Have you ever dreamt of immersing yourself in a totally unique culture --- a culture that is colourful, vibrant and yet has a spiritual side to it? Vietnam, then, is the place for you to be in. With its traditional charm, historical demeanor and rare natural beauty, Vietnam offers an enchanting experience that will live with you for life. And what’s more, now you can learn Vietnamese while immersing yourself in the truly unique culture of Vietnam! Now, isn’t it a cool deal?
Immersion Vietnamese course, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City)
Most visitors to Vietnam are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting: the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies tended by women in conical hats.
There are also some divine beaches along the coast, and soaring mountains inland, some of which are cloaked by dense, misty forests.
Four great philosophies and religions have shaped the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and Christianity. Over the centuries, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism have molded with popular Chinese beliefs and ancient Vietnamese animism to form what is known as Tam Giao (or 'Triple Religion').
Vietnamese (kinh) is the official language of the country, although there are dialectic differences across Vietnam. There are dozens of different languages spoken by various ethnic minorities and Khmer and Loatian are spoken in some parts. The most widely spoken foreign languages in Vietnam are Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), English, French and Russian, more or less in that order.
Popular artistic forms include: traditional painting produced on frame-mounted silk; an eclectic array of theatre, puppetry, music and dance; religious sculpture; lacquerware and ceramics.
Vietnamese cuisine is especially varied - there are said to be nearly 500 different traditional dishes that include exotic meats (but consider carefully before you eat a rare animal) and fantastic vegetarian creations (often prepared to replicate meat and fish dishes). However, the staple of Vietnamese cuisine is plain white rice dressed up with a plethora of vegetables, fish (which is common in Vietnam), meat, spices and sauces. Spring rolls, noodles and steamed rice dumplings are popular snacks, and the ubiquitous soups include eel and vermicelli, shredded chicken and bitter soups. Fruit is abundant; some of the more unusual ones include green dragon fruit, jujube, khaki, longan, mangosteen, pomelo, three-seed cherry and water apple. Vietnamese coffee (ca phe phin) is very good; it's usually served very strong and very sweet. (Read more)
From elderly women sweeping the streets with Palm leaves to the millions of bicycles scurrying in every direction, Vietnam’s wonderful way of life is truly enchanting.
At Oregon Institute of International Education in Ho Chi Minh City we will do everything possible to make sure that you have an enjoyable time in this fantastic place.
We are a small and friendly team offering you the warmest welcome and a range of social activities and excursions to suit every taste.
If you're in the mood to loose yourself in the intricacies of the cultural mores of a really charming city, let it be Ho Chi Minh City. Experience all this while studying Vietnamese. Maybe after completing the course you may never want to leave Ho Chi Minh again?
Why OIIE?
Language can be learnt in the comfort of one’s home, on the Internet, from private tutors and with the help self-study guides! Then why should I enroll for a Spanish language course in Seville, you ask? Well, the answer is that besides getting a chance to experience what is perhaps the most vibrant country of the world, when you enroll with us you get to learn not just Spanish but much more than that - the culture, the custom, the people and the country.
Remember, our course isn’t just a run of the mill language course offered by most of our competitions. Because, we offer total immersion that provides you with the rare opportunity to experience a country and its culture from within - as a native inhabitant would do. Because, Language is a mode of communication, while at the same time it is the carrier of culture for the native speakers. Because, in short, there is a difference between learning a language and acquiring a language through immersion. Because, when you travel, you change much more than just the time-zone! Because, OIIE can help you to acquire the Vietnamese language with our new center in Ho Chi Minh City.
Because, well, do you need more reasons?
Where in Vietnam?
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam, it covers an area of over 2,000 square km and has a population of around 5 million. The city is located between the Mekong Delta and South Vietnam, 50km inland from the South China Sea.
Previously known as Saigon, HCMC is the business center of the country. The whole city is vibrant and full of character. Everywhere you turn you will see street vendors, office workers, businessmen and thousands of bicycles. Hep new cafes and bars, high rise office buildings and hotels, colorful shops, vibrant markets, and traditional temples and pagodas - you will find it all in HCMC.
The most popular location for tourists is District 1 in the center of the city. There you will find many hotels, restaurants, shops and Internet cafes. Vietnam is truly a wonderful place, full of very friendly people and the cost of living is extremely low.
Why Ho Chi Minh City?
A wealth of indoor and outdoor activities.
HCMC is fast becoming a vibrant mix of cultures with a distinctly Vietnamese flavor and is not as of yet overshadowed by western influences.
Great food, great people, great sights and sounds.
Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of Vietnamese people, who constitute 86% of Vietnam's population and of about three million overseas Vietnamese, the bulk of which are Vietnamese Americans. It is also spoken as a second language by some ethnic minorities of Vietnam. It is part of the Austroasiatic language family, of which it has the most speakers by a significant margin (several times larger than the other Austroasiatic languages collectively put together). Much vocabulary has been borrowed from Chinese and was originally written using the Chinese writing system. The Vietnamese writing system in use today is an adapted version of the Latin alphabet, with additional diacritics for tones.
Vietnamese is generally said to be part of the Viet-Muong (or Vietic) grouping of the Mon-Khmer branch of the Austroasiatic language family, a family that also includes Khmer, spoken in Cambodia, as well as various tribal and regional languages, such as the Munda languages, spoken in northeastern India, and others in southern China. However, this is debated; some linguists believe that Viet-Muong is a language isolate.
Who
Your fellow students come from many countries on many continents.
Your teacher trainers are some of the most experienced and well-trained in the industry.
Your support staff is extremely helpful, courteous and will assist you with whatever you need.
The locals are peaceful, friendly people who generally like spending time with foreigners.
How
Fill out an application form and take that next step towards learning amidst the enchantment and wonder of Vietnam.
How Much - (Fees for Vietnam Immersion Course)
Vietnam Immersion program (With Accommodation): $250 per week
IMPORTANT:
As a precaution and for monetary safety please purchase travel / flight
insurance just incase your flight is cancelled or delayed.
Four great philosophies and religions have shaped the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and Christianity. Over the centuries, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism have molded with popular Chinese beliefs and ancient Vietnamese animism to form what is known as Tam Giao (or 'Triple Religion').
Language can be learnt in the comfort of one’s home, on the Internet, from private tutors and with the help self-study guides! Then why should I enroll for a Spanish language course in Seville, you ask? Well, the answer is that besides getting a chance to experience what is perhaps the most vibrant country of the world, when you enroll with us you get to learn not just Spanish but much more than that - the culture, the custom, the people and the country. 
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam, it covers an area of over 2,000 square km and has a population of around 5 million. The city is located between the Mekong Delta and South Vietnam, 50km inland from the South China Sea.