Apprentices on Tour: Vietnam
Apprentices of the DRÄXLMAIER Group can participate in the “Training worldwide” program. This gives them the opportunity to spend eight weeks at a company location outside the EU and get to know the work, the people and the local culture at first hand. Max and Daniel, both prospective mechatronics engineers in their second year of training, took advantage of this opportunity and now report on their experiences in Hội An, Vietnam.
How did your trip to Vietnam begin?
Daniel: A few months before the trip, I heard from a work colleague about the opportunity to go abroad as an apprentice. It quickly became clear to me: I wanted to go to Vietnam. After all, I'd never been to Asia before and I liked the idea of helping out in a foreign country and a new working environment. Our trip actually began three months before departure, as we had to arrange visas, work permits and all the necessary vaccinations for Vietnam.
Max: It took us just under 24 hours to get from Germany to Vietnam. With two stopovers, we flew to Chu Lai Airport, where we were picked up by a cab and taken to our apartment. Right from the start, I was impressed by the beautiful Vietnamese landscapes. Our accommodation was on the outskirts of Hội An, not far from the coast. From there, we took the transfer shuttle to work every day for around 45 minutes. It only took us ten minutes by cab to get to the city center of Hoi An.
What was particularly challenging for you in Vietnam?
Max: On the one hand, the heat and high humidity in Southeast Asia were a completely new experience for both of us. On the other hand, the English pronunciation of our Vietnamese colleagues was very challenging. We often had to guess the meaning of their words.
Daniel: The traffic in Vietnam was exciting. We couldn't get anywhere in Hội An without a moped or cab, as there is virtually no public transport there. In addition, there seem to be no rules on Vietnam's roads and yet the traffic runs almost smoothly.
How did you experience the work on site?
Max: During our two months in Vietnam, Daniel and I assisted in the maintenance department. We received a very warm welcome from day one and quickly felt at home in the team. My tasks consisted of supporting the maintenance team with machine maintenance work or setting up new production lines.
Daniel: There are two plants on the Hội An site that specialize in the production of cables and cable harnesses. Max and I were also allowed to contribute some of our own ideas for improving the plant. However, only one of the halls is air-conditioned. So we had to adjust to a working temperature of 35° C.
The different working hours in Vietnam and Germany were also interesting for us: in Vietnam, there is a six-day week from Monday to Saturday. People also work nine hours a day. Unlike our Vietnamese colleagues, however, we only worked from Monday to Friday.
What did you do in your free time?
Max: We had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in Vietnamese culture and lifestyle. For example, we often visited the old town of Hội An or many local markets. There we sampled well-known Vietnamese dishes such as phở and bánh mì.
We went on lots of excursions at the weekends. I was particularly impressed by our visit to the ancient temple city of Mỹ Sơn and the marble mountains in Đà Nẵng.
Daniel: Max and I did a lot together at the weekend. We often went to the seaside together or spent our evenings in the beautiful old town of Hội An. We enjoyed listening to live music in the city's restaurants. I was also impressed by the city of Đà Nẵng and the Mui Đà Nẵng mountain, which we hiked up.
What are you taking with you from Vietnam?
Max: I am very grateful for the opportunity to get to know a new culture and its way of working so intensively. My stay in Hội An was a valuable experience that made me much more independent.
Daniel: I am very grateful for my experiences in Vietnam. Above all, I will always remember the Vietnamese as helpful and friendly people.
