How My Placement in Vietnam Helped Develop My Confidence and Independence

Chloe is a third-year physiotherapy student at Cardiff University. She spent four weeks in a Vietnamese hospital to observe the differences between the delivery of care in Vietnam and the UK.

We caught up with Chloe recently to reflect on her time in Vietnam. 

So, what made you want to study physiotherapy?

I always wanted to go into healthcare; following some work experience I did in my local hospital, I really enjoyed seeing the work that physios were doing to help get patients mobile and work towards their goals. So, I decided to pursue this as a career, and it's certainly not a decision I regret. 

You studied at Cardiff University – what made you choose this establishment? 

I chose Cardiff because the lecturers stood out as passionate during the open days. I also liked the variety of placement options we could access across Wales and the city's friendly atmosphere. Again, that was another decision I’m definitely glad I made! 

Can you talk a bit about your experience in Cardiff? What were the highlights?

Moving so far away from home was a big stepping stone for me, but I had an incredible three years of studying. The highlights for me were the people and friends I got to meet, exploring new places through my placements and finding something I was passionate about. 

So, how did your overseas placement fit into all of that? 

Cardiff was really proactive in encouraging us to take up the opportunity to undertake an overseas placement. They provided lots of support and information. I travelled to Vietnam in November 2019 during my final year of study. It was actually one of the last placements I got to do before the pandemic.

What was it that made you want to go overseas for an experience like this?

I’ve always been passionate about travel, so the opportunity to combine this passion with my physiotherapy degree seemed like a no-brainer. I also wanted to see how physiotherapy services were delivered in a different country and culture than what I had gotten used to within the NHS.

Let’s jump right into the hospital placement – which departments did you spend your time in?

I was lucky to have a great supervisor and team who helped me have a varied experience during my four weeks in Vietnam. In the mornings, I worked in the outpatient department. In the afternoons, I went to the wards, where I saw a mix of stroke, orthopaedic, general medical, critical care, and paediatric patients. I also spent some time at a specialist spinal rehab hospital and shadowed other departments, such as A&E and Orthotics.

And what was the day-to-day like in the hospital?

We would start at 7 am through to 11:30 am Monday to Friday, and then we would have a three-hour lunch break before returning for the afternoon. Every day was different, and the hospital was always very busy with many people and even more patients in a small space. It was also much hotter compared to the UK, hence having a long break in the middle of the day to escape the heat.

What were the most challenging or confronting situations you experienced while there?

Patients were often very shy because I was from a different culture and, more often than not, did not speak English. Translation was always required to complete patient assessments and treatment sessions. I also sometimes found that we used different therapy techniques in the UK compared to Vietnam.

Once my placement had finished, I went travelling alone for two weeks. I encountered a few challenges, particularly in figuring out train and bus timetables, where to buy food, and how to make friends.

How do you think experiences like that changed your approach to your career?

It allowed me to develop my nonverbal communication skills, which have been helpful when working with patients who might struggle to understand verbal communication in my current role. 

It also allowed me to appreciate the facilities we had access to in the UK as we often moan about a lack of funding or access to resources, but in comparison to what was available in Vietnam, we are very lucky. 

It also helped me develop confidence and independence in overcoming the challenges of solo travel and placement far away from home. This experience has 100% benefitted me in that I now know I can handle life's challenges.

So, what happened once you graduated? What’s your current role?

I was lucky to secure a rotational job in Cardiff and Vale UHB. For the first six months, I was based in the community, and now I work in critical care. 

In what ways has your Work the World experience in Vietnam contributed to what you’ve achieved so far in life and your career?

I could pull on some of the skills and experiences I’d had in Vietnam, particularly during job interviews. Being able to reflect on these was incredibly useful. It has also really boosted my passion for travel. I cannot wait to return and explore the world again.

What are your ambitions for the future? 

I would love to be able to take my physiotherapy skills overseas again at some point, as I think there's so much for us to learn and share - possibly once I’ve got a good few years of experience under my belt. I’m still undecided on a specialty area I might like to go into, but for now, I hope to enjoy my rotations and spend time helping patients work towards their goals and grow my clinical skills. I’d also love to return to Vietnam in the future, as the country really does have a special place in my heart. 

And lastly, do you have any words of encouragement for students thinking about undertaking an overseas physiotherapy placement?

I would say 100% go for it! Despite the challenges it presented, I developed many skills and gained experiences I wouldn’t have had if I had stayed in the UK. 

It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will be a good stepping stone for the rest of your career. 

Discover more about our Electives in Asia, where you'll discover various options in Vietnam and other exciting countries across the continent.