare, tourism, and gender roles.

The university town of Hoi An is a city that thrives on tourism and is accustomed to receiving visitors from foreign cultures.

I really appreciated the field trip to Ka Tu, as it gave me the opportunity to meet people who normally live a life quite isolated from other cultures.

I was left with many impressions of Vietnamese people that I otherwise wouldn't have had in Hoi An.

In all the countries of study, you have a reading week in the middle of the semester that allows you to go on longer trips:

– I went to Hong Kong with five others. Even though it's not part of my experience with Vietnam, this is a trip I will always remember, along with this semester. And that says something about how much one gets to experience!

Hong Kong is far from Norway, but when you're already in Vietnam, it's just a short 'hop' away.

I highly recommend using the long weekend to explore areas a bit outside of Hoi An, whether it's inland in Vietnam or to the surrounding countries!

– During the three weeks I was writing my home exam, I also traveled to the Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam, and went on a four-day motorcycle trip in the mountains!

I have never experienced such a spectacular view as this before, and it would have been a trip I definitely would have extremely regretted not taking.

So in other words, 10 weeks in Vietnam is more than enough time to also include excursions to other areas around, both domestic and international!

• Study in Vietnam