At a glance
- Shadow dentists in clinics and other healthcare centres and discover first-hand what the day to day life of a dentist is like.
- Learn how to diagnose and treat common oral diseases and conditions whilst sitting in on consultations and observing procedures.
- You’ll have the opportunity to do practical work during outreaches, as well as giving educational talks about oral hygiene.
Start Dates:
Anytime
See DatesMinimum Duration:
Two Weeks
Ages:
16 or over
To join this internship, you need to have completed at least one year of dentistry studies or training.
Is a Dentistry internship in Vietnam right for me?
Are you a dental student looking to broaden your practical knowledge? Are you interested in adding international work experience to your CV? Would you like to support disadvantaged people at the same time? If you answered yes to these questions, dental work experience in Vietnam is perfect for you.
You’ll work in a medical setting, and learn from experienced dentists. This will add relevant work experience to your CV, and give you interesting points to talk about in applications and interviews. Best of all, you’ll support disadvantaged communities through practical outreach work at the same time.
To join this internship, you need to have completed at least one year of dentistry studies or training. Everything you do will be supervised, and you can reach out to Projects Abroad staff for guidance at any time.
Our Dentistry internship in Vietnam runs throughout the year and has flexible dates, so you can join at any time for a minimum of two weeks. We encourage you to stay longer than two weeks in order to learn as much as possible.
What will I do on this internship?
You will spend most of your time in a local hospital, but sometimes you will also travel to other healthcare clinics. Below are some of the activities you will take part in:
- Shadow and observe local dentists and experience their daily routine
- Assist with patient screenings and preparing instruments for procedures
- Raise awareness of the importance of good oral hygiene during outreaches
Your work will focus on the following main areas:
Shadow and observe local dentists and experience their daily routine
You will spend the majority of your time shadowing dentists as they go about their work day. You’ll sit in on consultations and observe simple procedures, and learn more about the theoretical and practical aspects of dentistry. We encourage you to ask questions and make notes about what you see.
Assist with patient screenings and preparing instruments for procedures
Besides sitting in on consultations and procedures, you will be taught how to clean, sterilise, and prepare medical equipment and the room for procedures. Once you have mastered these skills, this will be one of your daily duties as an intern.
Raise awareness of the importance of good oral hygiene
You have the opportunity to participate in outreach work. This work will involve teaching local communities about the importance of oral hygiene through presentations and handouts. The aim of these awareness campaigns is to encourage people to have regular dental check ups and to look after their teeth and mouths properly, in order to prevent disease.
Types of placements at the Dentistry placement in Vietnam
You’ll work at a hospital specialising in dental care. Here, you can explore different areas of dentistry. These include:
- Dental health examination
- Basic dental care
- Radiology
- Anesthesiology
- Oral surgery
- Gerontology
- Dentures and prosthesis
If you’re interested in a specific department, please feel free to contact us and we can help advise you.
Where in Vietnam will I be working?
Hanoi
You will be based in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city.
Hanoi is lively, with endless markets spilling onto streets, scooters zooming by, and a restaurant on every corner. You will have the opportunity to explore over weekends and in the evenings.
You will work mainly in a hospital setting, and can choose which departments you would like to be involved with. The main placement is in a hospital specialising in dental care.
The hospitals we are partnered with are generally of a high standard and are equipped with the modern technology.
What is a typical day on the Dentistry internship in Vietnam like?
You will wake up to a delicious home-cooked breakfast with your host family, or at the accommodation you share with other interns and volunteers. You will then leave for work on local public transport. On your first day, our staff will accompany you to show you the way.
You work day will run from 8am until 4.30pm from Monday to Friday, and you will have the weekends off to explore.
Your day will generally be spent shadowing dentists during consultations and observing simple procedures. You will also assist with cleaning tools and preparing equipment for procedures.
Some of your time will also be set aside for outreach work. This will involve raising awareness in the local community about the importance of oral hygiene, as well as how to take better care of their teeth.
In the evenings, you will be free to explore Hanoi with fellow interns or relax at your accommodation. Make the most of your weekends, and organise a trip to famous places like Ha Long Bay.
What are the aims of this project?
There are two main aims to this project: to provide you with an educational experience and to assist those in disadvantaged communities.
Many of the dental interns who join us are looking for international work experience. One of our aims is to encourage the cross-cultural sharing of knowledge. You will learn from skilled local dentists, and in turn share your own experiences with them. It’s a wonderful way to not only learn about healthcare practice in a developing country, but to discover everyday life in another country.
In Vietnam, 80% of the population still live in rural areas with little or no access to basic healthcare or dental facilities. This is due mainly to lack of funds, as well as lack of transport. Your outreach work will contribute to trying to combat these issues. You will share knowledge about the importance of good oral hygiene, as well as how to take better care of their teeth.
We are working towards five long-term goals through our Medical Management Plan for Vietnam:
- Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge
- Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients
- Improve the quality of specialised or alternative healthcare provided
- Improve hygiene standards
- Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
Join a Dentistry internship in Vietnam, and expand your knowledge about dentistry while helping us work towards these goals.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay in shared accommodation with other Projects Abroad volunteers and interns while in Vietnam. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers and interns, share experiences, and explore your surroundings in your free time together.
The accommodation is safe, clean, and comfortable. Your program fees include three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Vietnam offers a mix of bustling cities and picturesque countrysides. With so many different activities and tourist sites, you’re bound to find plenty of ways to spend your free time.
For a glimpse into the country’s history, you can spend an afternoon exploring the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or the National Museum of Vietnamese History. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is also a major historic site, located in Hanoi.
If you’re looking to buy some souvenirs, there are many markets with locally made products on sale. Evenings in Hanoi are filled with excitement and bright, colourful lights. You can watch street performers and then head to a nearby restaurant for a taste of local cuisine.
The countryside, with its emerald rice paddies stretching to the horizon, provides the perfect escape from the busy capital.
We run many different projects in Vietnam, so there will likely be other volunteers in-country with you. This makes travelling as a group easy to arrange. However, you’re welcome to explore independently if you prefer.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on-hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
Meet the team in Vietnam
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