Best Places for a Summer Internship in Asia: 8 Destinations

Quick answer: The best places to intern in Asia in summer depend on your field and how you handle heat and rain. Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore and Hong Kong suit business, finance and tech. Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Vietnam keep daily costs lower. Taipei is a strong all-rounder. Finding your placement takes about 8 weeks from your deposit, so apply with a start date at least 12 weeks away. If your start date is less than 12 weeks away, you need AIPx Fast Track.: for a June start, aim for about March.

Summer in Asia means long days, hot weather and lots to do on weekends. It also means rainy seasons in some countries. This guide covers eight Asian destinations where AIP places interns, what summer is like in each, and how to choose between them.

8 Asian destinations for a summer internship

1. Japan

City: Tokyo (Osaka and Kyoto are launching soon). Fields: tell us your field and we look for a fit. Host companies work in English, so you do not need Japanese for the job.

Summer: The rainy season, called tsuyu, usually runs from early June to mid-July in most of the country. After that it turns hot and humid, and typhoons can arrive later in the summer.

Weekend idea: Take a day trip to Kamakura for temples, hiking trails and a beach. Read more on our Japan internship page.

2. South Korea

City: Seoul. Popular fields: software engineering, marketing, graphic design, business development, consulting and hospitality.

Summer: Late June to July is the monsoon season, known as jangma, with heavy rain. August is hot and humid.

Weekend idea: Walk or cycle along the Han River in the evening, or hike one of the mountains on the edge of the city. Explore the South Korea internship page.

3. Thailand

City: Bangkok (Phuket is also an option). Popular fields: marketing, business development, hospitality, supply chain, real estate and environmental science.

Summer: Summer falls in the rainy season. Expect hot, humid days with heavy showers, often in the afternoon. It is the green season, so it is quieter than the cool months.

Weekend idea: Take a train to Ayutthaya for a day among ruined temples. Our team is based in Bangkok. See the Thailand internship page.

4. Singapore

City: Singapore. Popular fields: finance, consulting, business development, supply chain, international trade and software engineering.

Summer: It is hot and humid all year, with afternoon thunderstorms common. June to September is the Southwest Monsoon period, so you should carry an umbrella.

Weekend idea: Spend a Saturday at Gardens by the Bay, then eat your way through a hawker center. Singapore is expensive and rent is the biggest cost. See the Singapore internship page.

5. Taiwan

City: Taipei. Popular fields: business development, software engineering, engineering, supply chain, renewables and environmental science.

Summer: Summers are hot and humid, with the main plum rain period in May and June. Typhoon season peaks from July to September, so a typhoon day off is possible.

Weekend idea: Visit Beitou for hot springs, or take a day trip to Jiufen for its old streets and tea houses. See the Taiwan internship page.

6. Malaysia

City: Kuala Lumpur. Popular fields: business development, software engineering, engineering, supply chain, hospitality and environmental science.

Summer: Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid all year, with regular short, heavy showers. There is no cold season to plan around.

Weekend idea: Explore Batu Caves in the morning and the city's food streets in the evening. Daily life costs much less than in Singapore or Tokyo.

7. Vietnam

City: ask us which city fits your field. Host companies work in English. Popular fields: business development, finance, architecture, engineering, art and fashion, and environmental science.

Summer: Summer is hot and wet across much of the country, with the rainy season running through the middle of the year in the south. Plan for showers and carry a light rain jacket.

Weekend idea: Vietnam is long and narrow, so short domestic flights and trains make coast and mountain trips easy at weekends. Vietnamese is great for exploring, but you do not need it for the job.

8. Hong Kong

City: Hong Kong. Popular fields: finance, consulting, real estate, business development, international trade and marketing.

Summer: Summer is hot, humid and wet. Typhoon season runs roughly from May to October, so you may see signal warnings and the odd day of disruption.

Weekend idea: Take a harbor cruise at night, or walk a coastal trail on Lantau Island. Flats are small, so expect compact rooms.

How to choose between them

• Field: Pick the city where your industry is strongest. Finance and consulting point to Singapore and Hong Kong. Software and engineering suit Taipei, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur. Hospitality and environmental work fit Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
• Budget: Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in Asia. Kuala Lumpur costs much less than Singapore or Tokyo. Most internships are unpaid, so plan your daily spending as well as flights.
• Language: You do not need the local language. Host companies work in English everywhere on this list. A few local words still help in daily life.
• Climate: If heavy rain bothers you, avoid the peak of the local rainy or typhoon season. If you hate heat, nowhere on this list is cool in August.
• Visa: The route depends on your passport. Singapore has strict rules, and many interns use the Work Holiday Program (ages 18 to 25, eligible countries). In South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, a Working Holiday agreement is often the simplest route if your country has one. We check your options and help with the paperwork.

Summer timeline

Programs run from 6 to 24 weeks, so you can fit one into a long summer break or extend past it. The process works like this.

1. Free call: Every applicant starts with a free call with a career advisor.
2. Deposit: Your placement search starts from the date of your deposit.
3. Placement: This takes about 8 weeks. If we accept you and can't place you, you get your full deposit back.
4. Visa and travel: We help with visa documents while you book your flights.

Count back from your start date. For a June start, apply by about March. If you want a longer internship or a visa with limited places, apply even earlier.

What to pack for a summer internship in Asia

• Light, breathable work clothes: smart shirts, trousers or skirts that dry quickly.
• A compact umbrella or light rain jacket for showers.
• Comfortable walking shoes that cope with wet pavements, plus smart shoes for the office.
• Sunscreen, a hat and a refillable water bottle.
• A cardigan or light layer, because offices and trains are often strongly air-conditioned.
• A universal plug adapter, a power bank and copies of your passport and visa documents.
• Any regular medication, with a doctor's note where needed.

Support while you are there

Every AIP program includes visa assistance and 24/7 emergency support. Traveler, our most popular program, includes Standard housing (furnished, with your own bedroom or a shared one with an intern of the same gender, depending on the destination) and a pre-arrival orientation, and we arrange your airport pickup, whatever time you land. Pioneer includes Premium housing (a private apartment to yourself, with your own bedroom and bathroom), a preloaded transport card and SIM card, a first-day drop-off and tours. With Explorer we find your internship and support you throughout; you choose where to live.

FAQs

When should I apply for a summer internship in Asia?

Finding your placement takes about 8 weeks from your deposit, so apply with a start date at least 12 weeks away. If your start date is less than 12 weeks away, you need AIPx Fast Track. Finding your placement takes about 8 weeks from your deposit, so for a June start, aim to apply by about March. Applying earlier gives you more choice of start date and more time to sort out your visa.

Which Asian country is best for a summer internship?

It depends on your field, budget and how you handle heat. Singapore and Hong Kong suit finance and consulting, Tokyo and Seoul suit people curious about their business cultures, and Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Vietnam give a lower daily cost of living than Singapore or Tokyo.

Is the weather a problem for summer interns in Asia?

Summer is hot and humid in most of Asia, and some places have a rainy season or typhoon risk between June and August. Offices are air-conditioned, so pack light clothes for the commute and one smart outfit for work.

Are summer internships in Asia paid?

Most international internships in Asia are unpaid, and some companies pay a small allowance. Budget for food, local transport and personal spending on top of your program fee.

Can I be sure of a placement for next summer?

We only accept you when we're confident we can place you. If we accept you and can't find you a placement, you get your full $500 deposit back. Every applicant starts with a free call with a career advisor, and we only accept you when we are confident we can place you. Placement takes about 8 weeks from your deposit, so apply early.

Not sure where to go yet? Compare every country on our destinations page.