Singapore and Vietnam

During the Easter semester, students examine the business trends and structures in the emerging markets of Singapore and Vietnam. Director of the Babson Center for Global Commerce Myles Elledge instructs students on the political, social, and economic histories of each country and explains the business practices, culture, protocol, and customs of Southeast Asia. After reading economic development texts and case studies of conglomerates and new start-ups in the region, each group travels to Singapore and Vietnam for a three-week field study away.

During this high-energy summer program, students immerse themselves in the Southeast Asia business ecosystem, diving deep into understanding the emerging "tiger economies" of Singapore and Vietnam. They engage in 15+ business meetings in Singapore, Hanoi, and Saigon, meeting with government economic leaders, start-up firms, business researchers, and leading technology, sustainable finance, and hospitality firms in each country. Each stop also includes days of exploration, with recent highlights including executive tours of Singapore's historic Raffles Hotel,  a two-night cruise on Halong Bay, bike trips through Cat Ba National Park, and an excursion to Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City to watch vendors hawking their merchandise.