More photos of this internship may be found here.
The Vietnam Green Building Council is a dynamic non-profit organization in Hanoi, working to raise awareness and build capacity for the development of green building in Vietnam. VGBC is looking for interns enthusiastic about sustainable development and climate change issues.
Interns at the VGBC use will have the opportunity to apply their academic and professional experience within technical research related to green building rating or graphic design and communications. This is an English language internship.
The Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC) is a program of Green Cities Fund Inc., an international non-profit organization based in California. VGBC has been active in Vietnam since 2007 and was officially recognized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction and became part of the World Green Building Council – Asia in 2009.
VGBC’s goal is to act as a catalyst encouraging government, academia, and private sector cooperation to achieve a more sustainably built and adaptive environment. VGBC currently has over 90 members and partners from all sectors in Vietnam. VGBC strives to raise awareness and build capacity for green building in Vietnam. It has developed and implemented a number of training courses, hosted workshops, and continues to work with stakeholders across the country and internationally. It has developed green building benchmarks through the development, maintenance, and use of LOTUS green building rating tools. These are based on international standards, but tailored specifically for Vietnam.
The VGBC’s main activities include:
Learn more about the exciting work done by the VGBC at their website.
VGBC is looking for interns from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds who are interested in contributing their talent and knowledge to build a more sustainable Vietnam. VGBC aims to fit potential interns in areas where they will be able to contribute meaningfully, but most activities center around graphic design and technical research. Other tasks may include advocacy, fund raising/grant writing, and communication. Applicants are encouraged to consider what they can do to further VGBC’s influence and activities in Vietnam during their internship.
Graphic Design Intern
Interns will contribute to the communications and marketing projects of the VGBC through the creation and updating of logos, banners, books and manuals, flyers, and marketing materials. Interns should have a background in graphic design, with knowledge of marketing a plus. Interns should be creative, self-motivated, and embrace collaboration. This role is central in helping VGBC raise awareness and build capacity for green building development.
Technical Research Intern
Interns will be involved in the further development of LOTUS and will help review LOTUS documentation (technical manuals), perform technical research, develop new assessment methods, and create support documentation (excel calculators, templates, technical guides, etc.). LOTUS is a set of market-based green building rating systems developed specifically for the Vietnamese built environment by VBGC. LOTUS Rating Systems share the same goal with existing international green building rating systems (LEED, Green Star, BREEAM, etc.) and aim to establish standards and benchmarks to guide local construction and industry use of natural resources and environmental friendly practices. Ideal for interns who wish to learn more about green building certification, performance assessment, green building design, and how to adapt to local practices. Interns should have a relevant background, with engineering or architecture an added benefit.
Coursework in engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil, or environmental), urban planning, architecture, or sustainable design is required for technical roles. Experience or knowledge of green building and sustainable planning techniques and trends is strongly preferred.
Experience with energy modeling software and green building rating tools (ecospecifier databases, LEED, and/or Green Star) is preferred. Knowledge of green building/sustainable construction and design history, challenges, and trends is encouraged, particularly in Asia. All interns should be comfortable using a computer and be willing to learn new software. Web design, media, and other IT skills are a plus.
English is required for the internship, although Vietnamese skills are a plus. Interns are encouraged to learn basic Vietnamese before arriving, for use in personal and professional settings.
Interns must provide their own laptop/computer during the internship.
Estimated One-Time Expenses
Estimated Monthly Expenses
Interns are responsible for finding their own housing, typically guest houses or shared apartments. Some assistance in finding or arranging housing may be available, but is not guaranteed. The VGBC offices are located near West Lake (Tay Ho), Hanoi’s largest lake, which is on the northern edge of downtown.
For more information about interning with VGBC, read the past intern FAQs.
Summer: January 25
Fall: April 15
Winter: September 1
Spring: November 15
-Coursework in engineering, urban planning, architecture, or sustainability strongly preferred
-Experience with green building rating tools or ecospecifier databases is a plus