February 1, 2026; $75 Application fee is non-refundable.
May 21 - June 4, 2026
This Study Abroad Program in Vietnam will provide students a serious and engaged academic learning experience on Vietnam’s history, politics, economy, culture, and society. It will be a field trip built into POLS2200: Introduction to Comparative Politics offered at UVU to serve student learning in “Section 3: Communism and Post-Communism in the USSR/Russia, China, and Vietnam” (Module 8 and 9 in POLS2200(X01)). Completion of this program will strengthen student participants’ undersanding about Communism and post-Communism and inspire students’ interest in the country and the broader region of Southeast Asia. Advanced students could also choose to take POLS490R and work on a specific research paper on Vietnam's history, politics, economy, and diplomacy.
The learning goals of this program include: (1) to understand the political history of Vietnam and the historical and cultural underpinnings of Vietnamese politics and economy; (2) to examine the governmental institutions and political development of Vietnam and to understand the political realities of Vietnam today; (3) to examine progress and challenges in the economic development of Vietnam. In order to meet these goals, this study abroad program will rely on site visits to academic and government institutions, museums, UNESCO World Heritage sites, business entities, and NGOs. Students will interact directly with Vietnamese students, scholars, and professionals in different disciplines and industries. Those site visits are further complemented with guest lectures by disciplinary experts in Vietnam and the United States.
The program will spend time in five cities in Vietnam, including Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Time spent in the country will be approximately 15 days, with an additional 3-4 days allocated for travel to and from Vietnam. Hanoi is Vietnam's capital and political center and would be the perfect starting point for students to understand the historical legacy and the current political situation in Vietnam. Hue, as Vietnam's old imperial capital, is the ideal site for students to learn the history and culture of Vietnam and hold a discussion about the legacy of Communism as well as various religions. Da Nang, as a commercial and education center of central vietnam, provides access to old town of Hoi An and UNESCO World Heritage site. Ho Chi Minh City offers great opportunites for students to observe the speed and challenges of economy development and urbanization.
*Students are expected to take one of the following two course options:
POLS 2200 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 credits)
POLS 490R Independent Study (3 credits)
NOTE: There may be coursework during the summer semester before and after travel dates
Must be 18 years of age at the time of departure
Minimum G.P.A.: 2.0
Students with Academic Standings registration holds at the time of application received for falling below a 2.0 GPA in the previous semester(s) will not be allowed to study abroad and should not apply. Students who fall below a 2.0 GPA in the Spring semester may be withdrawn from their Summer study abroad program.
Prerequisite Course(s): none
Physical Requirements:
Long air travel to and from the country. The weather is usually hot and humid at this time of year and there may not be air conditioning available at many visiting sites. There may not be individual refrigerators available at places of accommodation. Students are expected to walk or hike or climb stairs each day for extended peirods of time and sometimes on rough, uneven, or narrow walkways and with no elevator. Many visiting sites have no wheelchair accessibility. Substandard sanitation, utilities and facilities might be possible in some sites.
Study Abroad typically involves a lot of walking! Make sure that you will be able to walk long distances over uneven surfaces.
Travel during the summer in foreign countries can be uncomfortably hot and humid. Air conditioning is not always available.
Students on study abroad must be able to independently navigate in a foreign country and be able to follow specific instructions. This may include figuring out and using public transportation, making their way through airports, negotiating large crowds, and making smart decisions related to their own safety in unfamiliar circumstances.
*Accessibility services vary from country to country. Contact UVU Accessibility Services if you require such services. Students with significant physical or mental health needs should discuss their suitability for study abroad travel with their medical professional, UVU Student Health Services, UVU Accessibility Services, and/or family before making the decision to apply.
Fee covers housing, in-country transportation, most meals, tours, international insurance. The program fee does not include the listed Additional Estimated Costs.
$2185
*This cost is tentative and based on program plans and the exchange rate at the time it was posted. This cost may or may not be updated due to exchange-rate fluctuations, program revisions , and program date changes.
*Please review the Office of Education Abroad's Withdrawal Policy before applying. Within 5 days of acceptance into a Study Abroad program, you will be required to pay a $500 non-refundable commitment deposit to confirm your spot.
The student is responsible for these additional costs:
Students over the age of 73 at the time of travel may be required to purchase a supplemental international health and evacuation insurance plan through GeoBlue (approx $200-$500+)
Students should be prepared to pay out-of-pocket for travel disruptions including lost luggage, possible COVID tests or quarantine stays if required by the host country for entry or exit, missed flights, etc.
All students are required to pay a $75 non-refundable application fee .
*UVU study abroad tuition is charged as an additional study abroad fee in your student account. It is separate from the study abroad program fee and regular UVU summer tuition. It is not factored into the "equal payment" calculation of the UVU Tuition Table. Study Abroad students are advised to only take study abroad courses during the block of their study abroad program.
There are some scholarship opportunities that are available from UVU and nationally. These scholarships are competitive and have varying application dates. Please click here for more information.
Pell Grants and Student Loans may be applied to the program, based on eligibility. Speak to the UVU Study Abroad Advisor (LA 209) and a Financial Aid Advisor for more information (BA 105).
UVU Faculty/Staff Dependent Tuition Waiver benefits may not be used to pay for study abroad tuition or fees.
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Students are strongly encouraged to read the U.S. State Department’s country information webpage for the most up-to-date information on travel advisories, entry, exit, and visa requirements, safety, security, health, and other important travel factors.
