Forestry and Fun in Hue

Hue is a fantastic city for a volunteer post, and that's why there are many volunteers from all over the world that come here! There are about 35 foreign volunteers and several English speaking Vietnamese NGO workers in this beautiful, ancient capital city. So there are many chances to socialize and learn about different areas of the globe!

The environment at my post, Tropenbos International, is both professional and laid back. The employees are extremely hard-working, kind, and helpful, though also fun to joke around with. There is not always English Resource work to do, so the volunteer should be open to bring or create their own activities and/or ideas for projects that relate to Tropenbos.

The downtown area is not very big, so getting around on either a bicycle or moto is easy. The furthest one has to ride (unless visiting tombs and other places the countryside) is 15-20 minutes.

The people are friendly, the food is fantastic, (the best in Vietnam!) and the environment is safe. Though I will say if you have any kind of environmental allergies, Hue is not for you. The weather here is unpredictable, and the rainy season is very humid and wet, forming mold everywhere (clothes, cabinets, etc). There are laundry services with dryers and cleaning products at the supermarket, but dealing with the mold can be gross and difficult.

Hue also has many comforting convieniences. There are 2 big supermarkets and a few smaller grocery stores, hundreds of cafes, lots of cheap local restaurants, a couple Western style bars, a French bakery with buttery delicious treats, hot springs, and many more awesome places to hang out. There are also tons of stunning, ancient tombs, pagodas, and other building to explore as well. The city is a major education center in Vietnam, so you get to meet tons of interesting people from all over the country (and other countries too!).