#42: Vietnam: A Hidden Gem for Startup Internships?
How Ronaldo’s six-month entrepreneurial journey in Ho Chi Minh City shifted his perspectives on Vietnam and Southeast Asia
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When it comes to startup internships, places like Silicon Valley come to mind, which is well known for being a global hub for tech innovation. Enterprising students hope to land an internship role there in hopes of founding the next Apple, Google, or Facebook.
Others might even choose countries like China, which is known for its fast-growing tech startup scene, massive market, and business exposure.
But what about Vietnam?
With an emerging and fast-growing startup ecosystem, Vietnam offers interns the chance to take on bigger responsibilities and make a real impact. From fintech to e-commerce and digital innovation, the hands-on experience here is something you might not get in more established markets.
In fact, the country now boasts over 4,000 startups, with 11 companies valued at over US$100 million, making it an exciting place for anyone to grow in the startup space.
To find out what it’s really like, we asked Ronaldo Immanuel, a second-year banking and finance student from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore.
Ronaldo embarked on NTU’s Overseas Entrepreneurship Program (OEP) to Vietnam for six months in 2024, which aims to inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset in students through attachments in startup ecosystems across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Q: Why did you choose to go to Vietnam?
I was actually open to all three locations OEP was offering: Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. When I was offered Vietnam, I took the offer because I hadn’t checked Vietnam off my bucket list yet.
I read about Vietnam's startup ecosystem growing rapidly, being third in Southeast Asia, and how fast Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) was developing.
Traveling alone to a new place and living there for an entire summer was also something I really wanted to challenge myself with.
I wasn’t sure how it would go, but I thought, why not give it a try? Plus, I figured it would be a great opportunity to explore more of the country and dive into its culture.
Q: What did you intern as?
I began my internship as a Market Research Intern for JDI Central, a startup that developed a freelancing platform in Vietnam.
But I ended up creating new project management tools, coming up with growth strategies, and even representing the company at the Future of AI: Chapter 2 event, which led to my new role as a Growth Hacking Intern.
As a Growth Hacking Intern, I was all hands on deck, helping prepare JDI Central for launch. My role included lead generation, supporting marketing campaigns, improving user experience, and pretty much anything else to make sure the platform was market-ready.
Q: What was your impression of Vietnam before and after your internship?
Before the internship, I saw Vietnam as a typical Southeast Asian destination—scenic spots, low costs, and a great place to travel.
I knew it had huge potential as an emerging market, especially in the digital space, but beyond that, I wasn’t sure what to expect. To be honest, I was a bit nervous about things like safety and culture shock.
But adapting to HCMC was way easier than I thought.
Sure, the language, currency, Grab bikes, and maze-like alleyways took a few days to get used to, but once I got the hang of it, it just felt natural.
My supervisor introduced me to weekly language exchanges at Coffee Talk English, which turned out to be an amazing way to meet people and get more comfortable with the city. Plus, bonding with my coworkers over streetwear drops and cafe-hopping made settling in even smoother.
Living in HCMC for the summer was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.
What really stood out was seeing the city’s rapid transformation in real time. Every day on my way to work, I’d notice old buildings being replaced by sleek new cafes, upgraded housing complexes, and freshly paved sidewalks.
It’s one thing to read about Vietnam’s growth, but witnessing it firsthand made me appreciate just how fast things are evolving here.
Q: How did your internship help you grow an entrepreneurial mindset?
I learned that having an entrepreneurial mindset means becoming an all-rounder despite having minimal resources. I was exposed to resource challenges in a fast-paced environment, and uncertainty and pivoting strategies became the new normal. These led me to learn more skills outside my role while looking at ways to improve our operations.
Taking the initiative was important, and my team was generous. I was encouraged to propose and test strategies independently, giving me the confidence to make go-to-market and partnership decisions.
And yes, technical skills are just as crucial. While having done several projects about revenue models and strategy, hands-on experience in analyzing monetization approaches for JDI Central provided a good foundation for evaluating and structuring my business ideas.
Q: What were some challenges and takeaways from your internship experience in Vietnam?
I think one challenge I faced was living in a nice Airbnb in a less developed district. It exposed me to daily traffic congestions, pollution, and very apparent economic disparities.
But I often came across locals handling multiple jobs and gigs to meet basic needs, which is a sharp contrast to my experiences in Singapore.
Aside from that, while I had opportunities to interact with different business units as an intern, these interactions were mostly casual conversations. My role was also more focused on short-term growth rather than long-term sustainable planning. I would have loved to try out more structured experimentation methods like A/B testing and advanced analytics to learn more about how the organization operates as a whole.
Nonetheless, I was surprised that I didn’t face any significant language barrier. English was used in professional settings, and the locals were extremely warm and friendly. I found it quite easy to communicate with them in simple words, although Google Translate often comes in handy when needed.
A key highlight from my internship was attending events like the Saigon Summit and The Future of AI (Chapter 2).
These events connected me to Vietnam’s startup ecosystem and gave me insights into local innovation. I was particularly impressed by Nuen Moto, a company making electric motorcycles.
By the end of my six months in HCMC, I had gained more autonomy in tasks such as strategy development and process optimization.
The experience showed me how to apply what I learned in school to real-world situations, making this internship both a challenge and an invaluable learning opportunity.
Q: Why should students consider an internship in Southeast Asia?
During my internship in Vietnam, I realized that it’s amazing how hands-on the role was.
I wasn’t just stuck with administrative tasks; I had the freedom to take control of my own projects. It pushed me to think creatively and take ownership of my work.
I got lucky, I was working from the office two days a week, with flexible work hours the other days. It also meant I could balance my work with exploring the city and grabbing coffee at local cafes.
Finally, I think the cultural exposure is great. You’re spending three to six months overseas, not just working but integrating into their way of life. You’re going to learn a lot. As for your internship, I’m fairly confident that an experience in Southeast Asia will be a valuable addition to your resume.
After hearing from Ronaldo, it’s amazing to see how much he got out of his internship—earning a new role, attending major events, taking on real responsibilities, and gaining an entrepreneurial mindset!
Overseas internships aren’t just resume boosters—they’re full-on experiences that enable you to step out of your comfort zone, throw you into new cultures, challenge you in ways you never expected, and open doors you never knew existed.
Sure, Ronaldo wasn’t working on long-term strategies, but in a fast-moving, emerging startup ecosystem like HCMC, that just means endless possibilities.
And the best part? The support he received — from his hands-on role to the supervisor who introduced him to language exchanges—made settling in so much easier.
Ronaldo’s internship was made possible through NTU’s Overseas Entrepreneurship Program (OEP), which offers NTU students the chance to gain hands-on entrepreneurial experience in global innovation hubs.
Students intern at tech startups, work closely with founders, and build valuable business connections—all while receiving funding of up to S$10,000. Just like Ronaldo, they walk away with a global perspective and the skills to launch their business ventures.
If you’re worried about navigating the different cultures and languages in Southeast Asia, fret not; they would only make the experience even better.
In fact, Ronaldo’s experience just made us excited about going to Vietnam for more than just a holiday. If you’re thinking of exploring the startup ecosystem in Southeast Asia, Vietnam should be at the top of your list!
This edition is brought to you by Nanyang Technological University’s Overseas Entrepreneurship Program.
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