Program Reviews

VCV is such a cool place to work and very rewarding. From the moment you start to teach you’re encouraged to talk and interact with the students, and they are more than happy to hang out with you too. The staff helping at VCV are brilliant and always willing to help you out and support you during your time here. I cannot recommend a place more, you have to work here!

Also don’t worry if this is your first time teaching I think that this style of teaching is perfect for any native English speaker to jump right in and start.

I volunteered teaching English with VCV for 3 months and I'm so glad I did. Everyone was so welcoming and kind, although I'd never lived in a place anything like Vietnam before it was easy to feel at home.

The Vietnamese VCV staff are really helpful with anything you need and easy to make friends with. The classes had a relaxed atmosphere, so it's a good way to try out teaching if you've never done it before. The students were wonderful in class and made it enjoyabe, they were friendly and eager to learn, not to mention grateful. Usually you just teach about 3 hours of class per day so there's enough time to get out and explore Hanoi, plus see more of Vietnam on the weekends.

Personally, I had so many amazing memories with VCV and in Vietnam that I'm really happy I decided to go for, because I hesitated on the decision for a little while. If you're in a similar position now, I can't encourage you enough to just give it a shot. You'll be volunteering with a solid organization, with supportive people, in an exciting location, so your experience at can be whatever you make of it.

This was the best experience of my entire life. I met amazing people, I ate amazing food, and made many new friends. Vietnam is a beautiful country which deserves to be visited, and vietnamese people are so kind. There I learned so many things about a different culture as well as about myself. I would go back tomorrow if I only could. I genuinely recommend such an experience because it helps growing up and opening up towards differences. A special thank you needs to be addressed to Phuon, a young vietnamese woman who has been a sister and a firend for me while living in Ha Noi. Go there!!

VCV has given me the opportunity to explore a new country and learn about Vietnamese culture in an extremely special way. I believe Vietnamese people are among the kindest I've ever met in my life. With VCV I was able to work with kids and adults, living with other volunteers and eating the amazing meals cooked by Phuong. During the weekends I travelled around the North of Vietnam and saw incredible views, such as the rise fields in Sapa.
I believe that this experience has deeply enriched me, I grew a lot as a human being. Living in the US is very much work fucused and there is a lot of competition. But in Vietnam I was able to slow down and enjoy more the simple moments, such as getting lost in the streets of Hanoi or eating fresh fruit from the streets markets. Hopefully, one day I'll go back and stay longer at VCV, living in Vietnam is the best experience anyone could ever have!

Volunteering with VCV was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It was so nice to spend time with local people beside classes, and the teaching experience has been a blast. I've learnt more than what I taught, I've met some of the nicest people ever, not only other volunteers, but also helpers were amazing (their food too :D).
Ms. Hay is the heart and the smile of this project, you'll feel like home from the first moment.
I highly recommend this experience to everybody, you won't for sure regret it!

I taught English for 3 months at VCV and had a great time. I would recommend VCV as you will meet English and Vietnamse volunteers in the apartment and they can teach you about Vietnam. The meals are delicious and you will get to teach adults, teenagers and children so can experience teaching all ages.
Ms Hay will organize at least a couple of day trips each month, taking you to less touristic areas in and around Hanoi. The students are really great to teach and will also take you to places on their motorbikes!

I went to Vietnam without any knowledge about the country and any teaching experience before, I'd say a little bit afraid too but since the moment I arrived to VCV I feel like home, everything was amazing, they were like family to me and the opportunity that I received to teach changed my life in so many different ways.
I was volunteering at VCV for three months and really I can say it was one of my favorites places in the world, you can experience friendship, culture, happiness for helping people, compassion and also fun. I found great friends that I'll never forget. The teaching experience is gratifying and now I miss my kids everyday!!!
Miss Hay has a very beautiful heart and I admire her work in the organization. She's a smart, compassionate, strong and funny woman. I hope our paths will crossed again one day.

If you're thinking about to go to Vietnam for volunteering, this will be the best place to stay.

PLUS: The country is soooo beautiful and the food is amazing

I stayed at VCV for two months and it was one of the best decisions I made in my life. Teaching at VCV is an amazing experience, whether you have teaching experience or not. You will teach both kids and adults, which makes your schedule diverse. There is a lesson plan for each class you have to teach, so you don't have to come up with your own plan, but you do have plenty of freedom in how you want to teach the class, especially with the kids. The schedule is not too heavy either, so you will have plenty of time to explore Hanoi. The Old Quarter is half an hour away by car, but you live away from the tourist area, among the locals, which is ideal. The area where VCV is located has a lot of little cafes, several supermarkets, cinemas and gyms. As you're off most weekends, you have time to explore some nearby places as well: I managed to go to Sapa, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh and Cat Ba and had some amazing times there with my fellow volunteers.
The staff at VCV is amazing: Ms Hay, Huong, George and Lam are very helpful and friendly. The food George cooks is amazing!
All in all: if you are looking for a place to volunteer in Vietnam, VCV is the place to be. You won't regret it!

I stayed here for three months earlier this year, and honestly they were among the happiest of my life. My colleagues and staff were very generous, funny, open and interesting people, happy to go on wonderful trips, food tours and charity events, as well as helping me immensely with teaching and negotiating the city of Hanoi and Vietnam itself. The work is rewarding and not overly demanding, whilst the accommodation is homely and the cooking second to none. The absolute best way to see Hanoi and make some unbelievable memories.

I would highly recommend teaching at VCV for anyone. It’s a great opportunity for anyone who wants experience teaching - there are both kid and adult classes included in the program, so you’ll get lots of variety as a teacher! The weekly schedule is very manageable and allows for plenty of free time, and you’ll get support from the wonderful teaching assistants if you need it. In return for teaching, you get free housing, food and a home base to meet people and travel cheaply. I loved living in the apartment with other volunteers from around the globe and the VCV team (Miss Hay, Huong, Lam and everyone else working here are wonderful), and the meals cooked by George were delicious. The apartment is in a good location in Hanoi - near cafes, gyms, a shopping mall and theater, and 20-30 minutes from the Old Quarter area. Living at VCV is also a great opportunity to live cheaply and give back to the community while travelling - it’s easy to get consecutive days off and travel to amazing places like Sapa, Cat Ba island, Halong Bay, or Ninh Binh, solo or with other volunteers. If you want an immersive experience in Vietnam and not just passing through as a tourist, it’s the place for you. I spent two months here and am so grateful for the experience.