WELCOME TO RMIT VIETNAM

This is your student guide, where you can find all the information you need for your study tour with us.

Wi-Fi on Campus

When you receive your student number and password, you will be able to log into the university campus Wi-Fi. If you need it before this, you can use the ‘RMIT-Guest’ Wi-Fi - you’ll need to open your web browser and click to accept the terms and conditions.

Basic Information

1 - The People

Administrative

Your main administrative contact is Toan Nguyen. He can be contacted by calling +84 (0)2837761432 or by emailing toan.nguyen29@rmit.edu.vn

Academic Staff

Your primary teacher, and first point of contact will be Simon, who can be reached by emailing simon.worden@rmit.edu.vn or by calling +84 (0)392862815.

Teaching Assistants

When working on projects your classes will be monitored by teaching assistants. They are there to support you with tech issues and help you understand the project work better.

Emergency Contacts

RMIT Vietnam has security and health professionals on campus. If you need help, please come to the desk at 1.5.30, or call Toan on +84 (0)2837761432. We’ll communicate with the university services.

Your Schedule

We’ll give you the full schedule on paper on the first day of the course.

2 - The Campus

Click image above for virtual campus tour. It helps you find the different facilities that we have on campus.

The address of the campus is:

RMIT University, 702 Nguyễn Văn Linh, Tân Hưng, Quận 7, Hồ Chí Minh.

3 - Accommodation

Stellar Boutique Hotel

15-17 Cao Trieu Phat,

Tan Phong Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh.

+84 901 134 268

4 - Transport

Between the Airport and Hotel

We will meet you when you arrive at the airport and provide transport to your hotel. We will also take you to the airport at the end of the tour.

Between the Hotel and University

You can either use taxis or the ‘Grab’ app on your phone (see below). On the first day, one of our team members will come to help you arrange this.

Getting Taxis in General

We recommend using either Mai Linh or VinaSun taxi services, as they are the most reliable. They also have useful phone apps you can download. Short journeys cost around VND 20k - 50k, whereas a journey from district 7 to district 1 costs around VND 200k.

To avoid communication problems, you could bring a written copy of the address (such as this book) and show it to the driver or show the driver the address on google maps. As you start your journey, check that the driver has started the meter.

Another option is to download and use the ‘Grab’ app. This helps to establish the price in advance.

5 - Meals

Welcome Lunch/ Goodbye Lunch

On the first and final day of the study tour we will provide a complimentary lunch.

Breakfasts

All breakfasts are provided by the hotel, free of charge. Please ask at the hotel reception desk for details about when and where breakfast is served.

Meals on campus

There are many places where you can purchase lunch on campus. The indoor restaurant The Lygon can be found on the second floor of building 1, and the food court outside building 1 has a variety of different options, too.

Health and Safety

For emergency situations during the day, please either come to the admin desk at 1.5.30, or call our admin hotline on (028) 37761338.

For the ambulance service please call 115.

English is spoken.

For police matters, please call 113.

English is spoken.

Study

Purpose of the Course

The course focuses on building your ability to communicate in English, with a particular emphasis on speaking and listening. We hope that by the end of the course you will be a more confident and competent communicator in English.

Method of the Course

The course is split between English lessons (taught by a proficient English speaker) and project sessions (facilitated by our teaching assistants).

English Sessions

28 hours of study will be delivered by a proficient English speaker. To build your communicative language skills, classes will cover all 4 skills but with a more prominent focus on listening and speaking. There will also be sessions covering grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Topics and activities will usually relate to Vietnam, Vietnamese culture and language to support your projects.

Project Sessions

You will also take part in project sessions that help you work collaboratively and build your communicative skills and confidence. Your teacher will guide you through these in class, and the sessions (which are on your schedule) will be supported by our teaching assistants. Your teachers will give you feedback on your projects and explain how to improve.

Project Presentation and Assessment

You will share your project with your classmates and your teacher at the end of the course. You will receive a certificate if all of the course is completed.

Other Activities

Survival Vietnamese Session

Whilst you can speak English on our campus, and at most locations in the city, it is sometimes useful to speak Vietnamese in order to buy things. This session will help you learn a few basic Vietnamese phrases.

Afternoon Tour of HCMC

A guided tour of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, that takes in the key sights, most important landmarks, and points of interest.

Cooking Class

A chance to have fun and learn about Vietnamese food in the best way: by making it.

Mekong Delta Trip

With three harvests every year, the Mekong Delta is an environmentally, agriculturally, and culturally important area. Experience it first-hand on this trip!

Industry Visit

An opportunity to see inside a company operating in Vietnam.

Campus Facilities

With your student card, you also have access to our library and our gym. Please remember to always bring your student card to campus.

Other things to do in HCMC

Although you’ll probably be busy with all the things that we have organised for you, in your free time you could consider visiting:

Museums

The most famous museums that deal with the war with America are the War Remnants Museum at 28 Võ Văn Tần (although be warned that some photos are upsetting) or the Independence Palace at 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa. There are a number of art galleries such as the Hồ Chí Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, at 97A Phó Đức Chính.

We recommend using google to check the price, opening times, and location of these museums in advance.

Important Information

Following Vietnamese laws and regulation.

It is important for students to always follow Vietnamese law during their stay in Vietnam.

RMIT may not be able to assist students if they break the law in Vietnam.

Staying Safe & Healthy in Vietnam.

While in Vietnam it is important that students take care to maintain a good level of health and safety. It is expected that students have travel or health insurance arranged that covers their time in Vietnam.

The following guidelines should also be followed:
- Be aware of the higher temperatures and stay hydrated. Students may need to consume more water daily than in the cooler climate of Japan.
- Protect yourself from the sun with suncream or protective clothing.
- Avoid approaching any stray animals on the street.
- Be mindful of the origins of any food you consume for hygiene safety.
- Consume only bottled or filtered water. It is not recommended to drink water directly from the tap.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Do not walk around with expensive belongings exposed in public areas.
To have the best possible experience on the study tour, we recommend that students get plenty of rest each evening and if consuming alcohol, do so responsibly.
If you become unwell during the tour requiring absence from class or medical attention, please follow the following guidelines:
- Contact RMIT staff to notify them of the situation so they can support you.
- If required, please visit one of the recommended international clinics nearby or the SOS International clinic on campus.
- If you become unwell on an excursion, please notify RMIT staff on the tour to assist you.
- If you become unwell outside of classtime and will be absent from classes, please notify RMIT or your teacher as soon as possible.

Attendance & Behavioral Expectations

Students are expected to attend all lessons and activities during the study tour.

If you become unwell and do not feel able to attend, then you must notify a member of RMIT staff as soon as possible. If you are outside of RMIT, you can contact Toan Nguyen (toan.nguyen29@rmit.edu.vn via MS Teams) to inform us of your absence.

While on campus and during organized activities off campus, students must abide by RMIT’s student conduct policy at all times. Failure to do so may be followed up with disciplinary procedures.

Attendance will be reported after the study tour to your university as part of the assessment information.