Offered by Asian Societies, Languages, and Cultures (ASCL), this interdisciplinary program explores development in contemporary Vietnam. Students will study the remarkable social, economic and environmental changes that have transformed Vietnam since the 1980s. Developing Vietnam incorporates research methods and perspectives from History, Environmental Studies, Religion, and other fields. This Guarini Study Away (GSA) program is based in Ho Chi Minh City, with field trips to the Mekong Delta and other sites in southern Vietnam. The 2026 edition of this program will be taught by Prof. Edward Miller, a historian of Modern Vietnam.
Developing Vietnam is offered in a special fall-winterim format known as "Fall Term plus." Students admitted to the 2026 program will enroll in two required courses. The first is ASCL 70.22, the program "co-requisite" course that will be taught on campus in Hanover during the regular fall term at the 9L period. The second required course is ASCL 59.04, a one-credit, three-week intensive course that will take place in Vietnam during the December 2026 winterim. Both of these courses will count as fall term courses. In order to be eligible to participate in the study abroad course in December, students must enroll in and successfully complete the co-requisite course during September-November. In addition to the two Developing Vietnam courses, all participating students must enroll in two additional regular fall term courses of their choice, making a total of four fall term courses (ASCL 70.22 + ASCL 59.04 + two additional courses).
Developing Vietnam is open to students in any major or program of study. To be eligible to enroll, students must have taken at least one ASCL course (or another course with significant Asian Studies content) in a term prior to Fall 2025.
Developing Vietnam is a key component of Dartmouth's partnership with Fulbright University Vietnam, an independent liberal arts university in Ho Chi Minh City. Starting during the fall term, all participants will be placed on joint teams of Dartmouth and Fulbright students. Each team will collaborate on the design and execution of a research project on some aspect of development in southern Vietnam. The field research for each project will be conducted during December, when the Dartmouth students join their Fulbright teammates in Vietnam.