Program Reviews

This was my first experience volunteering/teaching overseas and it was an amazing one! The teaching is well organised and everyone is provided with books to follow and help with lesson planning. Theres also always Vietnamese teaching assistant in class to help you out which is really helpful so it was a lot easier to teach than I expected.

I particularly loved living with 10-12 other volunteers; it means theres always company and some one to show you around Hanoi. Its also a great way to meet interesting people from all over the world and I'm so grateful for the friends I made there and as the lessons are predominantly in the evening theres plenty of free time in the day to explore the area together. Ms Hay and all the other Vietnamese teaching assistants and students are very welcoming and happy to help you with anything and recommend places in and around Hanoi. The food on offer is so delicious and also they catered very well for a vegetarian diet which was great for me.

VCV allowed me to gain a very genuine experience of Vietnam and I'm very grateful for the 8 weeks I spent there:) Would recommend it to anyone!

“I spent six fabulous months with VCV and became part of an international community that gifted me with friends all over the world! Ms. Hay has an incredible vision for lifting up the Vietnamese people and she runs a wonderful program. The teaching time commitment is extremely manageable and you will most likely have the chance to teach both the kid and adult classes. Ms Hay has curriculum available that makes it easy to dive right in even if you have never taught English before. In my experience, the other volunteers are always willing to lend a hand as well. Not only do you get to hang out with the students during class, Ms Hay facilitates day trips every Saturday with the adult students! These were great opportunities to get to know the students on a more personal level as well as get some sightseeing in.
If you're considering how long to stay, I 100% recommend going longer to really give yourself the chance to become enveloped by this wonderful community!"

Ms Hay and I have become long term friends after my initial volunteering with VCV in 2014.

I started to work with VCV as volunteer when they had just started - I chose them because it seemed it would be a personal experience and I hoped I could help in some way. I'm unsure if I had helped in anyway but I am sure that VCV was the perfect choice, a great experience and definitely one of the reasons why I decided to move to Vietnam to live my life.

My volunteer experience was only meant to last one month, I stayed nearly 6 months and have now been living here for 2yrs already.

Hay and the students really made me experience Hanoi and I hopefully helped them develop the students language skills. I know some of them have become my long term friends and can see how some have gone from not being able to communicate to fluent conversations.

The experience at VCV is great. Teach for on a fair schedule, be easily assisted with your class room planning and activities and someone will always help. Engage with locals, the community, get a real feel and enjoy local places. Look no further, volunteering in Vietnam? VCV.

From the minute I arrived at VCV the atmosphere felt so warm and welcoming. In the VCV apartment everyone helps each other and looks out for each other it’s like one big family. I loved all the classes I taught, all of my students were so lovely and enthusiastic about learning English. I became good friends with my adult classes and would often go out for dinner and drinks with them after class which was fun. Besides teaching, at the weekends we would go on trips to different places in Vietnam. Me and some other volunteers went trekking in Sapa, to ninh Binh, Cat Ba and lots of other places for weekend trips. The food provided at VCV is incredible. Honestly some of the best food I’ve ever eaten and so healthy. All in all, I think if you’re wanting to teach English in Vietnam you should go for VCV. You will leave with a second family and feeling extremely happy.

Ms Hay and the whole vcv family made my time here truly so enjoyable and interesting. The students are so welcoming and you attend a social outing every week, you get to immerse yourself in true Vietnamese lifestyle, eating in local places and experiencing things you never would if you just visited vietnam as a tourist. Teaching the children and the adults was a great experience, challenging at times but so rewarding and it was great to build rapport with the students. You eat amazing food together every day as a group, giving you the chance to discuss the day and share tips with each other. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending VCV and if you're thinking of applying to volunteer... do it! I will always remember my time at VCV, Thank you Ms Hay, Tony and Linh.

I stayed at VCV for six weeks in the summer of 2018. While I had previously spent time in Hanoi, mostly in the city's famous old quarter, staying at VCV allowed me to see a different side of the city.
Situated outside of the city center, the organisation is in a firmly 'Vietnamese' area, meaning that interaction with locals is both easy and receptive.
The team at VCV did everything they could to make my stay as pleasant as possible. Miss Hay runs a solid operation, and knows exactly what she is doing - something that was lacking in other organisations I've previously volunteered with.
Also George, or Lion, makes amazing food every day for the volunteers including Vietnamese family food, curry, and occasional western treats.
The group regularly goes out together, and the staff are excited to show you their local knowledge of the city.
The accommodation is more than adequate - you're guaranteed a comfortable bed, sharing a room with other volunteers.
The atmosphere is great for those with teaching experience, or those who are new to teaching English. The classes are patient, and everyone is happy to share knowledge.
I made some lifelong friends here and intend to return when I'm next in the city. Overall, absolute 10/10!