Erin Doyle

I wanted to take the opportunity to travel while also completing my placement. I also thought I'd gain more varied experience by travelling overseas for placement. I had never left Europe before this trip, so it was daunting but also so exciting! I hoped to experience a brand new culture, and Vietnam did not disappoint.

I had heard that Vietnamese people were very friendly and polite. I also had friends who had travelled there before and could attest that it was very beautiful and had lots to see and do. I also wanted to go somewhere with a different medical system to see how it worked.

My biggest surprise was Hue itself! It was an amazing city to have as a base in Vietnam. It was calm, the river was beautiful, the Imperial City was amazing, there was fun nightlife and shops... the list goes on! The support from the Work the World team also completely surpassed my expectations. Everyone was so friendly, welcoming and willing to help.

I travelled here with a friend from home, and we did a few trips together. We saw Ho Chi Minh, and then we had a fantastic time! However, my favourite weekend place was definitely Hoi An. We travelled here with several of our housemates, and we made lanterns and ate some great food. We also did a motorbike tour back to Hue, which was incredible.

It definitely gave me an appreciation for cultural and attitudinal differences, both socially and in medicine. But it also showed me how many similarities there were back home, too!

The Work the World house was fun to live in! There were loads of opportunities for socialising. From cooking classes to barbecue night with karaoke, dancing, and phenomenal food, to nights out at local bars. People were usually up for travelling together at the weekends, so even if you came as a solo traveller, you were not alone.

Doing it was an amazing experience. Work the World took away the stress of organising a placement overseas, and it was an amazing opportunity to meet new people and experience a different healthcare system.